GB · Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, SI 2016/1101
Electrical equipment safety in Great Britain
Identify the market and product category first. Each dossier separates legal duties, referenced standards, evidence and the comparison needed for an award.
Product Scope
Electrical equipment designed or adapted for 50–1,000 V AC or 75–1,500 V DC, subject to the Regulations’ exclusions. Radio safety has its own route. Household and workplace equipment are both covered; plugs, conversion plugs and sockets can have separate UK requirements.
Requirements
Address the Schedule 1 safety objectives, including electrical, mechanical, temperature and foreseeable overload risks. Decide the recognised CE route or UKCA route before selecting the standard references and declaration. For UKCA, a designated-standard reference can create a presumption only within its scope; the latest BS or IEC edition does not acquire that status automatically.
Required Evidence
Provide complete product safety tests and configuration, critical-component list, technical file, conformity declaration, marking, English instructions and traceability. The UKCA route is normally manufacturer internal production control for this legislation; do not invent a mandatory government laboratory certificate.
Comparison for the Awards
Compare only applicable safety parameters under equal method, supply and configuration. A pass result for a probe or abnormal-operation test remains a pass unless a technically sound and relevant beyond-baseline comparison is separately established.
Version & Transition
Current GB guidance confirms continued CE recognition under the 2024 amendments. NI follows its corresponding EU-based rules; GB marking flexibility must not be described as permission to use UKCA alone in NI.
Official Sources
Applicability depends on the product classification, intended use, configuration and actual sales territory. Manufacturing, placing-on-the-market and testing dates, together with transition provisions, are checked as required by each applicable rule. The directory identifies sources; it does not replace assessment of the specific model. Standards are identified by reference, and their authoritative texts remain with the issuing bodies. Official source documents retain their original language.