Inspectors and Contractors are being forced to accept or install non-certified electrical equipment in our nation’s workplaces. Federal Law (OSHA) 29CFR1910.399 and 303a requires that electrical equipment be listed or labeled by an approved testing laboratory. Protection is available from MET.
The implications here are serious: Workers are exposed to hazardous and incorrectly designed equipment, workplace owners and managers are successfully sued by families, inspectors are blamed and contractors are sued for installing the equipment. Equipment manufacturers are then subject to lawsuits, but this is more difficult when they are outside of the US.
To help combat this threat to our electrical industry employees and the people and owners in our workplaces, MET has developed the “Non-Certified Equipment Record Book”. This record book is now available free of charge, and allows electrical industry professionals like Inspectors and Contractors to identify and record potentially hazardous non-certified equipment. It also contains language reviewed by an experienced construction attorney that makes it clear the person writing the record considers the equipment potentially hazardous. A (Carbonless) copy of this record can be given the owner of the equipment, as notice that there will be liability in the event of an injury, electrocution or explosion.
In the last few years, special interest groups and politicians have been working hard to cripple our existing safety requirements, and have purposefully ignored warning from our electrical safety experts. This effort to keep safety inspection costs down only increases liability for our hard working families and our business people who have invested greatly. One good way to keep and increase jobs is to keep people alive and safe, and keep businesses free of fire and explosion hazards. Many people will remember the West Pharmaceutical disaster in 2004, in which non-certified equipment caused an explosion that killed several people and destroyed the jobs and lives of many more.
The Non-Certified Record Book is available at no cost to contractors, inspectors, or anyone who is in a position to identify non-certified equipment. To order your record book, contact Luke Young at 800-321-4655, the MET Laboratories Southeast headquarters and testing facility in Cary, NC. The MET Southeast office has been in the Raleigh-Durham RTP area for over 17 years.
MET is a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), approved by OSHA to certify multiple product categories. For information on MET, go to www.osha.gov and select “N” from the alphabetical menu. You can then look at the OSHA scope of accreditation for MET Laboratories under the NRTL link.
Showing posts with label UL Testing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UL Testing. Show all posts
Thursday, January 14, 2010
US Companies Risk Lawsuits When Preparing Products for Sale in Europe With CE Marking
“CE Marking” certification for Europe is a “Self-Declaration”, but what happens if it’s incorrect? Many company owners don’t realize the liability they assume when signing the CE documentation.
In North America, most electrical equipment manufacturers are required to have their products tested by an independent testing laboratory, such as UL, MET, CSA, ETL, and TUV. In the US, these laboratories are approved and audited by the Federal Government (OSHA) and are required to prove experience and competence for the accreditation. For the European Union, “CE Marking” “Self-Declaration is allowed.
What’s the difference? With an independent accredited testing laboratory there are some assurances. The correct Standard is chosen, the electrical construction evaluation performed by an Engineer is thorough, and the testing is performed by experienced technicians. With CE marking, none of this is assured. In fact, in the testing and product safety consulting business, products are submitted every day with the CE mark that have multiple problems and hazards.
One of the requirements for the CE Marking is that the owner or CEO of the company sign the Declaration of Conformity. This brings up several questions. Does this person understand the process? Do they have any technical knowledge? Would they know if something was wrong with the product or the test results? Would they even know if any testing had been done or if the proper equipment and procedures had been used? Would they know that a Technical Construction File is required, or that a EU authorized agent is required to hold the report?
Customs and port inspectors in Europe are looking for the CE Marking on all products. Additionally, if there are any questions for any reason, they can request the Technical Construction File. If the file is not with the agent, (or does not exist) the shipment can be delayed, held or turned back. If a CE marked product causes injury or death, the CEO or company owner is held directly responsible in international court – this can result in fines or even prison.
Of course, there are many companies that successfully complete these self-declarations and sell products in the EU without using an independent testing laboratory. Some have experienced people on staff, own the Standards and test equipment, know the Directives, and create an accurate technical file. Others are only placing the CE sticker on the product and are just “Rolling the dice”.
CertifiGroup provides some free-of-charge services to help US manufacturers. Call or e-mail to sent up an appointment at the testing facility in North Carolina. Call 800-321-4655 or go to the website www.certifigroup.com to send an e-mail or information request.
CertifiGroup also regularly provides US (UL) and Canadian (CSA) certifications for North America, SEMI S2 evaluations for semiconductor equipment, ingress protection testing, hazardous (Classified) location certification and field evaluations, generators, solar and wind turbine safety, medical and laboratory equipment.
