PSSA Newsletter - April 2015

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NEWS|ISSUE 7 April 2015
PSSA Technical and Standards News
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PSSA Technical Support Service gets off to a flying start
Members have been taking advantage of the
recently introduced PSSA Technical Support
Service to resolve problems concerning
standards identification – and more
importantly how to interpret the standards and
what to do about the requirements.
Mike Webb has been busy answering
Member’s questions ranging from enquiries
about applicability of the Construction
Products Regulations to what EMC tests to
apply to perimeter security barriers and what
approvals are needed for specific export
markets. (See ‘Mike’s Tech Tips’ for an overview
of the US market).
To get help with your regulatory or standards
problems call Mike on 0118 977 8581, or email
him at 
MIKE’S TECHNICAL TIPS
Europe versus North America – An overview of Compliance & Approvals
Many of you have started to venture into
overseas markets with your unique range of
products in order to grow your business with
new clients. The export market is a lucrative
playing field but how many of you are aware of
the vast differences in compliance standards,
certification requirements and approval
procedures that operate in these markets?
Since the introduction and launch of the
PSSA support service we have received
enquiries from members regarding the need
for product certification in Global markets.
Amongst the most popular markets USA &
Canada rank quite highly with questions to
the support service.
This poses a question, how many of you
are up to speed with the national & local
legislative requirements in the USA & Canada?
Many organizations fall into the trap of not
conducting a risk assessment or compliance
health check regarding the standards &
compulsory certification systems in place
in these markets. Moreover, in dealing
with agents, distributors and customers
the opportunity is missed or neglected for
discussion of the statutory requirements for
product compliance required in the country
where the equipment is to be installed and
operated. In theory the customer should
be in the ideal situation to identify these
requirements in their contract with you, but,
in some instances the client is not always
educated in this discipline and unaware of
regulations until it’s too late.
USA is a prime example. The Code of
Federal Regulations, National Electrical Code
and the Federal Communication Commission
(FCC) rules differ significantly from European
New Approach Directives, European
Harmonized Standards, British Standards and
the published statue’s operating throughout
Europe. Although the laws across continents
are aiming for the same objective “To place
safe equipment on the market so as not to
harm property, people or animals” the way of
demonstrating compliance differs between
Europe & North America.
One of the most popular question’s
mentioned in product supply negotiations
when exporting to the USA is “Does the
product have UL approval?”
For the un-initiated UL is an accredited
commercial testing laboratory based in the
USA but also has multiple agreements with
other global organizations to conduct safety
testing against UL/ANSI (America National
Standards Institute) standards and to licence
their widely recognized certification mark
similar to that of the BSI Kite mark that many
of you will recognise on a range of products.
Technically UL standards are NOT
equivalent to European/British Standards.
UL standards concern themselves with
electrical and mechanical safety but also
have standards which major on flammability
and ergonomics. As you may have guessed
Underwriters Laboratories were originally
made up of insurance companies who were
receiving claims from domestic & commercial
equipment users that inferior products
were in market circulation and creating
safety issues. In certain cases products were
overheating and bursting into flames. This
lead for the need to publish a series of safety
criteria in the form of nationally recognized
safety and performance standards, and in
turn, these standards became recognized and
adopted by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI).To close the circle and provide
testing assurance UL set up a number of
accredited test stations across the USA to
assess a range of products and provide its
prestige conformity mark.
The voltage and operating frequency in
the USA is 120VAC 60Hz, this brings into
effect significant technical safety criteria
requirements which are quite different to the
European model. For example, the current
flowing through a power cable is doubled
and the current carrying cable capacities
set out in the UL standard will deviate from
those we are familiar with when applying
a European specification/s. As is often the
case you find the cable insulation has greater
physical depth which leads to UL standards
orientating towards flammability safety and
fault testing.
One UL standard that PSSA members should
be considering when exporting or thinking of
exporting to the USA is UL 294 (6th edition)
Requirements for security access control. This
standard has rigorous requirements and is not
equivalent to any European Standard. Does
your product meet them?
UL is not the only testing station in the
USA, there are other accredited stations
e.g. ETL, MET and Intertek amongst others.
The majority of USA & Global customers
will automatically identify UL as their
preferred testing station & mark, but you
should question this approach as costs and
time scales do vary from one test station
to another. The customer is the unique cog
in the wheel here and you must tie down
their requirements. In our experience many
organizations have made the costly mistake
of going ahead and getting the product
tested without first checking customer
preferences only to be confronted at the final
hurdle process with the statement “I required
xxxx safety testing/approval and not an
approval certificate from xxxxx.”
An easy mistake to make but never less
a costly one. There are other important
details not covered above. These and other
important issues relating to the North
American market, and information on other
continents will be covered in future editions
of Mike’s Tech Tips. If you can’t wait and need
further advice or guidance for the North
American market contact the PSSA Technical
Support Desk on 0118 977 8581. 