Electrical safety testing

Ensure product safety and quality to avoid potential harm by meeting electrical safety requirements.

What is electrical safety testing?

Electrical safety testing is a series of safety tests carried out to assess the potential risk of electric shock to consumers when using your products. Electrical shocks can be the result of poor design, inadequate maintenance or unintended use. Manufacturers need to guard against all these possibilities. As electrical components have enormous influence on the reliability and quality of various products such as machinery and processing equipment, all these products must meet several safety requirements.

TÜV SÜD offers electrical safety testing for all types of electrical and electronic products in our accredited laboratories or at your site. We carry out the tests according to a set of electrical safety rules and precautions that protect against potential electrical hazards and injuries.

Why electrical safety testing is important

Risk mitigation
Electrical safety tests help keep customers safe from electrical shocks and overheating of products, so you can avoid expensive product recalls and litigation.
Regulatory compliance
Our electrical safety testing services help you keep up with the ever-changing regulatory landscape and comply with national and international standards.
Quality Control
Consistent quality throughout manufacturing is essential to ensure electrical safety. Robust quality control measures help you to address safety risks early.
Supply chain management
Manufacturers rely on a global supply chain with suppliers whose processes are unclear. Electrical safety testing can ensure that all these components are safe.
Versatility of usage
Certified components that have passed TÜV SÜD's testing to the relevant electrical safety standards can be seamlessly integrated into higher-level systems.

How TÜV SÜD can help you with electrical safety testing

TÜV SÜD can conduct electrical safety tests in our fully accredited laboratories located around the world. Our electrical safety testing is internationally accredited through the IECEE CB Scheme, based on our compliance with ISO 17025. TÜV SÜD is also a Notified Body under applicable Directives of the European Union.

In addition to our laboratory testing capabilities, TÜV SÜD engineers can also conduct an electrical safety test at your facility.

Our engineers can test a wide variety of consumer electrical and electronic equipment and products as well as medical, industrial, commercial and laboratory equipment. To ensure a smooth process, a dedicated project manager handles both the technical testing and the project organisation.

Our customers benefit from the global acceptance of our TÜV SÜD certificate due to its exceptional quality, the independence and neutrality of TÜV SÜD as an institution, and its global reputation. To ensure global market access, TÜV SÜD certification includes:

Issuing CB and NRTL certificates
Issuing TÜV SÜD Mark certificates.
LVD/MD conformities
Limited product certification
Field evaluation service
Customised certification packages

Get started with TÜV SÜD

Start your electrical safety testing journey with us.

What our electrical safety testing service include

TÜV SÜD can test both standardised and non-standardised products, perform mechanical and electrical safety testing and develop customised test programmes.

Our electrical safety test portfolio includes:

High voltage tests (dielectric withstand tests) – measures an electrical product’s ability to withstand a high voltage applied between its electrical circuit and the ground.
Leakage current tests – evaluates whether current that flows between an AC source and the ground is within a specified limit.
Insulation resistance tests – calibrates the quality of the electrical insulation used.
Ground continuity tests – ensures that there is a clear path between all exposed metal surfaces and the power system ground.

TÜV SÜD's range of electrical safety testing services are based on national and international standards and regulations such as:

Low voltage directive (LVD) (2014/35/EU)
Machinery regulation (EU) 2023/1230
Atmosphere explosible directive (ATEX) 2014/34/EU.
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) directive 2014/30/EU
Radio equipment directive (RED)

In addition to electrical safety testing services, we also provide electrical safety certification services and specialised trainings and seminars.

Upon successful electrical safety certification, TÜV SÜD provides the appropriate test mark in accordance with:

TÜV Mark
GS Mark
CB Scheme
NRTL
FES US
FES Europe
SPE 1000
CCC
Gost/EAC/SASO

TÜV SÜD offers to guide you on national and international certification procedures and provide development support for:

Risk analysis
Safety concepts
FMEA
User manual

How electrical safety testing applies to industries

Electrical safety testing for consumer products and retail

Electrical safety testing is vital for components used in consumer electronics products, such as smartphones, laptops, televisions, smart home and household appliances. It helps identify and mitigate potential electrical hazards such as electric shock, fire, or overheating and ensures compliance with safety regulations and standards. This reduces the risk of accidents and injuries, increases customer trust, and potentially increases sales.

Electrical safety testing for manufacturing

Machinery and processing equipment must meet several electrical safety standards. This means that all electrical equipment and machinery must be explicitly tested, certified or marked. The wiring, motors, switches, circuit breakers, power supplies, and transformers that make up today’s machines, are themselves complex multi-layered systems. Therefore, it is vital to test semiconductors, integrated circuits, resistors, capacitors, and connectors.

Electrical safety testing for automotive

Components used in automotive electronics must comply with relevant electrical safety standards and guidelines. These components include sensors, actuators, control modules, wiring harnesses, batteries and charging solutions. Safety features such as earth fault protection, overcurrent protection, and insulation systems are required. With electric and hybrid vehicles, testing becomes even more vital to ensure safe and reliable mobility solutions.

Electrical safety testing for rail

Electrical safety testing is crucial to ensure the safety and reliability of electrical systems and components used in trains and infrastructure. It helps prevent electrical hazards, which can cause significant safety risks for passengers and staff. Electrical safety testing minimises accidents and malfunctions, enhances the durability and performance of rail systems, and ensures compliance with national and international safety requirements.

Electrical safety testing for medical devices

Electrical safety testing is critical for components used in medical devices to ensure patient safety and regulatory compliance. These devices include diagnostic equipment, imaging systems, surgical instruments, and patient monitoring devices. We provide electrical safety certification services according to IEC 60601-1 (EDITION 3.2) to ensure the safety of medical electrical equipment following basic safety and essential performance requirements.

Electrical safety testing for energy and power systems

Components used in energy generation, transmission, and distribution systems need to undergo electrical safety testing to ensure reliability and performance in demanding environments. These components include transformers, circuit breakers, switches and power cables.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) (2014/35/EU) and what types of electrical equipment does it apply to?

Low Voltage Directive (LVD) (2014/35/EU) is a Directive implemented by the European Union. This Directive applies to electrical equipment with a voltage rating between 50 and 1000 volts for alternating current and 75 and 1500 volts for direct current. It covers health and safety risks and applies to household and industrial appliances, cables, power supply units, laser equipment and other components like switches and fuses.

What is the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 and why is it important for manufacturers in the European Union?

Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 was a Regulation introduced in June 2023. The new regulation replaces the Machinery Directive (Directive 2006/42/EC) and has entered into force throughout all EU Member States. From January 2027 its application becomes mandatory, and the new requirements must be applied by all economic operators.

What does the Atmosphere Explosible Directive (ATEX) 2014/34/EU regulate?

The ATEX directive regulates the requirements for equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres. These can occur whenever a mixture of gases, vapours, mists or dust combines in a way that can ignite under certain conditions. The ATEX Directive sets out health and safety requirements and assessments for products before they can be placed on the EU market.

What is the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive?

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 2014/30/EU was introduced by the European Commission to control electrical interference between different devices. It is mandatory for electronic products placed on the European market to comply with the EMC Directive 2014/30/EU.

What is the RED Directive?

The RED Directive is closely linked to the EMC Directive and provides a regulatory framework for radio equipment placed on the market. Its characteristics and requirements ensure that radio equipment meets standards for safety, health and electromagnetic compatibility, while protecting privacy and personal data against fraud.