Is your product within the LVD? Voltage limits and exclusions

Scope starts with the voltage rating

The Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU covers electrical equipment designed for use with a voltage rating between 50 and 1000 V for alternating current and between 75 and 1500 V for direct current. Its purpose is a high level of protection of the health and safety of persons, domestic animals and property, while guaranteeing the functioning of the internal market.

The range refers to the voltage of the electrical input or output of the equipment; voltages that appear inside the device do not decide scope on their own. A mains-powered appliance stays in scope even if it contains low-voltage circuits. For a product sold with an external adapter, the adapter is assessed under the LVD in its own right, while a product supplied at 12 V or 24 V DC falls below the range and its safety is addressed under other legislation.

The exclusions in Annex II

The directive excludes certain equipment and phenomena: electrical equipment for use in an explosive atmosphere, electrical equipment for radiology and medical purposes, electrical parts for goods and passenger lifts, electricity meters, plugs and socket outlets for domestic use, electric fence controllers, radio-electrical interference, specialised electrical equipment for ships, aircraft or railways that complies with the safety provisions of international bodies, and custom-built evaluation kits for professionals used solely at research and development facilities.

Being outside the LVD does not mean being free of safety requirements. Equipment for explosive atmospheres, medical devices and lifts have their own legislation. For radio equipment, the safety objectives are assessed under the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) with no lower voltage limit.

Conformity route and technical file

For equipment within the LVD, conformity is assessed through internal production control (Module A) in Annex III. The manufacturer draws up the technical documentation, includes an analysis and assessment of the risks, issues the EU declaration of conformity and affixes the CE marking. Applying harmonised standards gives a presumption of conformity; where parts of them are not applied, the file must describe how the requirement is met.

The technical documentation and the EU declaration of conformity are kept for ten years after the equipment is placed on the market. Linking test reports to the assessed model, software and component versions, and keeping the label, instructions and safety warnings consistent with the file, are frequent questions during inspections.

Checklist for the scope decision

• ✓The input and output voltages of the product are written down together with AC or DC.
• ✓Any external adapter or power supply has been assessed as a separate product.
• ✓Whether the product falls under an Annex II exclusion is recorded with the reasoning.
• ✓If the product contains a radio module, RED scope has been assessed as well.
• ✓The harmonised standards to be applied and their versions are identified.
• ✓The risk assessment, test reports and instructions are tied to the same product version.

Confirm the scope decision for every model in the product family; different supply options of the same design can point to different legislation.