Dear All It is quite normal in Europe to find US/Canada manufactured equipment that does not meet the creepage and clearance, and/or insulation requirements that have been found to be necessary in practice for safety.
It is also not unusual in Europe to find US/Canada manufactured equipment that smokes or even catches fire as a result of the above shortcomings. Even very big name companies are known to suffer from this, and most people working in the safety field can give examples. A well-known UK safety consultant was even claiming in conversation with me the other week that it can almost be taken as a rule that US/Canada manufactured equipment is unsafe for use on European AC supply voltages (until proved otherwise). Against such a real-life background, I think that the EU agencies insisting on the use of components (for use on hazardous voltages) which have been approved to EU safety standards for products sold in the EU are quite right to continue with this practice. I believe we need to persuade the component manufacturers to go global with their product ranges, and get all relevant approvals, as their customers are increasingly being forced to do. The manufacturing costs of meeting US and EU safety standards in volume production of electrical and electronic components will be small. Even though such components will cost a little more, the effect on the bottom line of the product manufacturer would be much less than the cost of building different versions for different markets. My 2 cents worth! EurIng Keith Armstrong Partner, Cherry Clough Consultants Member of EMC-UK Chairman of the IEE's Professional Group on EMC phone: +44 1457 871 605 fax: +44 1457 820 145 Email: [email protected] POWELL, DOUG wrote: > > A little clarification by way of example, > > Traditionally if we build a power conversion product for North America, we > provide a UL/CSA approved circuit breaker as a part of the design. However > if we subsequently apply for certificates from an agency in Europe they will > insist upon a European approved circuit breaker. Historically we have had > no success in finding circuit breakers with multiple approvals suitable for > both continents. If the component has approval form an accredited test lab > we feel that it is not unsafe to use. What is the risk of self-declaring > compliance to the LVD using only the UL/CSA approved part? This would be a > major cost savings. > > A second example would be the use of an EMI filter which is already approved > by one agency (not European). > > I heard that this question was posed to the European Commission this year > (1998) and their response was to the effect that the choice of components is > up to the manufacturer. I am unable to recall which email or periodical > made this statement. Or was it something I read in the Official Journal. I > tried browsing the European Commission's website and was unable to find any > document to this effect. It is a difficult site to navigate. > > Doug Powell > Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. > Fort Collins, Colorado USA > ---------- > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: Agency approvals on components in CE mar > Date: Tuesday, September 08, 1998 10:31AM > > It is my understanding that the European Commission has stated that a > manufacturer has the freedom to determine the acceptability of components > used in CE marked products. (Or words to that effect.) I would conclude > that this would remove the need for using European agency approved > components in safety critical locations. Any reputable agency approval, or > appropriate evaluation by the manufacturer, would be acceptable. > > Does anyone know of where I can obtain this statement in writing? I'd like > to have something to back this up. Also, I welcome comments on the > conclusions I have drawn based on this "alleged" EC statement. > > Regards, > > Jeff Jenkins > Senior Regulatory Compliance Engineer > Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. > Fort Collins, CO USA > > --------- > This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. > To cancel your subscription, send mail to [email protected] > with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the > quotes). For help, send mail to [email protected], > [email protected], or [email protected] (the list > administrators). > > --------- > This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. > To cancel your subscription, send mail to [email protected] > with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the > quotes). For help, send mail to [email protected], > [email protected], or [email protected] (the list > administrators). --------- This message is coming from the emc-pstc discussion list. To cancel your subscription, send mail to [email protected] with the single line: "unsubscribe emc-pstc" (without the quotes). For help, send mail to [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected] (the list administrators).
