Dear Treggers, I have some questions that are not directly related to telecommunications, but are of a more general regulatory nature. However, I imagine that TREG members, especially anyone running a test laboratory, would be able to answer. I am also posting this on the EMC-PSTC forum. Since I am not a member of EMC-PSTC, I would appreciate it if all respondents on that forum would include me in their mailing list, when they reply!
The product in question is a soft toy, in the development of which we are collaborating, that includes a battery, electronic elements, a loudspeaker, and an RS-232 data interface for connection with external equipment (that already has regulatory approval), which is connected to the electricity supply. Here are our questions: 1. Can anyone tell us the applicable Standards for the described product category in the United States, Canada, the EEC and Japan (and any other countries about which you are familiar)? 2. What are the relevant product markings and labeling requirements? 3. What is the timescale to be expected for obtaining approval to market the product in the aforementioned countries? 4. Can you recommend any sources of relevant regulatory information, including forums on Internet or CompuServe, World Wide Web sites, reference books and technical journals? 5. Can you recommend suitable test laboratories and consultants that can assist with correctly specifying the regulatory aspects of the product, pre-testing, and regulatory testing? Also, if any aspects of regulatory testing may be performed only at accredited laboratories, we would be glad to have a list of these. 6. Does the fact that the product may be electrically connected (a data interface only) to an external apparatus (having regulatory approval), that is in turn connected to the electricity supply have any bearing on Safety requirements, and if so, what are the additional requirements that this connection entails? The following are my own thoughts on this subject, but these might be an underestimate or overestimate of what is actually required. I assume that the relevant Standards relate to EMC, Safety, environmental protection, and might also relate to the language and wording of the user's manual. I also assume that apart from these topics, no required quality Standards exist, and that customers are expected to respond as they see fit to product quality issues. I believe that the EMC issue should be simple enough, and presume that FCC Part 15, class B applies in the USA, while EN50081, part 1, and possibly EN55022, class B (the latter due to the data connection with external equipment) probably apply in Europe. I imagine that EMC immunity is not required for a toy -- unless of course it is a vehicle, or something similar, that could go out of control as a result of an unwanted RF signal or electrostatic discharge! Regarding Safety, applicable parameters that I can imagine include: a. limitation of sound pressure from the loudspeaker; b. protection against swallowing small parts; c. protection against access to batteries; d. protection against poisoning; e. protection against injury from mechanical parts and leaking components; f. protection against electric shock; g. protection against overcurrents, and resulting fires, explosions and chemical hazards, and danger of asphyxiation (assuming that a user might insert a rechargeable battery with a very low internal resistance); h. flammability; i. protection against hazards caused by the product coming into contact with water, or household substances that are available to children; i. required warning notices. Environmental protection, if it is a requirement, should relate to packaging materials and their disposability, and possibly also to the environmental impact and disposability of the product itself. On the subject of markings, I am aware of the EEC requirement relating to the CE marking. Can anyone say something about other countries? Thank you in advance for your responses, David Drori --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ Novarex Enterprises Ltd., POB 2833, Jerusalem 91028, Israel. Tel: +972 2 581 0995 Fax: +972 2 581 3750 Mobile: +972 5 067 8686 E-mail: [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------
