Last edit: 01/08/2023
Before placing machinery on the market and/or putting it into service, the manufacturer shall draw up the EC Declaration of conformity in accordance with Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.
When a machine, that falls within the scope of the Machinery Directive, has an electrical supply within the voltage limits of the Low Voltage Directive (between 50 and 1000 V for alternating current or between 75 and 1500 V for direct current), it must fulfil the safety objectives of the Low Voltage Directive. However, the EC Declaration of Conformity should not refer to the Low Voltage Directive.
Annex I of Directive 2006/42/EC:
1.5.1 Electricity supply
“Where machinery has an electricity supply, it must be designed, constructed and equipped in such a way that all hazards of an electrical nature are or can be prevented. The safety objectives set out in Directive 73/23/EEC shall apply to machinery. However, the obligations concerning conformity assessment and the placing on the market and/or putting into service of machinery with regard to electrical hazards are governed solely by this Directive”.
The European Commission’s guideline on Directive 2006/42 / EC (Edition – July 2017) states that:
– The first paragraph of section 1.5.1 requires the machinery manufacturer to take the necessary measures to prevent all hazards of an electrical nature. This general requirement applies whatever the voltage of the electrical supply.
– The second paragraph makes the safety requirements of the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU applicable to machinery. The second sentence of this paragraph makes it clear that the procedures of the LVD relating to the placing on the market and putting into service are not applicable to machinery subject to the Machinery Directive. This means that the Declaration of conformity for machinery subject to the Machinery Directive shall not refer to the LVD.
This implies that, whilst machinery with an electrical supply within the voltage limits of the “Low Voltage” Directive must fulfill the safety objectives of the “Low Voltage” Directive, the manufacturer’s EC Declaration of conformity should not refer to the LVD.
It should be recalled that certain categories of low voltage electrical equipment are excluded from the scope of the Machinery Directive (see § Article 1 (2) (k)). Such equipments, placed on the market independently for incorporation into machinery, are subject to the Low Voltage Directive as such.