Juan Pedro Peña wrote:
> In this forum, I can see many question about EU regulatory law
> (EU Directives). For me, it is very clear and very easy.
> For example, for a simple Personal Computer, you have to comply
> with the LV Directive & EMC Directive. To do that, you can use
> the corresponding harmonised standards using any laboratory you
> wish and give you enough reliance, including your own laboratory
> if you have it and offer you enough facilities. Then, you build
> the Technical File, sing the Declaration of Conformity and put
> the CE marking. That's all for all the European countries at
> the same time. You don't have to pay any Certification Body if
> you don't wish it and even you don't need to pay the most
> expensive laboratories if you have a cheaper one that gives
> you enough reliance (please, do not forget that the
> responsibility is always of the manufacturer).
> However, I don't know how is the situation in USA.
> I know if you have UL mark, you can sell in any state,
> but that means you only can use the UL associated
> laboratories and you have to pay the certification
> fee every year.
Not quite right Juan. For safety UL-1950, you pay for
the approval testing once. Then, there is a follow up
factory inspection once every 3 months by an inspector
that visits your facility. That costs you.
FCC Part 68 telco approval requires an annual followup
with equipment being sent to the lab to keep your
"certification". This is different than safety.
There is no such thing as a "UL" associated lab.
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) was at one time
one of two organizations that wrote standards and
did the testing to those standards. Another lab that did
product testing just as old as UL is one called ETL.
This is not the case now. There are several labs which
have no connection to UL or ETL that compete for testing.
To do safety testing, they must be called NRTLs
(Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories).
These labs are declared an NRTL by an agency called OSHA.
OSHA legally enforces workplace safety. They follow a
law where it is stated that any product used in the
workplace that uses main AC power from the public
utility must be approved by an NRTL. The law that
covers this is CFR 29 Section 1910.
CFR = Code of Federal Regulations, i.e. Federal Law.
To get your product approved to comply with
CFR 29 Section 1910, you request a test from
an NRTL, describe the functionality of your product
to the engineer, and it is determined which category
your equipment fits.
> Much more expensive than the EU system.
> Is it that true? Are there any other cheaper system?
> Are there any clear and single law like the EU Directives?
Product Safety = CFR 29, Section 1910
Product Emissions = CFR 47, Part 15
Product Immunity = none as of yet.
Product Telco = CFR 47, Part 68
Product Laser Laser Laws = CFR Title 21, Part 807 (subparts as required)
CFR Title 21, Part 1000 (subparts as
required)
CFR Title 21, Part 1010 (subparts as
required)
CFR Title 21, Part 1040 (subparts as
required)
> Are there any WEB in which I could see the corresponding law?
Hope this helps.
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The comments and opinions stated herein are mine alone,
and do not reflect those of my employer.
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