Electrical equipment intended for Great Britain, designed for use with a voltage rating of 50-1000 V AC and 75-1500 V DC, generally needs to meet the requirements of The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016.
What is the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016.
The regulation states that electrical equipment can only be placed on the market if it provides a high level of protection for the health and safety of persons, domestic animals, and property.
Products that fall within the scope of this regulation are also required to carry the CE mark or the UKCA mark and the correct documentation to support the manufacturers' declaration of conformity.
Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 requirements
Element provides the guidance and services a manufacturer needs to meet the regulation requirements. Four key aspects are required, and these must be in place before UKCA marking or CE marking to this regulation can take place:
- An analysis and assessment of the risks associated with the product.
- Product safety testing and assessments. Testing to harmonised or designated standard(s) will assist manufacturers by offering a presumption of conformity to the regulation's essential requirements (safety objectives).
- Compilation of the Technical Documentation as required by the regulation.
- Guidance on the completion of the Declaration of Conformity (DoC).
Supporting you through Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016
We offer impartial third-party support to manufacturers in all aspects of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations, from design advice, full product safety testing, Technical File compilation, and review.
Element can issue the third-party qualification necessary to provide a vital market advantage and confidence in placing a product on the market.
For those who need guidance on the regulatory requirements for a particular product, we can provide a product certification advisory service to support them through the testing and approval of their products and components.
Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulation guidance
Like all legislation (and particularly anything relating to UKCA marking), the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulation is a legal text and requires some interpretation of its contents and application. As a result, the UK Government has issued a guidance document that clarifies how to apply the regulation.
What is the EU equivalent of electrical equipment safety regulations 2016?
The equivalent set of rules for the EU is the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU. This is technically equivalent to the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. Note that there are specific rules for labelling and documents for manufacturers, importers and distributers that can require a different approach to applying the LVD. The major difference though relates to whether to use UKCA or CE marking on products. This is still unclear, because the UK regulations are subject to further review which may give the option to apply the UKCA or CE rules.
The Element advantage
Our Certification team provides the Certification Services required for Market Access for many countries worldwide.
As a Certification Body Test Laboratory (CBTL) and a National Certification Body (NCB), we can test and certify your electrical products to the IECEE CB scheme, which has significant market access advantages, including reduced test costs and time to market. Element's Global Market Access team offers further services to help those looking to export their products into the Global Marketplace.
For more information about Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations 2016 or to request a quote, contact us today.
How to get a product tested for safety?
Why do so many Products Fail Safety Testing? Read our helpful guide to ensure your electrical products pass their safety tests first time. LEARN MOREUnderstanding Electrical Product Safety Standards
Manufacturers of electrical and electronic products and devices often presume the compliance journey is going to be fraught, wrongly believing electrical product safety standards are a bewildering compilation of rules and regulations. READ MOREUKCA vs. CE
What is the difference between the UKCA and the CE mark? Element's experts guide you through the certification process for both UKCA and CE marking. Read moreThe European Commission's LVD guidance
The European Commission's official Low voltage directive 2014/35/EU (LVD) guide is available for those seeking further practical advice and guidance on the Directive before CE Marking.
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