LVD Voltage Thresholds

Start with the product's declared voltage ratings. The Directive states the legal bands; the Commission guide explains that a product can be in scope when either its rated input voltage, its rated output voltage, or both sit inside those bands. Internal voltages are not the scope trigger by themselves.

For equipment with multiple ratings, check the highest rated input or output. The guide treats the product as within LVD scope once the highest rating falls inside the LVD voltage range. Equipment designed only above 1000 V AC or 1500 V DC is outside the LVD voltage range, even though other EU product rules may still apply.

A battery-operated product whose rated supply is below 50 V AC and 75 V DC is outside the LVD voltage range on that fact pattern. The charger, adapter, dock, or integrated power supply can still be in LVD scope if its rated input or output is inside the LVD bands.

This distinction matters for common product bundles. A low-voltage notebook, sensor, toy-like device, handheld terminal, or accessory may fall outside LVD by its own battery rating, while the accompanying charger or integrated supply needs its own LVD assessment.

A product can match the LVD voltage bands and still be outside the Directive if Annex II excludes it. The Commission guide describes the Annex II list as exhaustive for equipment explicitly excluded from LVD scope.

Important exclusions for threshold work include electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres, radiology and medical purposes, electrical parts for goods and passenger lifts, electricity meters, domestic plugs and socket outlets, electric fence controllers, radio-electrical interference, specialised equipment for ships, aircraft, or railways that meets applicable international safety provisions, and qualifying custom-built professional evaluation kits used solely at research and development facilities.

Some products are not solved by voltage alone. Radio equipment within RED scope is not subject to LVD, but RED Article 3(1) draws on health and safety requirements aligned with LVD concepts. EMC issues should be separated from LVD safety: the LVD guide says non-electrical hazards such as temperature, arcs, and radiation are covered where relevant to safety, while electromagnetic disturbance is addressed under the EMC Directive unless it is a safety aspect.

Machinery requires special handling. The LVD guide explains that machinery with an electrical supply must meet the LVD safety objectives, but conformity assessment and the declaration route are governed by machinery law. The guide also gives practical boundary examples: hand-held and transportable electrically driven tools such as power tools and lawnmowers are not covered by LVD but by the Machinery Directive.