What are The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016?
The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, are the UK’s equivalent of the European Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU.
The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations were originally created to transpose the European Low Voltage Directive (LVD) into UK Law, and have undergone multiple updates since then. With the UK’s departure from the EU they became the independent safety requirements for electrical equipment sold or used in the UK.
The scope and the technical requirements of the Regulations will not change, and for the foreseeable will remain identical to those of the LVD. The scope of the Regulations will continue to cover health and safety risks on electrical equipment operating with an input or output voltage of between 50V and 1000V for alternating current or 75V and 1500V for direct current. The Regulations will continue to apply to the same wide range of products and equipment intended for both consumer and professional usage.
Do The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations Apply To Me?
Whether it be for domestic, commercial, or industrial use, all electrical equipment that falls within the scope of The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations, that is placed on the market or brought into service within the UK, must comply.
As a general rule, if you placed products on the market in the UK on or before December 31st, 2020 and declared conformity to the LVD, you will now need to declare conformity to The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations for any of those same products sold from January 1st, 2023 onwards.
How Do I Comply With The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations?
If The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations apply to your product or equipment, you are legally required to meet the Principal Elements of the Safety Objectives (PESOs) for Electrical Equipment. You have the option of addressing either the PESOs directly or showing compliance with relevant ‘Designated’ Standards, as listed on the UK government website.
As most electrical equipment is comprised of common components and performs familiar tasks, there will almost always be a Designated Standard that can be applied and will provide more comprehensive evidence of compliance that an assessment against the PESOs.
Evidence of conformity with The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations should be compiled and retained in a Technical File. The party responsible for ensuring compliance should issue a UK Declaration of Conformity for the product and affix a UKCA Mark.
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