Side-by-sideEU product law

LVD vs RED electrical safety and radio scope

The LVD applies to electrical equipment within 50-1000 V AC or 75-1500 V DC, unless an exclusion applies. RED applies to radio equipment and brings the LVD safety objectives into RED Article 3 without the LVD voltage limits.

Use this comparison to route CE files for mains products, chargers, adapters, and connected radio products without treating LVD and RED as duplicate labels.

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Author

Sorena AI

Published

May 9, 2026

Updated

May 9, 2026

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Primary sources

Cited legal and guidance references.

Publication metadata

Sorena AI

Published May 9, 2026

Updated May 9, 2026

Overview

LVD vs RED is mainly a scope and CE-file routing question. A wired electrical product inside the LVD voltage bands may sit under the LVD, while a product that intentionally emits or receives radio waves is routed through RED. RED Article 3 still requires health and safety protection, EMC, and effective radio-spectrum use, but radio equipment within RED is not subject to the LVD itself except through RED Article 3(1)(a).

Side-by-side comparison

LVD vs RED: side-by-side comparison

A focused comparison for deciding whether electrical safety evidence belongs in an LVD file, a RED file, or a separate charger or adapter file.

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First framework

LVD

Applies to electrical equipment designed for use within the LVD voltage bands, unless an LVD exclusion applies.

Second framework

RED

Applies to radio equipment and incorporates safety, EMC, and radio-spectrum requirements through RED Article 3.

LVD vs RED: side-by-side comparison
Dimension	LVD	RED	Operational implication
Scope boundary	Electrical equipment designed for use at 50-1000 V AC or 75-1500 V DC, other than Annex II exclusions. Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limitsSources 1	Electrical or electronic products that intentionally emit or receive radio waves for radio communication or radiodetermination, including products completed with an antenna or similar accessory for that purpose. Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipmentSources 1	A mains-powered product without radio capability may stay in LVD; a connected radio product is routed through RED even when electrical safety evidence is still needed.
Covered actors	LVD Article 3 and Annex I require safe construction for intended use, including protection against hazards from contact, temperatures, arcs, radiation, insulation issues, external influences, and foreseeable overload. Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limitsSources 1	RED Article 3(1)(a) requires health and safety protection, including the LVD safety objectives, but with no voltage limit applying. Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipmentSources 1	Radio equipment does not escape electrical safety assessment; the legal route is RED Article 3(1)(a), not a second LVD declaration for the same radio equipment.
Trigger	The LVD is about electrical safety objectives. EMC concerns are normally handled under the EMC Directive unless another product-specific route applies. Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limitsSources 1	RED Article 3(1)(b) requires an adequate level of EMC, and Article 3(2) requires effective and efficient use of radio spectrum to avoid harmful interference. Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipmentSources 1	A RED file needs safety, EMC, and radio-spectrum evidence. An LVD file does not prove radio performance or spectrum use.
Core obligations	LVD applies only when the product is within its own scope and is not displaced by a more specific route for the same equipment. European Commission LVD guidelinesSources 1	RED Article 1(4) says RED-covered radio equipment is not subject to the LVD, except as set out in RED Article 3(1)(a). The LVD guide repeats that RED-covered radio equipment shall not be subject to the LVD. Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipmentSources 1	For the same radio equipment, cite RED for safety. Keep a separate LVD file only for distinct non-radio equipment such as an external charger or intelligent adapter when it is independently in LVD scope.
Evidence record	The LVD guide treats products with integrated plugs or outlets at 230 V, such as mobile-phone chargers, and multiple travel adapters with supplies or electronics as LVD-covered. A simple plug-system travel adapter with no covered element is not LVD-covered. European Commission LVD guidelinesSources 1	RED Article 3(3)(a) can require radio equipment in specified categories or classes to interwork with accessories, in particular common chargers. Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipmentSources 1	Assess the radio product and charger separately when they are separate products: the radio unit may be RED while the mains charger or intelligent adapter may be LVD.
Standards and presumption of conformity	LVD harmonised standards cited in the OJEU create presumption of conformity with the LVD safety objectives covered by those standards or parts. Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limitsSources 1	RED harmonised standards cited in the OJEU create presumption of conformity with RED Article 3 requirements covered by those standards or parts; if standards for Article 3(2) or 3(3) are missing or only partly applied, RED Article 17 routes the equipment to EU-type examination or full quality assurance for those requirements. Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipmentSources 1 European Commission harmonised standards overviewSources 2	Tag each standard to the directive and essential requirement it supports. An electrical safety standard may help the RED Article 3(1)(a) argument, but it does not supersede radio-spectrum evidence.
Enforcement	LVD manufacturers draw up Annex III technical documentation, perform or have performed the conformity assessment, draw up the EU declaration, affix CE marking, and keep technical documentation and the declaration for 10 years after placing on the market. Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limitsSources 1	RED manufacturers draw up Article 21 technical documentation before placing radio equipment on the market, keep it continuously updated, draw up the EU declaration, affix CE marking, and keep the documentation and declaration for 10 years after placing on the market. Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipmentSources 1	A combined compliance pack can share an index, but each document should identify whether it supports LVD safety, RED Article 3(1)(a), RED Article 3(1)(b), RED Article 3(2), or an Article 3(3) requirement.
Overlap and reuse	Electrical equipment designed for use at 50-1000 V AC or 75-1500 V DC, other than Annex II exclusions. Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limitsSources 1	Electrical or electronic products that intentionally emit or receive radio waves for radio communication or radiodetermination, including products completed with an antenna or similar accessory for that purpose. Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipmentSources 1	A mains-powered product without radio capability may stay in LVD; a connected radio product is routed through RED even when electrical safety evidence is still needed.
Practical decision rule	Electrical equipment designed for use at 50-1000 V AC or 75-1500 V DC, other than Annex II exclusions. Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limitsSources 1	Electrical or electronic products that intentionally emit or receive radio waves for radio communication or radiodetermination, including products completed with an antenna or similar accessory for that purpose. Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipmentSources 1	A mains-powered product without radio capability may stay in LVD; a connected radio product is routed through RED even when electrical safety evidence is still needed.

