What is the Directive?
The Directive covers all risks arising from the use of electrical equipment, including not just electrical ones but also mechanical, chemical (in particular, emission of aggressive substances), health aspects of noise and vibrations, and ergonomic aspects as far as ergonomic requirements are necessary to protect against hazards in the sense of the Directive. The LVD lays down 11 “safety objectives”, which represent the essential requirements of this Directive.
Products are presumed to conform to the safety objectives of the LVD where the equipment has been manufactured in accordance with a harmonized standard. Alternatively, the manufacturer may construct the product in conformity with the essential requirements (safety objectives) of the LVD, without applying harmonised, international or national standards. In such a case the product will not benefit from presumption of conformity and therefore the manufacturer must include in the technical documentation a description of the solutions adopted to satisfy the safety aspects of the Directive.
