The process that leads to certification of lighting components is well regulated by specific rules and directives. We are talking for example about the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU, the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU, but also the Regulation (EU) 2019/2020 and the Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Electromagnetic Compatibility for lighting systems
There Directive 2014/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council is the most complete tool for harmonizing the legislation of the Member States regarding the electromagnetic compatibility of various devices. In this case, in order to place the lighting systems on the market, they will be obliged to be marked with the CE marking, but also to present the EU declaration of conformity as a further attestation of conformity to community standards.
The Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive defines the harmonized standards on which to base the conformity assessment, ensuring that in all EU countries a lighting system is considered compliant and can therefore be marketed without any impediment whatsoever. The Directive always provides for the preparation of a technical file, after carrying out the necessary tests, to be kept available to the supervisory authorities, exactly as also happens for the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU.
As usual, the legislative framework leading to the CE marking defines specific obligations for operators connected to the product. These - at different levels - will have to draw up and maintain the technical documentation and the EU declaration of conformity, ensure that the necessary procedures are in place so that series production continues to comply; ensure that the appliance is accompanied by clear instructions and information and – upon reasoned request – provide all information and documentation, in paper or electronic format, necessary to demonstrate the conformity of the appliance.
Lighting systems and the Low Voltage Directive
It's with the Directive 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council that the legislation of the Member States regarding electrical equipment intended for use within specific voltage limits. This directive also refers to IEC/ISO EN technical standards which manufacturers of electrical appliances must comply with, acting as a source of legislation aimed at combating the risks foreseen for health and safety.
The Low Voltage Directive establishes that products compliant with the Directive - and all other standards and directives relevant to the product - must be marked with the CE marking to indicate compliance and be the protagonist of a CE declaration of conformity, to be kept together with the associated technical documentation, as mentioned above for the EMC Directive.
As is known, CE certification is essential for placing various types of products on the market, including lighting systems. The CE mark guarantees the consumer the conformity of the product in terms of health protection, safety and environmental protection. The process necessary to achieve the Marking is marked by a series of obligations related to the different ones economic operators. The main responsibility of Certification is one of the duties of the manufacturer, but there are various nuances in the process, so that figures such as authorized representative, importer and distributor are also clearly involved.
LED, Ecodesign and regulation (EU) 2019/2020
The regulation (EU) 2019/2020 establishes ecodesign requirements for the sale or operation of separate light sources and control gear units.
In this regulatory framework we understand the light source as a electrically operated product intended to emit light mainly by incandescence, fluorescence, high intensity discharge or diodes. The power supply units are to be understood, however, as elements that work with light sources to prepare the mains electricity for the electrical format required by the source itself.
At the level of eco-friendly design of lighting systems LEDs – and therefore to improve the environmental performance of products during their life cycle – the Regulation presents itself as a useful tool for remedy the progressive loss of energy efficiency. These products, in fact, tend to lose brightness during their use; this means that the average energy efficiency obtained during the life of the product is lower than that of the new product.
In this context, Regulation (EU) 2019/2020 sets some limits of admissibility of the reduction of the luminous flux depending on the expected life of the source itself, recommending endurance tests to identify the potential loss of brightness of the products.
For example, with a typical expected life time of 15,000 hours, the reduction in brightness after 3,000 hours of operation (analysed in the laboratory) must be less than 7% of the initial value.
This is not an extremely severe limit in absolute terms, but a parameter to be used as a compass to distinguish between higher quality products and less performing ones in order to guarantee a net energy savings for the European system.
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Hello, I am a manufacturer of wall decorations, if I add to the decoration package an LED strip originally packaged with the CE marking for self-assembly (i.e. panels made of MDF strips), do I need to carry out additional tests?
Thanks in advance.
Good morning,
If the LED strip is sold as part of the product the finished product is the decoration plus the LED strip.
Compliance with the applicable directives must be verified on the finished product, so that it can be marketed on the European market,
The final product must be tested according to suitable harmonised standards, to demonstrate conformity with the requirements of the applicable directives.
The product documentation and reports of the tests carried out must be collected in a technical file.
The product declaration of conformity must be prepared and signed by the manufacturer.
Sicom Testing can carry out the tests for you and prepare the technical file and the declaration of conformity.
Best regards
Sicom Test
Good morning,
We are a Polish manufacturer of lighting fixtures, we have our own small research laboratory, we assess the conformity of products with LVD, EMC and, in most cases, ERP directives, we mark the products with the CE mark.
We have inquiries from customers in the United States and Mexico.
Is the European CE marking and its own conformity assessment accepted in these countries or is there an obligation to conduct independent tests confirming compliance with the requirements and other markings?
I would like to ask for information.
Good morning,
The CE marking is not valid for the United States and Mexico markets, for the United States and Mexico markets tests must be performed according to the requirements established by the regulatory authorities of these countries.
