Low Voltage Directive

The Low Voltage Directive - the official name: Directive 2006/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the approximation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits - in addition to the EMC Directive, the most important regulatory instrument for the safety electrically operated equipment. This Directive replaces Directive 73/23/EEC, which was until the end of the 15th January 2007.

It applies to " electrical equipment designed for use with a voltage rating of between 50 and 1000 V for alternating current and between 75 and 1500 V for direct current " with some exceptions.

The Directive requires Member States to take all appropriate measures to ensure that electrical equipment may be placed on the market if they - are prepared so that when properly they install and - according to the example given in the joint stand of the safety technology maintenance and used in applications for the safety of persons, domestic animals and the preservation of property does not endanger.

Like all European directives, the primary objective of the Directive to allow the free exchange of goods. This is apparent from Article 3, which asks: "Member States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the free movement of electrical equipment is not impeded within the community for safety reasons, when this equipment to under the conditions of Articles 5, 6, 7 or 8 provisions of Article 2 correspond. "

Likewise, the free exchange of goods serves the requirement of Article 4: "Member States shall ensure that electricity supply companies to connect to the grid, or the supply of electricity compared to electricity consumers for the electrical equipment of higher than that provided for in Article 2 requirements in relation make them dependent on safety. "

The implementation of the Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC into German law is performed with the First Ordinance to the Equipment and Product Safety Act ( Regulation on the placing on the market of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits ) ( 1 GPSGV )

Proof of compliance of electrical equipment with the Low Voltage Directive by means of compliance with harmonized standards provided ( Article 5). If there are no harmonized standards are not available, may substitute on standards of the International Commission on the Rules for the Approval of Electrical equipmant ( CEE él ) or the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC ) may be used ( Article 6).

Electrical equipment, comply with the Low Voltage Directive, provided with a so-called CE marking ( Article 10). This applies the so-called presumption of conformity, ie the individual Member States shall presume that a provided with a CE marking of electrical equipment meets the criteria of the Low Voltage Directive or other directives true for it. In this way, barriers to trade between Member States should be bridged.

Recast the Low Voltage Directive

Council Directive 73/23/EEC of 19 February 1973 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits was 77 of 26 March 1973, page 29, published in Official Journal L. It was 220 by the Directive 93/68/EEC of the Council of 22 July 1993, published in Official Journal L on 30 August 1993, p 1, as amended. Was replaced Directive, which was valid until the end of the 15th January 2007, finally, by the Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC of 12 December 2006, published December 27, 2006 with the start of the January 16, 2007 entered into force.

See also: Portal: Electrical Engineering