Comparison row 1

Scope boundary

LVD

Electrical equipment designed for use at 50-1000 V AC or 75-1500 V DC, other than Annex II exclusions.

Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limits

RED

Electrical or electronic products that intentionally emit or receive radio waves for radio communication or radiodetermination, including products completed with an antenna or similar accessory for that purpose.

Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment

Operational implication

A mains-powered product without radio capability may stay in LVD; a connected radio product is routed through RED even when electrical safety evidence is still needed.

Comparison row 2

Covered actors

LVD

LVD Article 3 and Annex I require safe construction for intended use, including protection against hazards from contact, temperatures, arcs, radiation, insulation issues, external influences, and foreseeable overload.

Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limits

RED

RED Article 3(1)(a) requires health and safety protection, including the LVD safety objectives, but with no voltage limit applying.

Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment

Operational implication

Radio equipment does not escape electrical safety assessment; the legal route is RED Article 3(1)(a), not a second LVD declaration for the same radio equipment.

Comparison row 3

Trigger

LVD

The LVD is about electrical safety objectives. EMC concerns are normally handled under the EMC Directive unless another product-specific route applies.

Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limits

RED

RED Article 3(1)(b) requires an adequate level of EMC, and Article 3(2) requires effective and efficient use of radio spectrum to avoid harmful interference.

Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment

Operational implication

A RED file needs safety, EMC, and radio-spectrum evidence. An LVD file does not prove radio performance or spectrum use.

Comparison row 4

Core obligations

LVD

LVD applies only when the product is within its own scope and is not displaced by a more specific route for the same equipment.

European Commission LVD guidelines

RED

RED Article 1(4) says RED-covered radio equipment is not subject to the LVD, except as set out in RED Article 3(1)(a). The LVD guide repeats that RED-covered radio equipment shall not be subject to the LVD.

Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment

Operational implication

For the same radio equipment, cite RED for safety. Keep a separate LVD file only for distinct non-radio equipment such as an external charger or intelligent adapter when it is independently in LVD scope.

Comparison row 5

Evidence record

LVD

The LVD guide treats products with integrated plugs or outlets at 230 V, such as mobile-phone chargers, and multiple travel adapters with supplies or electronics as LVD-covered. A simple plug-system travel adapter with no covered element is not LVD-covered.

European Commission LVD guidelines

RED

RED Article 3(3)(a) can require radio equipment in specified categories or classes to interwork with accessories, in particular common chargers.

Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment

Operational implication

Assess the radio product and charger separately when they are separate products: the radio unit may be RED while the mains charger or intelligent adapter may be LVD.

Comparison row 6

Standards and presumption of conformity

LVD

LVD harmonised standards cited in the OJEU create presumption of conformity with the LVD safety objectives covered by those standards or parts.

Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limits

RED

RED harmonised standards cited in the OJEU create presumption of conformity with RED Article 3 requirements covered by those standards or parts; if standards for Article 3(2) or 3(3) are missing or only partly applied, RED Article 17 routes the equipment to EU-type examination or full quality assurance for those requirements.

Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment European Commission harmonised standards overview

Operational implication

Tag each standard to the directive and essential requirement it supports. An electrical safety standard may help the RED Article 3(1)(a) argument, but it does not supersede radio-spectrum evidence.

Comparison row 7

Enforcement

LVD

LVD manufacturers draw up Annex III technical documentation, perform or have performed the conformity assessment, draw up the EU declaration, affix CE marking, and keep technical documentation and the declaration for 10 years after placing on the market.

Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limits

RED

RED manufacturers draw up Article 21 technical documentation before placing radio equipment on the market, keep it continuously updated, draw up the EU declaration, affix CE marking, and keep the documentation and declaration for 10 years after placing on the market.

Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment

Operational implication

A combined compliance pack can share an index, but each document should identify whether it supports LVD safety, RED Article 3(1)(a), RED Article 3(1)(b), RED Article 3(2), or an Article 3(3) requirement.

Comparison row 8

Overlap and reuse

LVD

Electrical equipment designed for use at 50-1000 V AC or 75-1500 V DC, other than Annex II exclusions.

Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limits

RED

Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment

Operational implication

A mains-powered product without radio capability may stay in LVD; a connected radio product is routed through RED even when electrical safety evidence is still needed.

Comparison row 9

Practical decision rule

LVD

Electrical equipment designed for use at 50-1000 V AC or 75-1500 V DC, other than Annex II exclusions.

Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limits

RED

Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment

Operational implication

A mains-powered product without radio capability may stay in LVD; a connected radio product is routed through RED even when electrical safety evidence is still needed.

Practical decision rule

How should teams route LVD and RED evidence?

Classify each physical item separately: radio unit, wired terminal equipment, external charger, power supply, travel adapter, cable, and accessory.
For RED-covered radio equipment, map electrical safety to RED Article 3(1)(a) instead of adding LVD as a second directive for the same equipment.
For separate chargers or intelligent adapters, keep an LVD scope and evidence record when the item is independently in LVD scope.
Tag harmonised standards and test reports to the exact LVD or RED essential requirement they support.

Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limits Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment European Commission LVD guidelines

Section 1

What changes when a product is radio equipment?

The LVD starts from voltage-rated electrical equipment: 50-1000 V AC or 75-1500 V DC, excluding the equipment and phenomena listed in LVD Annex II. RED starts from an electrical or electronic product that intentionally emits or receives radio waves for radio communication or radiodetermination, including products completed with an accessory such as an antenna for that purpose.

For a radio product, do not cite the LVD as a parallel directive just because mains safety is relevant. RED Article 1 says radio equipment within RED is not subject to Directive 2014/35/EU except through RED Article 3(1)(a), which incorporates the LVD safety objectives with no voltage limit.

