Ouch!
I am making the assumption that you are reselling in the U.S. and or
Canada only, not in Europe.
You are grossly afoul with UL (Underwriters Laboratories) or other
U.S. and Canadian safety agencies as well as with the NEC (National
Electrical Code) requirements that appliances that are fixed,
reconditioned, or otherwise refurbished and sold to the public, must
meet specifications as originally approved by the safety agencies.
Canada (CSA) specifies that only the original manufacturer, or his
designated agent or representative, may refurbish equipment.
Substitution of parts is not allowed. UL specified, a long time ago,
that only the original manufacturer could refurbish equipment. By
now they may have added the "designated representative". Check with
UL.
In order not to run afoul with UL or CSA, you could obliterate their
safety marks on the equipment, but then you are in violation of NEC
and OSHA, which specify that only appliances approved and labeled by
designated Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (UL, CSA, and
others) are permitted to be installed in buildings (NEC 110-2).
Plugging in an appliance is considered an electrical installation.
Additionally, you are sticking your neck out with respect to liability
should your repair result in a fire or shock hazard to the user.
(I can see the headlines right now: "GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INVESTIGATED
FOR INCORRECT TOASTER REPAIR THAT RESULTS IN FIRE!")
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Write to specific manufacturers asking them to designate Goodwill
as their official repair/refurbishing agent.
2. Obtain all their specifications, parts bills, AND THE UL AND CSA
PRODUCT REPORTS.
3. Contact UL and/or CSA to have yourself approved for refurbishing
equipment.
4. Repair ONLY those products for which you have received the
original manufacturer's and agency permission.
Tania Grant, Octel Communications Corporation
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: FW: Electrical Safety
Author: "rbusche" <[email protected]> at P_Internet_mail
List-Post: [email protected]
Date: 5/22/96 7:37 AM
In case you have some recommendations for John. His address is
[email protected]
_______________________________________________________________________________
To: Multiple recipients of list SAFETY
From: Safety on Wed, May 22, 1996 5:14 AM
Subject: Electrical Safety
Electrical safety is not my strong suit. Our agency receives donated
electrical appliances which are then sold to the public. We want to write
some policy and procedures for testing the appliances. Does anyone have any
guidelines about testing for defects, the use of GFI's, and the need for a
grounding rubber mat.
Thanks.
John Male
Goodwill Industries of Northern New England
usual disclaimers
