EMC and LVD testing: what EU buyers should ask for
Two directives, two different risks. This note explains the documents an EU buyer can ask a supplier for, what each one actually covers, and why the letters CE on their own do not tell you which of them exist.
01 · Two directives, two risks
For mains-powered aesthetic equipment sold into the EU, two directives usually apply, and they cover different failure modes.
- EMC Directive 2014/30/EU — electromagnetic compatibility. The device does not emit interference that disrupts other equipment, and continues to work in an environment where interference exists.
- LVD Directive 2014/35/EU — electrical safety. Insulation, creepage and clearance, heating, and protection against electric shock and fire, within the voltage scope of the directive.
They are separate requirements. A product can satisfy one and not the other, which is why asking for evidence of one tells you nothing about the other.
02 · The declaration of conformity
For most products in this category, CE marking is affixed on the basis of the manufacturer's own declaration that the applicable directives have been met. The declaration of conformity is the signed document that says so. Ask to see it, and check that it names the model you are buying and the directives claimed.
03 · What a test report is
A test report is a laboratory's record of what was measured, against which named standards. Typical examples in this field include EN IEC 55014-1 and 55014-2, EN 55032 and EN 55035, and EN IEC 62368-1.
A test report is evidence. It is not an approval. Read the disclaimer page, which commonly states that the result applies to the sample tested and does not imply assessment of the production series. That sentence matters: it tells you what the document does and does not cover.
04 · When a certificate is involved
Where a third-party body has issued a certificate, three questions settle most of its value: which body issued it, under which scheme, and for which model and scope. A certificate issued for one model does not automatically extend to a family of similar models, and the certificate will normally say so.
05 · What to ask, in order
- Which directives are claimed, for which exact model numbers?
- Is there evidence for each directive, or only one of them?
- Which standards are cited, and which year versions? A report from several years ago may cite versions that have since been replaced.
- Does the document name the model you are buying, or a different one?
- Who is the certificate holder? If it is a different company from the supplier you are paying, ask how the two relate before you accept it as their certification.
- Does the evidence cover a sample only, or series production?
- Is there a signed declaration of conformity, and does it list your model?
06 · Why the year of the standard matters
A report can be unexpired and still cite a superseded standard version. Those are two separate facts. When you review a document, check the standard year as well as the issue date — an older EN version is a question worth raising even if the certificate itself is still current.
07 · Our own documents
Our certificates and test documents are listed on the Certifications page. For products outside the series listed there, no certification claim is made. Technical documentation is available to qualified buyers on request.
Other notes and documents
Our certificates and test documents are listed on the Certifications section of the home page. Technical documentation is available to qualified buyers on request.