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Electrical Equipment Which products are affected? The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 apply to electrical equipment designed or adapted for use between 50 and 1000 volts ac or 75 and 1500 volts dc. Some components of electrical equipment may in themselves be considered to be electrical equipment and must satisfy the requirements of the 1994 Regulations if they are to be supplied as separate items. The 1994 Regulations do not apply to any electrical equipment which is placed on the market before 01.01.1997 and which complies with the provisions of the Low Voltage Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1989. What do the regulations require? Electrical equipment must be:
In order to decide whether the equipment satisfies the safety requirement the accepted hierarchy of standards should be followed: Harmonised European standards are the most important but where none exist or the existing standards do not cover all the safety criteria then other standards such as International or National standards should be used. If some criteria still have not been met then Community technical specifications or accepted industry codes of practice or other expert opinion should be sought. Expert opinion is often obtained from test houses. Some testing houses have been authorised to act as Notified Bodies under the 1994 Regulations. The Notified Bodies are therefore acknowledged experts. After these in the hierarchy of test houses are the NAMAS accredited test houses. Quality Assurance The 1994 regulations state that "Every manufacturer shall ensure that his manufacturing process produces electrical equipment which conforms to the technical documentation". In other words the manufacturer should ensure that there is adequate quality assurance. Which suppliers are affected? All persons who supply electrical equipment during the course of a business including manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers have to comply with the Regulations.
The CE Marking is a visible declaration that the electrical equipment satisfies the 1994 Regulations. The Declaration of conformity is a written declaration that the Low Voltage Directive has been conformed to. The Technical documentation provides enforcement authorities with the means of assessing conformity. It must be kept for 10 years. It does not have to be assessed by an approved body. The Declaration and Technical Documentation must be made available to the enforcement authorities within a reasonable time following a request to see them. Second-hand items (including items for hire and equipment supplied as part of a furnished accommodation) are only required to satisfy the safety requirement. They are not required to be CE marked etc. Further guidance on the regulations can be found at www.dti.gov.uk/strd/lvdps00.pdf ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WILL ALSO HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING: THE ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY REGULATIONS 1992 REQUIRES that equipment is made so that it does not cause excessive electromagnetic interference or be affected by it. Guidance on the regulations can be found at www.dti.gov.uk/strd/emcps00.pdf THE PLUGS AND SOCKETS etc. (SAFETY) REGULATIONS 1994 REQUIRES most electrical appliances intended for domestic use to be supplied pre-fitted with a standard 3-pin plug that is independently certificated as complying with British Standard BS1363. There are some exceptions to this such as electric cookers intended to be permanently connected to the main wiring in a house. Items fitted with a non-UK plug (e.g. a 2 pin Europlug) may be supplied provided they have been fitted with an approved 3 pin conversion plug which must enclose the fitted plug and can only be removed with the use of a tool. OTHER REGULATIONS THAT MAY AFFECT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FOR WHICH A CE MARK IS REQUIRED: THE TOYS (SAFETY) REGULATIONS 1995 If the electrical equipment is also a toy then the CE mark will be considered to be a declaration of conformity with both the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 and the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995. Guidance on the regulations can be found at www.dti.gov.uk/strd/toy99.pdf. THE RADIO EQUIPMENT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS TERMINAL EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS 2000 Covers equipment that enables communication, which is intended to be connected directly or indirectly by any means whatsoever to interfaces of public telecommunications networks. Also equipment capable of communication by means of the emission &/or reception of radio waves utilising the spectrum allocated to terrestrial/space radio communication. Guidance on the regulations can be found at www.radio.gov.uk/topics/conformity/consult/rtte/rttecon.htm THE SUPPLY OF MACHINERY (SAFETY)
REGULATIONS 1992 Does not apply to machinery where the risks are mainly of electrical origin. (Such machinery is covered by the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994). Guidance on the regulations can be found at www.dti.gov.uk/strd/mps.pdf THE ACTIVE IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL
DEVICES REGULATIONS 1992 THE MEDICAL DEVICES REGULATIONS 1994 Covers instruments, apparatus, appliances, materials or other articles, whether used alone or in combination together with any software necessary for its proper function, for a medical application (defined in the Regulations). Further information on the regulations can be found at www.medical-devices.gov.uk. THE EQUIPMENT AND PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS INTENDED FOR USE IN POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES REGULATIONS 1996 Covers all equipment used in
potentially explosive atmospheres. Guidance on the regulations is available at www.dti.gov.uk/strd/exatps02.pdf. Please Note This leaflet is not an authoritative interpretation of the law and is intended only for guidance. For further information please contact your local Consumer Protection or Trading Standards office.
Trading Standards Division, 3rd Floor, Wallasey Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, Wirral CH44 8ED
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