Low Voltage Directive Guide

The Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU, also known as the LVD, is a set of product safety requirements that apply to electrical equipment in the European Economic Area (EEA).

Its purpose is to ensure that electrical equipment poses no risk to users or their surroundings.

It’s also one of several directives that fall under the broader CE marking framework. Where applicable, compliance with this Directive is a legal requirement for affixing the CE mark to machinery, equipment, or products intended for sale within the EEA.

In this guide, you’ll find a clear breakdown of what the LVD covers, who must comply, the testing and documentation involved, and how to achieve full conformity as part of the CE marking process.

You can download the full version of the LVD here.

What is the LVD, and which equipment does it apply to?

LVD is a set of product safety requirements that apply to electrical equipment in the EEA. 

It applies to equipment used within certain voltage limits (50–1,000 V for alternating current and 75–1,500 V for direct current) and include health and safety measures to ensure that electrical equipment poses no risk to users or their surroundings. 

The directive applies to most items of electrical equipment, including:

• Cable management systems
• Cables, fuses
• Laser equipment
• Plugs and plug outlets
• Pole voltage detectors
• Power supply units
• Switches

Who’s responsible for compliance with the LVD?

Manufacturers are responsible for design and production that ensures LVD-relevant electrical equipment is compliant. 

Under LVD, equipment must be:

• Safe and at minimum risk of causing death or personal injury to any person or domestic animal, or damage to property
• Constructed in accordance with good engineering practice in relation to safety matters
• Designed and constructed to ensure that it protects against electric shock through protective earthing, double insulation or equivalent
• Designed and constructed to conform with the principal elements of the safety objectives, which are in Schedule 3 of the regulations

Who enforces the LVD, and what are the penalties for non-compliance?

In Great Britain, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces regulations set out by the LVD.

Non-compliance with the LVD is an offence that can lead to a fine, imprisonment, or both. Non-compliant equipment and products may be recalled from the EEA market immediately.

How do you carry out testing against the LVD?

The European Commission advises that LVD does not require a notified body to assess equipment. You, as the manufacturer, are responsible for carrying out conformity assessment procedures. 

Start by confirming whether your product falls within the LVD’s voltage range (50–1,000 V AC or 75–1,500 V DC). Then, select the harmonised standards that apply to your product.

Conduct a structured risk assessment to identify hazards and evaluate risks. Document compliance by mapping each requirement from harmonised standards and essential objectives. Then, use the findings to ensure the equipment satisfies the LVD’s essential safety objectives.

What documentation do you need?

Under the LVD, you are required to establish technical documentation that demonstrates conformity equipment with the Directive's essential requirements. 

This documentation must be sufficiently detailed to allow for the assessment of the product's compliance and should encompass all relevant aspects of design, manufacture, and operation.

The technical documentation should include:

• A general description of the equipment
• Design and manufacturing information
• Operational procedures
• A list of harmonised standards applied
• Results of design calculations, examinations carried out, etc
• Declaration of conformity

The manufacturer must keep this documentation for 10 years after the equipment is placed on the market and should make it available to the competent national authorities upon request. 

How does the LVD fit into CE marking regulations?

Electrical equipment often falls under more than one EU directive. LVD doesn’t cover all safety or performance aspects of a product.

For example, equipment may also fall under the the EMC Directive or Machinery Directive, as well as LVD.

In these cases, the manufacturer must:

• Identify all applicable directives based on the product type, intended use, and environment
• Ensure the product meets the essential requirements of each directive, which may include safety, energy efficiency, or hazardous substance restrictions
• Compile a single technical file that covers the conformity assessment evidence for all applicable directives
• Draft a single Declaration of Conformity (DoC) that references each relevant directive and harmonised standard
• Affix the CE mark, which symbolises compliance with all relevant EU legislation, not just one

Note that, the CE mark does not indicate conformity with a single directive. It represents compliance with all EU legislation applicable to the product.

Download our free guide here for more information on complying with CE regulations.

Comply with LVD with total confidence

Our start-to-finish electrical equipment safety testing service for large and medium-sized capital equipment covers every step of the process, from testing against relevant measures to compiling your technical documentation and addressing remedial actions.

Head to our electrical equipment safety testing service page here to find out more.