In North America, most electrical equipment manufacturers are required to have their products tested by an independent testing laboratory, such as UL, MET, CSA, ETL, and TUV. In the US, these laboratories are approved and audited by the Federal Government (OSHA) and are required to prove experience and competence for the accreditation. For the European Union, “CE Marking” “Self-Declaration is allowed.
What’s the difference? With an independent accredited testing laboratory there are some assurances. The correct Standard is chosen, the electrical construction evaluation performed by an Engineer is thorough, and the testing is performed by experienced technicians. With CE marking, none of this is assured. In fact, in the testing and product safety consulting business, products are submitted every day with the CE mark that have multiple problems and hazards.
One of the requirements for the CE Marking is that the owner or CEO of the company sign the Declaration of Conformity. This brings up several questions. Does this person understand the process? Do they have any technical knowledge? Would they know if something was wrong with the product or the test results? Would they even know if any testing had been done or if the proper equipment and procedures had been used? Would they know that a Technical Construction File is required, or that a EU authorized agent is required to hold the report?
Customs and port inspectors in Europe are looking for the CE Marking on all products. Additionally, if there are any questions for any reason, they can request the Technical Construction File. If the file is not with the agent, (or does not exist) the shipment can be delayed, held or turned back. If a CE marked product causes injury or death, the CEO or company owner is held directly responsible in international court – this can result in fines or even prison.
Of course, there are many companies that successfully complete these self-declarations and sell products in the EU without using an independent testing laboratory. Some have experienced people on staff, own the Standards and test equipment, know the Directives, and create an accurate technical file. Others are only placing the CE sticker on the product and are just “Rolling the dice”.
CertifiGroup provides some free-of-charge services to help US manufacturers. Call or e-mail to sent up an appointment at the testing facility in North Carolina. Call 800-321-4655 or go to the website www.certifigroup.com to send an e-mail or information request.
CertifiGroup also regularly provides US (UL) and Canadian (CSA) certifications for North America, SEMI S2 evaluations for semiconductor equipment, ingress protection testing, hazardous (Classified) location certification and field evaluations, generators, solar and wind turbine safety, medical and laboratory equipment.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
CertifiGroup Has Alternative to UL Certification, Offers Electrical Product Safety Training in Cary
CertifiGroup is providing UL testing and certifications for local, national and international designers and manufacturers of electrical products and systems. Training classes are available.
What UL Standards apply to my product? This is a typical question for first-time product designers and builders. For individuals and companies new to product safety, these training courses have helped to learn how to submit a product that will pass evaluation and testing. This is the phase where unexpected delays can cause re-design and re-submittal to the testing laboratory.
Product safety training programs can be conducted at the CertifiGroup training facility in Cary NC, or at the manufacturer’s location. These programs can be customized to suit a particular manufacturer and product, and range from non-technical (For sales teams and management) to highly technical for designers, prototype builders and manufacturing engineers. Some of these courses include hands-on evaluation and testing with experienced product safety engineers.
This type of training is not generally available, and there are no university or technical school courses that teach product safety and regulatory. Being prepared can save a great deal of money, and make the difference between a timely product launch, and delays that let the competition jump ahead. The CertifiGroup training program will allow your staff to learn how to design, build, and test products in advance of submittal to a testing laboratory. Some manufacturers do not have the facility or equipment to perform their own testing, however, they will be prepared for the design and prototype phases, and will have access to the CertifiGroup facilities.
Testing laboratories like UL (Underwriters Laboratories) will not provide design assistance and staff training. Instead, the burden of being well-prepared is left up to the engineering staff. If you have all the required materials ready (e.g. product or prototype, drawings, specifications), the testing lab will let you submit a product whether you’re ready or not. Of course, this can mean unanticipated delays, re-design and/or re-tooling costs, missed venture capital milestones, problems with investors etc. With help from the beginning, or anytime before laboratory submittal, these delays and roadblocks can be avoided.
CertifiGroup will provide free initial engineering evaluations for designers and manufacturers. This initial evaluation will include review of applicable product Standards, materials and component selection, engineering drawings and prototype / sample product safety overview. To sign up for this evaluation or to arrange product safety training, call CertifiGroup at 800-422-1651, or visit the website: www.CertifiGroup.com and submit a contact form.
CertifiGroup also regularly provides CE certifications (For Europe), SEMI S2 evaluations for semiconductor equipment, ingress protection testing, hazardous (Classified) location certification and field evaluations, generators, solar and wind turbine safety, medical and laboratory equipment. CertifiGroup was also an exhibitor at the Green NC Building Show, September 9th at the Raleigh Convention Center.
