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Created:
16-3-01

Last
Update:
18-11-02

Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC

OFFICIAL TITLE

Council Directive of 19
February 1973 on the harmonization of the laws of Member
States relating to electrical equipment designed for use
within certain voltage limits
(73/23/EEC).

AMENDMENTS TO THIS DIRECTIVE

Directive
93/68/EEC, OJEC No. L 220, 30 August 1993

OBLIGATORY
SINCE

The requirements for electrical safety are
applicable since 1973; but from 1 January 1997 it is
obligatory to affix the CE Marking to products falling
within the scope of this directive.

SCOPE OF THE
LOW VOLTAGE DIRECTIVE

The Low Voltage Directive
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.

EXCLUDED FROM THE SCOPE OF THE DIRECTIVE

Equipment
and phenomena outside the scope of the Directive:

-
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;

- Specialized electrical
equipment, for use on ships, aircraft or
railways, which complies
with the safety provisions drawn up by
international
bodies in which the Member States
participate.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE LOW VOLTAGE
DIRECTIVE

Principal elements of the safety objectives
for electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage
limits are:

- general conditions;

-
protection against hazards arising from the electrical
equipment;

- protection against hazards which
may be caused by external
influences on the
electrical equipment.

MAIN OBJECTIVE

The
main objective of the Low Voltage Directives is the
protection of the health and safety of persons, and thus to
prevent, as far as possible, the placing on the market and
putting into service of unsafe or otherwise
non-compliant products.

CONFORMITY
MARKING

Conformity with the Low Voltage Directive
is indicated with the CE Marking, which is a mandatory
marking for products falling within the scope of this
Directive. CE stands for Conformité Européenne, French for European
conformity.

Without the CE Marking, and without
complying with the provisions of the Directive, the
product may not be placed on the market or put into
service in the European countries that form the European
Economic Area (the EEA consists of the fifteen member
states of the EU and Norway, Iceland and
Liechtenstein.)

However, if the product meets the provisions
of the applicable European Directives these countries may
not prohibit, restrict or impede the placing on the
market or putting into service of the product. Thus, the
CE Marking can be regarded as a product's trade passport
for Europe.

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Related Documents:

,

,

Related Publications:

Other Articles of Interest:

Low
Voltage Directive: CE Certification Procedure

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