Low Voltage Directive (LVD) Testing

Written by Behnam Feizifar

The Low Voltage Directive is the oldest of the New Approach Directives and deals with the safety of electrical apparatus. It applies to all apparatus running on (or generating) an electrical supply in the range 50 - 1000 volts a.c. or between 75 and 1500 volts d.c. There are a small number of exclusions from this Directive, which are generally products covered by more specific directives. The Directive has both administrative and protective requirements. Administrative requirements include CE marking the product, completing a Declaration of Conformity and compiling a Technical File. Protection requirements are generally satisfied by assessing the products compliance to various standards. Compliance to the Low Voltage Directive can be self-certified without the need for a notified body.