Adapting to Innovation, Ensuring Safety
The rapid advancement of lighting and electronic technologies is reshaping the way electrical systems are designed and installed. As our homes, buildings, and infrastructures become smarter and more interconnected, low voltage electrical installations must evolve to meet new performance and safety demands.
CENELEC plays a central role in developing standards that guide this evolution, ensuring safe, reliable, and future-proof installations across Europe.
Key Technical Committees Driving Standardization
CLC/TC 64 – Electrical Installations and Protection Against Electric Shock
This Technical Committee develops the HD 60364 series, including:
- Part 1: Fundamental principles, assessment of general characteristics, definitions
These standards provide comprehensive rules for the design, erection, and verification of low voltage electrical installations. They aim to:
- Protect people, animals, and property from electrical hazards
- Ensure the correct and efficient functioning of installations
CLC/TC 205 – Home and Building Electronic Systems (HBES)
Supports the development of smart homes and buildings, offering standards that define:
- Performance requirements
- Hardware and software interfaces
These standards help integrate intelligent control systems into modern buildings, supporting the Information Society and digital transformation.
CLC/TC 213 – Cable Management Systems
This committee standardizes systems and components used for managing all types of cables and conductors. Its work covers:
- Support, containment, retention, and protection of cables
- Products made from metals (e.g., steel, aluminium) and plastics (e.g., PVC, PE, PP)
Effective cable management is essential for both safety and long-term performance of electrical systems.
Supporting Devices and Infrastructure
Several other Technical Committees contribute to the comprehensive standardization of low voltage installations:
- CLC/TC 23BX 'Switches, boxes and enclosures for household and similar purposes, plugs and socket outlet for D.C.'
- CLC/TC 23E 'Circuit breakers and similar devices for household and similar applications'
- CLC/TC 121A 'Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear'
- CLC/TC 219 ‘Mains communicating systems’
Supporting European Legislation
All of these activities take place in support of key EU Directives, including:
- The Low Voltage Directive (LVD)
- The Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMCD)
- The Radio Equipment Directive (RED)
By developing harmonized European Standards aligned with these legal frameworks, CENELEC helps ensure that low voltage systems across Europe are safe, efficient, interoperable, and legally compliant.