Best regards
Sicom Test
Good morning,
they ask us to produce for clothing stores what in the sector are called "lightboxes", i.e. "aluminium boxes" on which LEDs + transformer + 220v plug are glued (see link)
https://polisettimo.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Lightbox-1c.png
I would like to understand if it is correct and legal that it is practice in our sector for the customer to ask for these custom-made luminous objects, and the companies supply them simply by assembling CE marked electrical materials, appropriately assembled and fixed on an aluminum structure.
Can it be done without affixing any CE marking other than that of the components?
Thank you 1000
Good morning,
Compliance with the applicable directives must be verified on the finished product, so that it can be marketed on the European market.
Depending on the type of product, different directives are applied. For electrical and electronic devices connected to the electrical network, the EMC and Low Voltage directives apply.
The finished product must be tested according to suitable harmonized standards, to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the applicable directives.
The product documentation and reports of the tests carried out must be collected in a technical file.
In the case of many similar products (which, for example, differ only in the number of LEDs and dimensions) it is possible to create a single technical file.
The product declaration of conformity must be prepared and signed by the manufacturer.
Best regards
Sicom Test
I am selling a lamp consisting of cable and bulb, both CE marked. I make the lampshade and a base. Do I need a certificate?
Good morning,
Compliance with the applicable directives must be verified on the finished product, so that it can be marketed on the European market, even if it is made up of components already individually certified.
Depending on the type of product, different directives are applied. For example, the EMC and Low Voltage directives apply to electrical and electronic devices connected to the electricity grid.
The product must be tested according to suitable harmonized standards, to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the applicable directives.
The product documentation and reports of the tests carried out must be collected in a technical file.
The product declaration of conformity must be prepared and signed by the manufacturer.
Sicom Testing can carry out the tests for you and prepare the technical file and the declaration of conformity.
Best regards
Sicom Test
Good morning, I am the manufacturer of a lamp. I have very limited space to insert the label and marking on the lamp itself. Is it possible to replace this label with laser writing bearing the CE mark and a QR-code with all the mandatory information? Thank you in advance for your kind response.
Good morning,
According to European directives:
“Manufacturers indicate their name, registered trade name or registered trademark and the postal address at which they can be contacted on the material or, where this is not possible, on the packaging or in a document accompanying the material. ”
It is possible to carry out laser marking and it is possible to insert the QR-code but the data must also be provided on the packaging or in an accompanying document if it is not possible to affix the label to the product.
The CE marking must be present on the product and, if it is connected to the electrical network, the power supply values (voltage, current (or power) and frequency).
Best regards
Sicom Test
Hi, on behalf of one of our clients who needs to export to Turkey, we have the following problem.
We have lamps from a French manufacturer, which declares that these lamps are CE compliant and certified, but the CE mark has not been affixed to the lamps.
To import this type of materials into Turkey, the CE mark is mandatory.
Is it possible to affix the CE mark compliant with the law on lamps? Is there a procedure to follow? How do you obtain the label compliant with the regulations?
Good morning,
The CE marking procedure and the consequent affixing of the label to the product is the responsibility of the manufacturer.
If the French manufacturer has carried out all the necessary checks on the lamps and they are found to comply with the requirements of the applicable European directives, then they must be CE marked.
The label containing the CE mark and other mandatory information must be affixed by the manufacturer or by the person responsible for the product if the manufacturer is not located within the European Union.
Best regards
Sicom Test
Good afternoon, I intend to start selling a lighting product to decorate bright walls using LED lights. I understand that I need the CE certificate and an EU declaration of responsibility and conformity.
Would further requirements be necessary at European level?
A thousand thanks
Good morning,
If you are the manufacturer of the product your obligations are:
– carry out the appropriate conformity assessment procedure
– prepare the technical documentation
– affix the CE marking to the appliance
– prepare the required documents (declaration of conformity, instructions)
– put the label.
If you import the product from non-EU countries you are considered importers:
Each importer has the obligation to affix his name, registered trade name or registered trademark and the postal address at which he can be contacted on the electrical equipment, to ensure that the manufacturer has carried out the appropriate evaluation procedure conformity, that the manufacturer has prepared the technical documentation, that the CE marking is affixed to the appliance, that the latter is accompanied by the required documents, and that the manufacturer has complied with the labeling requirements.
If you are a distributor:
distributors verify that the product bears the CE marking, is accompanied by the required documentation (European declaration of conformity) as well as instructions and safety information in a language easily understood by consumers and other end users in the Member State where the electrical equipment is to be made available on the market and that the manufacturer has complied with the labeling requirements and that the importer (if any) has affixed his name, registered trade name or registered trademark and postal address to the product at which can be contacted
Best regards
Sicom Test
Good evening,
I have a question. I'm creating a design for a table lamp with a built-in wireless cell phone charger. I will produce them myself. It will be made of wood and the electrical and electronic parts will be incorporated. The charger, transformer and socket for the lamp, cable and plug are themselves CE certified. Do I need a CE certificate to be able to sell my finished piece? Thank you
Good morning,
Yes, even if a product is made up of parts with CE marking, the complete product must still be subjected to tests to demonstrate its conformity and be able to affix the CE marking
Best regards
Sicom Test