Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU

In the beginning of November 2016 the new Low Voltage Directive Guidelines were published. As you may remember the new Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU came into force on the 20th of April 2016. The main amendments of the new LVD involved the definitions and obligations of economic operators and reinforced the activities of the market surveillance authorities. The Guidelines provide a clear and easy explanation of the details and the amendments of the new Low Voltage Directive. The Guidelines are not intended as and do not constitute a law and do not overrule the the relevant responsibilities provided for.

Overview

The Guidelines provide very good visual examples of products within or outside the scope of the Directive 2014/35/EU (Annex VII, page 73);

Besides the detailed explanation of the Directive itself, the Guidelines include the answers on Frequently Asked Questions (for example, Are components included within the scope?);

The Guidelines also provide a very detailed step-by-step description of the obligations of each economic operator;

Furthermore, the Guidelines equally present the different types of presumption of conformity in a clear manner (presumption of conformity based on harmonised standards/international standards/national standards);

The Guidelines also contain an article (page 63) with a list of electrical equipment that is excluded from the Directive 2014/35/EU, and with references to the EU Directives applicable to the relevant equipment;

Annex VIII (page 78) describes the connections between the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU and other EU Directives (Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, Radio Equipment Directive 2014/35/EU, Gas Application Directive, Lifts Directive, ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU and General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC);

The new Low Voltage Directive Guidelines are intended to be a manual for all parties directly or indirectly affected by Directive 2014/35/EU. They are well organized and cover the specific issues which are of main interest for the application of the Low Voltage Directive.