Hi John:
> But the standards for these products have to be written by experts in
> the design of these products - non-experts would not know the problems
> that can arise. To produce generic safety standards, experts in the
> design of ALL products would be required. These exist only on the
> newsgroups.(;-)
I agree that a generic standard does indeed require input
from product experts. Indeed, such requirements are already
available in existing product standards. But, this does not
require that a safety standard be a *product* safety
standard.
> should be no unnecessary differences between product standards, but some
> differences are fully justified. For example, some products must be
> allowed to get very hot, or to have exposed moving parts, otherwise they
> would not work.
If we consider that a hot part will produce a burn injury
regardless of product, then appropriate generic requirements
can be written. For example, an iron must be hot in order
for the iron to do its job. However, the handle must not be
hot in order for the iron to do its job. So, from a
standards viewpoint, a generic standard must be written to
accomodate hot accessible parts and require cool parts for
those that must be manipulated in the normal operation of
the product. This is not so difficult!
> You are doubtless aware that IEC/EN60950 (and, I suppose, UL1950) has an
> extensive text on hazards.
Yes. The text is a notable beginning (but hardly extensive)
towards a generic safety standard.
> >While the products I deal with are computer
> >peripherals, I had the opportunity the other day to
> >attend a seminar on insulation diagrams used for
> >medical products. The interesting fact is that the
> >seminar did not address anything unique to medical
> >products.
>
> This may be down to the presenter, rather than to the question of
> whether medical products require special safety standards (which they
> do).
The presenter deliberately focussed on medical products.
I disgree that medical products require special safety standards.
Having experience in the safety of medical products, the
principal differences between a medical product safety standard
and other product safety standards are the limits for the various
safety parameters. Leakage currents for applied parts are very
much lower than for other parts. The means for accomplishing
such lower leakage currents is the same as for other products --
suitable insulation.
I envision generic safety standard in which only the limit
values are a function of the product.
Best regards,
Rich
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