Use LVD for non-radio electrical equipment inside the voltage bands, subject to Annex II exclusions.
Use RED for radio equipment, including receive-only products and equipment below 9 kHz when they meet the RED radio-equipment scope described in the LVD guide.
Keep fixed-line terminal equipment without radio capability in the LVD/EMC route when it falls within the LVD voltage range.

Sources for this answer

Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limits

Supports the LVD voltage bands, Annex II exclusions, safety objectives, technical documentation, EU declaration, and CE marking route.

Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment

Supports RED radio-equipment scope and the rule that RED-covered radio equipment is not subject to the LVD except through RED Article 3(1)(a).

European Commission LVD guidelines

Explains the LVD relationship with RED, including wired terminal equipment, sound and TV receive-only equipment, equipment below 9 kHz, and the statement that RED-covered radio equipment is not subject to the LVD.

Section 2

What should the CE file contain?

For an LVD product, the CE file should demonstrate the LVD safety objectives, the conformity assessment in Annex III, the technical documentation, the EU declaration of conformity, and the CE marking. The LVD also allows a single EU declaration of conformity when more than one Union act requires a declaration.

For a RED product, the file should be organised around RED Article 3. Article 3(1)(a) covers health and safety, including LVD safety objectives without voltage limits; Article 3(1)(b) covers EMC; Article 3(2) covers effective and efficient radio-spectrum use to avoid harmful interference; and Article 3(3) adds class-specific requirements such as accessory interworking and common chargers where delegated measures make them applicable.

Route LVD files by voltage scope, Annex II exclusions, safety-objective evidence, standards, EU declaration, and CE marking.
Route RED files by Article 3 requirement, intended operating conditions, frequency bands and RF power information where applicable, technical documentation, EU declaration, and CE marking.
Use one EU declaration only when it identifies every applicable Union act and publication reference; do not list LVD as applicable to RED-covered radio equipment unless another non-radio item in the product package is separately in LVD scope.

Sources for this answer

Directive 2014/35/EU on electrical equipment within certain voltage limits

Supports LVD technical documentation, EU declaration, CE marking, and the single-declaration rule for multiple Union acts.

Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment

Supports RED Article 3 requirements, intended-operating-condition assessment, technical documentation, EU declaration, and CE marking.

Recommended next step

Route mixed electrical and radio CE files

Map your product family into LVD-covered electrical equipment, RED-covered radio equipment, separate chargers, and adapters, then keep each source-linked evidence route clear.

Research workflow

Open Research Copilot

Ask scoped LVD and RED questions with cited EU source material.

Explore next step

Talk to Sorena

Talk through implementation

Review product scope, standards, CE files, and evidence routing.

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Section 3

Chargers, adapters, and radio products

Chargers and adapters should not be routed by product name alone. The LVD guide treats products with integrated plugs or outlets at 230 V, such as mobile-phone chargers, as LVD products. It also treats multiple travel adapters with a charger, switch, USB port, overvoltage protection, overload protection, LED signalling, or similar electronics as LVD-covered, while simple travel adapters that only convert one national plug system to another national socket system are not covered by the LVD.

A radio product and its charger can therefore require different CE-file routing. The radio unit may be under RED, while a separate mains charger or intelligent travel adapter may need its own LVD route if it is separately placed on the market and within LVD scope.

Separate the radio unit, external power supply, supplied charger, cable, and adapter in the bill of materials.
Check whether a charger or intelligent adapter is a separate electrical product in the LVD voltage range.
Do not use the radio product's RED file as a substitute for the charger's LVD evidence unless the same artifact actually supports the relevant requirement.

Sources for this answer

European Commission LVD guidelines

Supports the LVD guide examples for mobile-phone chargers, multiple travel adapters with supplies or electronics, and simple travel adapters outside LVD scope.

Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment

Supports RED Article 3(3)(a) on radio equipment interworking with accessories, in particular common chargers, where class-specific requirements apply.

Primary sources