The process leading to certification of components for the lighting it is well marked by specific rules and directives. We are talking for example of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30 / EU, of the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35 / EU, but also of the regulation (I) 2019/2020 and Directive 2009/125 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Electromagnetic Compatibility for lighting systems
La Directive 2014/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council is the most complete tool for harmonizing the laws of the Member States in terms of electromagnetic compatibility of various devices. In order to place on the market, in this case, lighting systems, these will be obliged to be marked with the CE marking, but also to submit the EU declaration of conformity as a further attestation of compliance with Community standards.
La Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive defines the harmonized standards on which to rely for 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 at the disposal of the supervisory authorities, exactly as it 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 have the technical documentation and the EU declaration of conformity drawn up and kept, ensure that the necessary procedures are in place to ensure that series production continues to conform; make sure that the device is accompanied by clear instructions and information e – 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 which are going to harmonize the laws of the Member States on the subject of electrical material intended to be used 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 legislative source aimed at combating the risks envisaged for health and safety.
With the Low Voltage Directive it is established that products comply with the Directive – and to all other standards and directives relevant to the product – they must be marked with the CE marking to indicate its conformity and be the protagonists of an EC declaration of conformity, to be kept together with the associated technical documentation, as mentioned above for the EMC Directive.
As it 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 connected to the different ones traders. The primary responsibility for Certification is one of the duties of the manufacturer, but there are various nuances in the process, so even figures such as authorized representative, importer and distributor they are clearly involved.
LED, Eco-design and regulation (EU) 2019/2020
The regulation (EU) 2019/2020 establishes ecodesign requirements for the sale or operation of separate light sources and power supply 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 intended, instead, as elements that work with light sources to prepare mains electricity for the electrical format required by the source itself.
At the level of ecodesign of lighting systems LED - and therefore to improve the environmental performance of products during their life cycle - the Regulation is a useful tool for heal the progressive loss of energy efficiency. Such products, indeed, They 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, The rules (I) 2019/2020 fixed gods limits of admissibility of the reduction of the luminous flux according to the expected life of the source itself, recommending endurance tests to identify the potential loss of brightness of the products.
Eg, with a typical expected life (life time) of 15.000 Hours, the brightness reduction after 3.000 hours of operation (analyzed in the laboratory) must be less than the 7% of the initial value.
This is not an extremely severe limit in absolute terms, but of 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 Europe system.
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Good afternoon, I'm going to start selling a lighting product to decorate bright walls via LED lights. I understand that I need the CE certificate and an EU declaration of responsibility and conformity.
Further requirements would be needed at European level?
Thanks so much
Good morning,
If you are the manufacturer of the product your obligations are:
– carry out the appropriate conformity assessment procedure
– prepare technical documentation
– affix the CE marking on the appliance
– prepare the prescribed documents (declaration of conformity, guidelines)
– put the label.
If you import the product from non-EU countries you are considered importers:
Every importer is obliged to affix his name to the electrical equipment, your registered trade name or registered trademark and the postal address at which you can be contacted, to ensure that the appropriate conformity assessment procedure has been carried out by the manufacturer, that the manufacturer has prepared the technical documentation, that the CE marking is affixed to the apparatus, that the latter is accompanied by the required documents, and that the manufacturer has complied with the labelling 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 labelling requirements and that the importer(is present) has affixed its name to the product, your registered trade name or registered trademark and the postal address at which you can be contacted
Kind regards
Sicom Test
Good evening,
I have a question. I'm creating a project 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, the transformer and the socket for the lamp, the cable and plug are themselves CE certified. I need a CE certificate to be able to sell my finished piece? Thank you
Good morning,
Yes, even if a product is composed of parts with CE marking, the complete product must in any case be tested to demonstrate its conformity and be able to affix the CE marking
Kind regards
Sicom Test