What UL Standards apply to my product? This is a typical question for first-time product designers and builders. For individuals and companies new to product safety, these training courses have helped to learn how to submit a product that will pass evaluation and testing. This is the phase where unexpected delays can cause re-design and re-submittal to the testing laboratory.
Product safety training programs can be conducted at the CertifiGroup training facility in Cary NC, or at the manufacturer’s location. These programs can be customized to suit a particular manufacturer and product, and range from non-technical (For sales teams and management) to highly technical for designers, prototype builders and manufacturing engineers. Some of these courses include hands-on evaluation and testing with experienced product safety engineers.
This type of training is not generally available, and there are no university or technical school courses that teach product safety and regulatory. Being prepared can save a great deal of money, and make the difference between a timely product launch, and delays that let the competition jump ahead. The CertifiGroup training program will allow your staff to learn how to design, build, and test products in advance of submittal to a testing laboratory. Some manufacturers do not have the facility or equipment to perform their own testing, however, they will be prepared for the design and prototype phases, and will have access to the CertifiGroup facilities.
Testing laboratories like UL (Underwriters Laboratories) will not provide design assistance and staff training. Instead, the burden of being well-prepared is left up to the engineering staff. If you have all the required materials ready (e.g. product or prototype, drawings, specifications), the testing lab will let you submit a product whether you’re ready or not. Of course, this can mean unanticipated delays, re-design and/or re-tooling costs, missed venture capital milestones, problems with investors etc. With help from the beginning, or anytime before laboratory submittal, these delays and roadblocks can be avoided.
CertifiGroup will provide free initial engineering evaluations for designers and manufacturers. This initial evaluation will include review of applicable product Standards, materials and component selection, engineering drawings and prototype / sample product safety overview. To sign up for this evaluation or to arrange product safety training, call CertifiGroup at 800-422-1651, or visit the website: www.CertifiGroup.com and submit a contact form.
CertifiGroup also regularly provides CE certifications (For Europe), SEMI S2 evaluations for semiconductor equipment, ingress protection testing, hazardous (Classified) location certification and field evaluations, generators, solar and wind turbine safety, medical and laboratory equipment. CertifiGroup was also an exhibitor at the Green NC Building Show, September 9th at the Raleigh Convention Center.
Monday, August 31, 2009
CertifiGroup Opens New Ingress Protection Testing Laboratory for CE and UL Product Certifications
CertifiGroup a Cary NC company, announces the opening of a new Ingress Protection testing laboratory. This IP Code testing laboratory is the biggest privately owned facility in the Western Hemisphere.
Ingress Protection is the designation of a product’s ability to withstand the entry of objects, dust or liquid. The IP Code is arranged in a 2 digit format. The first digit, “Protection against foreign objects” is from 0 (Not protected) to 6 (Dust tight). The second digit “Protection against moisture” is from 0 (Not protected) to 8 (Protected from submersion). For example, a product that could withstand the most severe dust storm and be water tight would carry the designation IP68. Some electric motors and electrical enclosures bear the IP55 designation: Dust protected and protected against water jets. The US equivalent to IP56 (for UL Certification) is NEMA 4 and 4X. For the complete IP table and reference material, visit CertifiGroup.com and go to the “IP Code Testing” page.
The CertifiGroup Ingress Protection laboratory includes a variety of equipment for testing products that require proof of these protection characteristics. Some products require testing in the “Dust chamber”, others are subject to tests performed by an “Oscillating spray tester”, “Drip box” or “Jet nozzle” test apparatus. Joshua Hunt, an NC State graduate in mechanical engineering and head of the IP lab talks about the challenges for manufacturers. “A company might design lights for the top of a building, but they’re really not sure if the enclosures are water or dust tight until we test them. If they’re going to market these products for harsh environments they need to be sure, or failures later on can be disastrous”. This testing has to be done with the right equipment. “Recently we had a customer come to us because their previous testing lab, a nationally known product safety lab, used a shower in their bathroom for testing a lighting product”, Hunt said. “They were not confident this testing was done correctly”.
Some recent CertifiGroup clients include: Toshiba, Parker Hannifin, Altman Lighting, Standard Motor Products. The products tested range from small USB drives to enclosures to large 3 phase industrial motors. Some other clients with well-known names have projects where there were testing failures, and they are in the process of re-design or modifications. Because of these situations, it is a good business decision to get products to the testing lab early, before a test failure can delay projects or shipments.
