Product Safety Testing
Our Services
Our Safety Testing Services Include
• Pre-compliance Testing
• Consultation services to identify appropriate test requirements
• Advice on the labelling & paperwork requirements for your product
• Visual Inspections
• Perform key tests
• Basic Safety Assessment covers most of the relevant critical safety parameters of the LVD
• Basic Safety Assessment is a cost effective alternative to third party approval schemes
• Advice on NRTL requirements
• SAR Testing
Basic Safety Assessment
Basic Safety Assessment
The Basic Safety Assessment consists of three parts - dynamic tests, visual inspection and standard analysis;
The dynamic tests include but are not limited to:
Input current/power measurements
Temperature rise measurements
Insulation resistance test
Dielectric strength test
Touch current and earth leakage measurements
Earth bond test
Plug pin discharge test
Mechanical strength tests
Fault condition testing
The visual inspection includes but is not limited to:
Visual inspection to check clearance and creepage distances, access to live parts and to ensure safe construction.
Review of markings/labelling present on EUT.
Review of user manual and other documentation in terms of the requirements of the particular standard.
Review the suitability of critical components used in the product in terms of - is the component approved to the correct standard?
Is the type of approval suitable for the particular application? Any further requirements?
Review the general design and construction of the unit in accordance with the particular standard.
Identify other potential hazards (mechanical, chemical, radiation etc.) applicable to the product and make recommendations for compliance.
Standard Analysis:
Clause Analysis
Type Testing
Type Testing
In addition to the Basic Safety Assessment, RN Electronics can offer type tests through its partner company within the group to meet the complete requirements of the relevant standard.
Ingress Protection (IP) Testing
Ingress Protection (IP) Testing
We can also can offer Ingress Protection (IP) testing, to determine a product's susceptibility to both water and solid particle ingress through our partner company within the group.
Industry Markets
Industry Markets
We offer safety testing for electrical products in the following market sectors:
• Information technology equipment
• Audio, visual and similar types of equipment
• Laboratory and other professional use equipment
• Lights and lighting equipment
• Household appliances
• Power supply units/transformers
• Radio products under the scope of the RED directive
CB Scheme/Certification Requirements
IECEE CB Scheme
How we can help?
RN Electronics can offer consultation services to identify appropriate test requirements and can help identify suitable third party laboratory to carry out the testing. We can also offer one day pre-compliance checks to eliminate any issues to ensure smooth running throughout the CB certification process. Moreover we can take ownership of your project and see it through to completion.
IECEE CB Scheme is a third party certification scheme run by IEC (International Electro technical Commission). It is based on a multilateral agreement among participating countries and certification organizations. A manufacturer utilizing a CB test certificate issued by one of the accepted National Certification Bodies (NCBs) can obtain certification marks, in the countries where the accepted NCBs are located.
The scheme is essentially based on the use of international (IEC) standards. If some members' national standards are not yet completely harmonized with IEC standards, national differences, Special National Conditions (SNC) and Regulatory Requirements are also considered in the assessment.
Benefits
The major advantage is acceptability of results. Testing conducted on single site. Then results are accepted in participating member countries. No factory audits are involved in the scheme unlike some other third party certification schemes.
IECEE Members
A complete list of IECEE members can be found here.
More details on the CB scheme can be found here.
NRTL Certification
In North America (USA and Canada) for several products there is mandatory requirement for products to be approved by NRTL’s (Nationally recognised test laboratories). For example, As per OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) in the US, it is mandatory for Electrical and Electronic equipment used in a workplace to be approved and tested via a NRTL.
Organisations currently recognised by OSHA as NRTL's
• Canadian Standards Association (CSA) (also known as CSA International)
• Communication Certification Laboratory, Inc. (CCL)
• Curtis-Straus LLC (CSL)
• FM Approvals LLC (FM) (formerly Factory Mutual Research Corporation)
• Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc. (ITSNA) (formerly ETL)
• MET Laboratories, Inc. (MET)
• NSF International (NSF)
• QPS Evaluation Services Inc. (QPS)
• SGS U.S. Testing Company, Inc. (SGSUS) (formerly UST-CA)
• Southwest Research Institute (SWRI)
• TUV Rheinland PTL, LLC (TUVPTL)
• TÜV SÜD America, Inc. (TUVAM)
• TÜV SÜD Product Services GmbH (TUVPSG)
• TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc. (TUV)
• Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)
Note: Some of these are limited in scope of the type of products they will certify.
An up to date list can be viewed here.
The process
The process for NRTL approval in general tends to be long and extremely expense. The product and the relevant documentation must be submitted for testing. After a successful test a factory audit will be scheduled. On conclusion of testing and factory audit you will be issued with the test report and test certificate.
You will also be issued with the license to affix the NRTL's certification mark on your product. You will be issued a license which will allow you to affix the NRTL's certification mark on your product. You will also be issued a licence number or certification number to affix on your product. This number can be used to track the scope of your certification at any time on the web.
The continued costs
Depending on the NRTL you choose there will 2 or 4 factory audits per year. Each audit will last a day. These audits will continue until the time you wish to discontinue the certification. In addition to the continued factory audits there will also be an annual licensing fee. This fee will depend on the number of products covered under the scope of the certification and will continue until you wish to discontinue all certifications.
Low Voltage Directive / Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulation
Low Voltage Directive / Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulation
Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU
The Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU came into force on 20th April 2016 with no transition period. The provisions in the new directive have an effect not just on manufacturers but also authorised representatives, importers and distributors in the EU.
Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations
Compliance with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations for UKCA marking will be required, however in most cases it will be possible to use CE marking until 31 December 2021. From 1 January 2022 it will be necessary to use UKCA marking and Declarations of Conformity (DoC) to UK Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations.
Safety Testing FAQs
For frequently asked questions about safety testing, please see our frequently asked questions page.
