Michael & PSNet,
The US system involving the AHJ includes something on the order of
10,000 separate jurisdictions in the US -including states, counties within
the states and cities within the counties.
They control electrical installations according to local regulations
(not uniform among all jurisdictions). Most invoke the NEC as the basis for
electrical installation requirements. Historically, electrical inspectors
have only looked at the fixed wiring within the installation but, more
recently, have been also looking at the installed equipment. Permanently
wired equipment is usually installed earlier and is more likely to be
included in the final inspection for any facility.
In any case the NEC (National Electrical Code) is invoked as being
applicable by jurisdictions. Article 100 defines Listed and Labeled to show
adequacy for the application and environment of use. Article 110 provides
the basis for the requirements: 110-2, conductors and equipment required or
permitted ... shall be acceptable only if approved (see Listed & labeled).
Article 110-3, ... Equipment ... Suitable for use and in conformity with ...
this Code. Installation & Use, Listed or labeled equipment installed in
accordance with the specified instructions from the Listing/labeling.
NFPA79 (which is harmonized with IEC 60204 since ~2000) is
applicable to industrial machines. At this point in time it is not a
specific certification category by test houses but individual machines are
evaluated and labeled as being in compliance (usually a field inspection).
The Listed/labeled equipment provides assurance to the local
inspector that a piece of machinery is acceptable to be installed and
operated as part of this operation. Local inspectors will push for this
further evaluation since they do not have the full experience nor time to
evaluate all the machinery used in enough detail to determine if it is
adequate.
The local inspector must approve the installation (including any
machinery that might be installed) before it can be operated by the factory.
Finally, I repeat what I've said on this PSNet many times before:
Americans are good at writing requirements (which are usually called
voluntary but it is more complicated than that) but have not develop an
integrated approval system that implements the requirements in the same way
all over the US.
I'm sure that there will be more comments; hopefully this help you
to understand the situation in America.
:>) br, Pete
Peter E Perkins, PE
Principal Product Safety Engineer
PO Box 23427
Tigard, ORe 97281-3427
503/452-1201 fone/fax
[email protected]
-
----------------------------------------------------------------
This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc
discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to
<[email protected]>
All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at:
http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html
Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at
http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used
formats), large files, etc.
Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/
Instructions: http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html
List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html
For help, send mail to the list administrators:
Scott Douglas <[email protected]>
Mike Cantwell <[email protected]>
For policy questions, send mail to:
Jim Bacher: <[email protected]>
David Heald: <[email protected]>
