LOW VOLTAGE ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT (LVD)

The 2014/35/EU low-voltage directive (LVD) applies to electrical equipment designed for use with alternating current in the range of 50 – 1000 V, or direct current in the range of 75 – 1500 V, thus practically mains-powered (e.g. household appliances), or equipment with mains charger (e.g. drones) and industrial applications such as it also applies to a wide range of robots and robot systems, and contains the safety requirements for placing them on the market and putting them into operation.

In addition to the necessary transfer of information, these include the following for the safety of people, pets and property:

• Protection against hazards arising from the equipment, taking into account electrical and non-electrical hazards, e.g. physical injuries, temperatures, radiations from direct and indirect contact.
• Protection requirements against hazards caused by external influences on the equipment, such as mechanical effects, environmental conditions and foreseeable overloads.

Based on the LVD, manufacturers must carry out or have carried out a conformity assessment according to “Module A”, during which the technical documentation produced must enable the assessment of whether the electrical equipment complies with the relevant requirements and must present an appropriate analysis of the risks associated with the equipment and evaluation.

It is important to note that in the case of equipment covered by the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC), such as industrial or household robots, the specific technical requirements can be met based on the requirements of the harmonized standards. In this way, the verification of compliance with the LVD and the Machinery Directive can be performed in parallel.

Furthermore, it is worth considering that products falling within the scope of LVD are often subject to the EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and RoHS directives at the same time!

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