Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU

• The Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU applies to electrical equipment operating between 50–1000 V AC and 75–1500 V DC and sets the essential safety requirements for placing such equipment on the EU/EEA market.

• Manufacturers must perform a conformity assessment, issue an EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC), and prepare the required technical documentation.

• CE marking is mandatory for electrical equipment that falls within the scope of the directive.

• Safety aspects related to radio functions and electromagnetic compatibility are outside the scope of the LVD; these are governed by the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) and the EMC Directive (EMCD).

The Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU defines essential safety objectives to ensure that electrical equipment can be operated without risks to users, domestic animals, or property. These objectives are specified in Annex II, which outlines the fundamental safety requirements and forms the basis for risk assessment and protective measures.

The LVD provides protection against:

• Electrical hazards, such as electric shock, short circuits, and insulation faults

• Thermal risks, including overheating, burns, and fire hazards

• Mechanical and structural hazards, such as moving parts, instability, and inadequate enclosure strength

The directive applies exclusively to electrical equipment operating within the defined voltage range. Products below these limits fall under the General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC).

Beyond safety, the LVD also supports the free movement of goods within the European Economic Area (EEA) by harmonizing technical requirements, reducing compliance barriers, and ensuring a consistent level of protection across all member states.

Conformity under the Low Voltage Directive involves both technical product safety and the formal documentation required for CE marking.

Achieving compliance requires the following key steps:

• Assessing the essential safety requirements

• Preparing the technical documentation

• Issuing the EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC)

• Affixing the CE marking

• Fulfilling all obligations related to economic operators and market surveillance

The following sections explain each step in detail and outline the full process for achieving conformity under the LVD.

Manufacturers must demonstrate that their products meet the essential safety requirements of the Low Voltage Directive before placing them on the market. The conformity assessment includes all technical and documentary measures required to ensure product safety within the European Economic Area (EEA).

1. Assessment of the Essential Safety Requirements

The essential safety requirements must be evaluated and documented using appropriate methods. This includes:

• Applying harmonized safety standards (e.g., EN 60335-1, EN 62368-1, EN 60204-1)

• Conducting a risk assessment covering all relevant hazards (electrical, thermal, mechanical, chemical)

• Demonstrating safe design, including insulation strength, temperature limits, fault protection, and environmental considerations

• Validating the finished product through laboratory tests or internal testing

• Assessing the impact of modifications (variants, firmware changes, component substitutions)

Using harmonized standards provides a presumption of conformity, although their application is voluntary. If standards are not applied—or only applied in part—the essential safety requirements must be fulfilled and documented through alternative technical solutions.

2. Technical Documentation

Manufacturers must compile technical documentation and retain it for at least ten years after the product is placed on the market. The documentation must demonstrate compliance with the essential safety requirements and must include:

• Product description, technical specifications, and intended use

• Design documentation (schematics, drawings, bills of materials)

• Test results and conformity evidence

• Applied harmonized standards or alternative solutions

• Risk assessment and mitigation measures

• Manufacturing and quality control processes

• A copy of the EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC)

If the product falls under additional EU legislation (e.g., EMC Directive or RED), the technical file must address all applicable requirements.

3. EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC)

The EU Declaration of Conformity confirms that the product complies with the requirements of the LVD and any other applicable directives. It must:

• Be signed and dated by a responsible person

• Be available in the official language(s) of the target market

• Reference the applied harmonized standards

• Be included in the technical documentation

• Be issued before the product is placed on the market and updated whenever modifications affect compliance

By signing the DoC, the manufacturer assumes full responsibility for the product’s compliance.

Beyond the formal conformity assessment, the Low Voltage Directive requires manufacturers to demonstrate that electrical equipment is safely designed and constructed for its intended use. The directive defines essential safety objectives that apply throughout the entire lifecycle of the product.

To meet these safety objectives, manufacturers must apply suitable technical and design measures, including:

• Selecting safety-critical components, materials, and insulation systems

• Designing in accordance with recognized safety principles

• Testing under normal operating conditions and under foreseeable fault conditions

• Evaluating foreseeable abnormal conditions and single-fault conditions

• Considering environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and pollution degree

In practice, these requirements are most commonly demonstrated by applying harmonized safety standards, which are described in the next section.

The Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU defines essential safety objectives but does not specify detailed technical requirements. In practice, conformity is demonstrated primarily through the application of harmonized safety standards. These standards translate the LVD’s safety objectives into concrete technical requirements and provide a recognized pathway for demonstrating compliance. Many of these standards are developed by CENELEC and published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).

Importance of Harmonized Standards

The current list of harmonized standards published in the Official Journal is always authoritative, as only these standards provide a valid presumption of conformity.

• They provide a presumption of conformity with the essential safety requirements of the LVD.

• Their use is voluntary but strongly preferred from a regulatory perspective.

• If harmonized standards are not applied—or only applied in part—the essential safety objectives must still be met and fully documented through alternative technical solutions.

• The selection of standards depends on the product type, intended use, and environmental conditions.

• Compliance must always refer to the most recent standard versions listed in the Official Journal of the European Union.

To ensure correct implementation, manufacturers should:

• Use the current harmonized version of each standard as listed in the EU Official Journal.

• Check applicable transition periods when standards are updated.

• Assess the relevance of specific clauses based on the product type and intended use.

• Document all applied standards within the technical documentation.

• Define the required normative tests during development, verification, and production monitoring.

Relation to CE Marking

Applying harmonized safety standards streamlines the CE marking process:

• They form the technical basis for the risk assessment.

• They are referenced in the EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC).

• They serve as evidence that the essential safety requirements have been properly implemented.

Once electrical equipment meets the essential safety requirements of the Low Voltage Directive and the required documentation has been completed, it may bear the CE marking and be placed on the market within the European Economic Area (EEA). The CE marking confirms compliance with all applicable EU legislation.

1. Requirements for CE Marking

Before the CE marking can be applied, the following steps must be completed:

• Completion of the conformity assessment

• Preparation of the technical documentation

• Issuance of the EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC)

• Implementation of all required technical safety measures

• Assessment of all applicable EU directives (e.g., LVD + EMC Directive; RED for radio-enabled equipment)

Affixing the CE Marking

The CE marking must:

• be visible, legible, and permanently affixed to the product

• appear additionally on the packaging or accompanying documents for small devices

• comply with the legally defined proportions and marking requirements

A Notified Body is not required for compliance under the LVD, provided that harmonized standards are fully applied (self-certification).

Market surveillance authorities in EU Member States carry out inspections and assessments to ensure that products placed on the market comply with the requirements of the Low Voltage Directive (LVD). These activities are conducted under the Market Surveillance Regulation (EU) 2019/1020.

Typical Actions by Market Surveillance Authorities

• Requesting technical documentation

• Performing laboratory testing of products taken from the market

• Conducting risk assessments in cases of suspected non-compliance

• Requiring corrective actions or additional testing

Enforcement Measures for Non-Compliance

• Imposing sales bans or ordering product withdrawal

• Initiating product recalls

• Public disclosure of cases via the EU Safety Gate (RAPEX)

• Issuing administrative fines or initiating legal proceedings

• Mandating corrective actions or retesting

• Applying enhanced monitoring to future product batches

All economic operators must cooperate fully with authorities and ensure traceability at all stages of the supply chain.