CertifiGroup also tests many categories of electrical products for UL & CSA Certification, SEMI S-2, CE Marking for Europe. CertifiGroup also has special programs for manufacturers and designers of “Green Energy” equipment, including solar, wind turbine, geothermal and more.
For more information or to arrange a tour of our new Ingress Protection lab, visit the CertifiGroup website (CertifiGroup.com) or call 800-422-1651.
Ingress Protection is the designation of a product’s ability to withstand the entry of objects, dust or liquid. The IP Code is arranged in a 2 digit format. The first digit, “Protection against foreign objects” is from 0 (Not protected) to 6 (Dust tight). The second digit “Protection against moisture” is from 0 (Not protected) to 8 (Protected from submersion). For example, a product that could withstand the most severe dust storm and be water tight would carry the designation IP68. Some electric motors and electrical enclosures bear the IP55 designation: Dust protected and protected against water jets. The US equivalent to IP56 (for UL Certification) is NEMA 4 and 4X. For the complete IP table and reference material, visit CertifiGroup.com and go to the “IP Code Testing” page.
The CertifiGroup Ingress Protection laboratory includes a variety of equipment for testing products that require proof of these protection characteristics. Some products require testing in the “Dust chamber”, others are subject to tests performed by an “Oscillating spray tester”, “Drip box” or “Jet nozzle” test apparatus. Joshua Hunt, an NC State graduate in mechanical engineering and head of the IP lab talks about the challenges for manufacturers. “A company might design lights for the top of a building, but they’re really not sure if the enclosures are water or dust tight until we test them. If they’re going to market these products for harsh environments they need to be sure, or failures later on can be disastrous”. This testing has to be done with the right equipment. “Recently we had a customer come to us because their previous testing lab, a nationally known product safety lab, used a shower in their bathroom for testing a lighting product”, Hunt said. “They were not confident this testing was done correctly”.
Some recent CertifiGroup clients include: Toshiba, Parker Hannifin, Altman Lighting, Standard Motor Products. The products tested range from small USB drives to enclosures to large 3 phase industrial motors. Some other clients with well-known names have projects where there were testing failures, and they are in the process of re-design or modifications. Because of these situations, it is a good business decision to get products to the testing lab early, before a test failure can delay projects or shipments.
CertifiGroup also tests many categories of electrical products for UL & CSA Certification, SEMI S-2, CE Marking for Europe. CertifiGroup also has special programs for manufacturers and designers of “Green Energy” equipment, including solar, wind turbine, geothermal and more.
For more information or to arrange a tour of our new Ingress Protection lab, visit the CertifiGroup website (CertifiGroup.com) or call 800-422-1651.
Monday, August 17, 2009
UL Safety for Wind Turbines – CertifiGroup Launches No-Cost Program for Designers and Manufacturers
CertifiGroup, a Cary NC company, is providing a free service to manufacturers and designers of wind turbine technologies for commercial and residential installation.
Do you know which UL, CSA and international Standards are correct for this category of equipment? How does product safety regulatory affect design and production timelines? Can a designer or manufacturer of this equipment gain an advantage in the marketplace by understanding these questions and acting on the information? There are many brilliant minds, entrepreneurs, mechanical and electrical specialists working on these technologies, but most of them are missing this critical information. CertifiGroup is providing free consultation to give these innovators a head start, and avoid costly delays at critical milestones.
Since the breaking of the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) monopoly, other testing laboratories can provide genuinely helpful customer service to small businesses and first-time designers. The new CertifiGroup alternative energy program will help insure these manufacturers and designers have every advantage in the marketplace.
Brad Collison, Engineering Manager at CertifiGroup, reports that the initial meetings with designers of wind turbines are very enlightening for everyone involved in the project. “In most cases, there was little consideration given to the product safety process. In all of these project working sessions, the designers had little or no knowledge of the UL and other Standards they needed to comply with”. The same holds true with investors and venture capital interests. “The timelines being laid out are incorrect. These manufacturers are going to face some uncomfortable questions from investors when milestones are missed because of design mistakes or testing laboratory delays. In one venture capital presentation I saw, the entire subject was missing,” said Collison. “This is a recipe for disaster, since competitors who have the knowledge will have the edge”.
Many designers have to go back to the drawing board because the product safety regulations were not considered early on, or the product was submitted to the lab and had electrical construction or test failures. The difficulty is that companies like UL don’t offer any design assistance – they simply tell you if the product fails evaluation or testing, then you have to try and figure out how to go back and get it right. This can take several attempts without help. The solution to all testing laboratory difficulties is genuine assistance in the design or prototype phase of product development. This is where CertifiGroup comes in. This free service will assist our designers and manufacturers of energy-saving products, and help our communities and our world become more environmentally friendly.
