---
title: "Low Voltage Directive (LVD)"
description: "The Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU covers electrical equipment with a voltage rating between 50 and 1 000 V AC or 75 and 1 500 V DC and requires it not to endanger persons, domestic animals or property when properly installed and used; the manufacturer declares conformity without a notified body."
type: "glossary"
url: "https://www.conphora.com/research/glossary/low-voltage-directive/"
markdown: "https://www.conphora.com/research/glossary/low-voltage-directive.md"
locale: "en"
language: "en"
updated: "2026-09-22"
author: "Conphora compliance team"
publisher: "Conphora"
tags: ["electronics", "product-safety"]
license: "Free to quote with attribution and a link to the page"
---

# Low Voltage Directive (LVD)

The Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU covers electrical equipment with a voltage rating between 50 and 1 000 V AC or 75 and 1 500 V DC and requires it not to endanger persons, domestic animals or property when properly installed and used; the manufacturer declares conformity without a notified body.

Directive 2014/35/EU ensures that electrical equipment on the market fulfils requirements providing a high level of protection of health and safety of persons, domestic animals and property, while guaranteeing the functioning of the internal market (Article 1). It applies to electrical equipment designed for use with a voltage rating of between 50 and 1 000 V for alternating current and between 75 and 1 500 V for direct current. Annex II excludes, among others, equipment for explosive atmospheres, medical and radiological equipment, lift components, electricity meters, domestic plugs and sockets and equipment for ships, aircraft and railways.

Article 3 states the requirement: equipment may be made available only if, having been constructed in accordance with good engineering practice in safety matters, it does not endanger the health and safety of persons and domestic animals, or property, when properly installed and maintained and used in the applications for which it was made. Annex I sets out the principal elements of the safety objectives, from marking of essential characteristics and safe assembly to protection against electric shock, temperatures, radiation, mechanical hazards and overload. Under Article 12, equipment that conforms to harmonised standards published in the Official Journal is presumed to conform to the safety objectives they cover.

The directive uses only module A, internal production control (Annex III): the manufacturer draws up the technical documentation, carries out the assessment itself, issues the EU declaration of conformity and affixes the CE marking. No notified body is involved. The 2014 recast replaced Directive 2006/95/EC with effect from 20 April 2016. In Denmark electrical products are supervised by the Danish Business Authority (Erhvervsstyrelsen), which took over the tasks of the Danish Safety Technology Authority (Sikkerhedsstyrelsen) on 1 January 2026; it reminds businesses that CE marking of electrical products is their responsibility.

## Legislation

- LVD: [Directive 2014/35/EU, Art. 1, Art. 3, Art. 12, Annex I, Annex II, Annex III](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02014L0035-20260530)

## Sources

- [Directive 2014/35/EU on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits, consolidated text](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02014L0035-20260530)
- [Sikkerhedsstyrelsen, CE-mærkning af elprodukter](https://www.sik.dk/erhverv/produkter/el-produkter/vejledninger/sikkerhed-ved-elprodukter/ce-maerkning-elprodukter)