Somebody wrote in this forum: "The LVD should be used for end-product systems, not components, and safety critical components (like e-stop switches or PLCs) should meet the requirements of their relevant component standards."
and brought to me an old question. If he was speaking about the EMC Directive, I agree without doubt. But if we are speaking about the LVD, the situation is different. English version of LVD says "electrical equipment" when it mentions the scope. But in other languages (French, Spanish, etc.), LVD says "electrical material". I am not English and don't know if "equipment" has a different mean in English than in other languages. But in Spanish or French, "electrical material" doesn't mean "end-product systems, not components". I know several publications without legal character that try to support that interpretation, but no one is a Law. So, the Law (the transposition of LVD) continuos written with the same words. Another different question is the application of private prestige mark, like GS in Germany or N in Spain. Those private marks will mean and will have the scope those the private organizations that manage them wish. In fact, GS mark apply only to "end-product systems, not components". Those marks have no legal connection with the LVD (it was different in the past). So, while anybody doesn't change the Law, at least in the not English spoken European States, all "electrical material" not excluded by the LVD should have CE marking. Maybe, it was a translation mistake, but it is and nobody has changed it. By other hand, I wanted to remember that Harmonized standard are not mandatory by the Directives. Only essential requirements are mandatory. So, if only a part of the standard match with the essential requirements of the LVD, only that part is applicable to comply with the LVD. Personal opinions, not corporate ======================================================== Juan P. Pena / Electrical Safety Area Company: CETECOM, S.A. (http://www.pta.es/ing/empresas/cetecom.html) e-mail: [email protected] ========================================================