The new Wind Turbine technology is exciting. There are names like “Helix Wind”, “Quiet Revolution”, “Super Turbine”, “Sky Serpent”, loop wing and eggbeater designs, air generators, kites, spiral turbines. The opportunities are great, and the imagination of these designers is unlimited. But also, there are investors ready to ride the tide, stimulus monies to be had, local and state programs and laws encouraging this innovative and important Green technology work.
In the normal course of business, CertifiGroup handles a wide variety of equipment and product certifications, everything from lighting products to medical equipment to explosive atmosphere industrial systems. These projects require experience in the array of Standards available, such as UL, CSA, ANSI, ASTM and NFPA Standards. If the designer knows the Standard and how to build equipment to comply and pass testing, this process can go smoothly, sometimes going from submittal to certification in just a few weeks. These free sessions can potentially save thousands of dollars and help avoid delays the make the differences between success and failure of a product, or even a company.
CertifiGroup (certifigroup.com) also provides UL certifications, and has assisted many manufacturers in selling products in the Western Hemisphere, Europe and worldwide.
Contact Certifigroup at 800-422-1651, or at www.certifigroup.com to make an appointment for the free Green Design Assistance service. This program also includes Solar and other Green and Energy-Saving products.
Do you know which UL, CSA and international Standards are correct for this category of equipment? How does product safety regulatory affect design and production timelines? Can a designer or manufacturer of this equipment gain an advantage in the marketplace by understanding these questions and acting on the information? There are many brilliant minds, entrepreneurs, mechanical and electrical specialists working on these technologies, but most of them are missing this critical information. CertifiGroup is providing free consultation to give these innovators a head start, and avoid costly delays at critical milestones.
Since the breaking of the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) monopoly, other testing laboratories can provide genuinely helpful customer service to small businesses and first-time designers. The new CertifiGroup alternative energy program will help insure these manufacturers and designers have every advantage in the marketplace.
Brad Collison, Engineering Manager at CertifiGroup, reports that the initial meetings with designers of wind turbines are very enlightening for everyone involved in the project. “In most cases, there was little consideration given to the product safety process. In all of these project working sessions, the designers had little or no knowledge of the UL and other Standards they needed to comply with”. The same holds true with investors and venture capital interests. “The timelines being laid out are incorrect. These manufacturers are going to face some uncomfortable questions from investors when milestones are missed because of design mistakes or testing laboratory delays. In one venture capital presentation I saw, the entire subject was missing,” said Collison. “This is a recipe for disaster, since competitors who have the knowledge will have the edge”.
Many designers have to go back to the drawing board because the product safety regulations were not considered early on, or the product was submitted to the lab and had electrical construction or test failures. The difficulty is that companies like UL don’t offer any design assistance – they simply tell you if the product fails evaluation or testing, then you have to try and figure out how to go back and get it right. This can take several attempts without help. The solution to all testing laboratory difficulties is genuine assistance in the design or prototype phase of product development. This is where CertifiGroup comes in. This free service will assist our designers and manufacturers of energy-saving products, and help our communities and our world become more environmentally friendly.
The new Wind Turbine technology is exciting. There are names like “Helix Wind”, “Quiet Revolution”, “Super Turbine”, “Sky Serpent”, loop wing and eggbeater designs, air generators, kites, spiral turbines. The opportunities are great, and the imagination of these designers is unlimited. But also, there are investors ready to ride the tide, stimulus monies to be had, local and state programs and laws encouraging this innovative and important Green technology work.
In the normal course of business, CertifiGroup handles a wide variety of equipment and product certifications, everything from lighting products to medical equipment to explosive atmosphere industrial systems. These projects require experience in the array of Standards available, such as UL, CSA, ANSI, ASTM and NFPA Standards. If the designer knows the Standard and how to build equipment to comply and pass testing, this process can go smoothly, sometimes going from submittal to certification in just a few weeks. These free sessions can potentially save thousands of dollars and help avoid delays the make the differences between success and failure of a product, or even a company.
CertifiGroup (certifigroup.com) also provides UL certifications, and has assisted many manufacturers in selling products in the Western Hemisphere, Europe and worldwide.
Contact Certifigroup at 800-422-1651, or at www.certifigroup.com to make an appointment for the free Green Design Assistance service. This program also includes Solar and other Green and Energy-Saving products.
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