LVD (CE) Certification

The Low Voltage Directive (LVD — 2014/35/EU) governs the safety of electrical equipment used within 50-1000 V AC and 75-1500 V DC. Its scope covers electric shock, fire, and mechanical and thermal hazards. LVD has a distinctive feature: it does not provide for notified-body involvement; conformity assessment is carried out entirely through the manufacturer's internal production control (Module A).

• Manufacturers of white goods, small appliances and light fittings
• Manufacturers of power supplies, adaptors and chargers
• Manufacturers of power tools and industrial electrical equipment
• Manufacturers of electrical panels and distribution equipment
• Importers importing these products into the EU

Mandatory for electrical equipment within the voltage range. A notified body is not required: the manufacturer has the testing carried out to harmonised standards, prepares the technical file, and signs the declaration itself. This means responsibility rests entirely with the manufacturer — a third-party test report is not legally mandatory but in practice forms the basis for the declaration.

• Scope: voltage ranges and the list of excluded equipment (Annex II)
• Essential safety objectives (Annex I): marking and information, protection against hazards arising from electricity
• Insulation, leakage current and electrical-strength requirements
• Temperature-rise limits and protection against thermal hazards
• Mechanical strength and structural safety
• Fire risk and flammability
• Protection against external influences (moisture, dust, mechanical impact)
• The conformity-assessment procedure: Module A — internal production control
• The content of the technical file and the EU Declaration of Conformity

1. 1Determining the LegislationIt is determined which EU legislation applies to the product. A product can fall within scope of more than one piece of legislation at the same time; all of them must be met.
2. 2Selecting the Conformity Assessment ModuleThe legislation determines the module to follow according to the product's risk class. The manufacturer self-declares under some modules, while a notified body is involved under others.
3. 3Testing Against Harmonised StandardsConformity with harmonised standards published in the EU Official Journal is demonstrated through testing; this provides a presumption of conformity with the legislation.
4. 4Risk Analysis and the Technical FileThe risk assessment, design calculations, test reports, instructions for use and sample labels are compiled in the technical file.
5. 5The EU Declaration of ConformityThe manufacturer or its EU-based authorised representative signs the declaration of conformity. Responsibility rests with the signatory of the declaration.
6. 6Affixing the CE MarkThe mark is affixed to the product in the form and size the legislation prescribes; the notified body's identification number is added if one is involved.
7. 7Retaining the Technical FileThe technical file is retained for the period the legislation sets from the product's placing on the market (10 years under most legislation) and presented to the competent authority on request.

The CE mark is not a certificate but the manufacturer's declaration of conformity, and it has no expiry. However, the declaration remains valid as long as the product and the legislation do not change: the technical file must be updated if the legislation or the harmonised standard is updated. Notified-body certificates (e.g. an EU Type-Examination Certificate) are subject to a validity period.

• The product description, model list and technical drawings
• Risk assessment
• The list of harmonised standards applied
• Test reports
• Instructions for use and warning labels (in the target market's language)
• A draft EU Declaration of Conformity
• The circuit diagram and printed-circuit-board drawings
• The critical-components list and component certificates (transformer, fuse, cable, switch)
• Insulation coordination and creepage/clearance calculations
• A test report under the harmonised standard applied (e.g. EN IEC 62368-1, the EN 60335 series)
• The instructions for use and a sample of the product's rating label

There is no fixed list price; the cost is calculated based on the following variables and provided in writing in the quote.

• The number of pieces of legislation applicable to the product
• The conformity-assessment module — whether a notified body is involved
• The required test scope and number of samples
• The current state of the technical file
• Translation and documentation needs

A Notified Body under CE is registered in the European Commission's NANDO database for the relevant EU regulation and carries a four-digit identification number. Notified body authority is based on legislation and product scope; The authority granted for one regulation does not extend to another. Testing is within the scope of ISO/IEC 17025, product certification is within the scope of ISO/IEC 17065.

The scope under which this scheme can be offered varies according to your product and activity; it is confirmed in writing at the quote stage.

• CEMachinery Safety
• CEEMC
• CERED
• CEMDR
• CEIVDR
• CEPED
• CESPVD
• CEATEX