Product Safety
Product Safety Testing
Product safety requirements for equipment reduce the risk of fire, electrical shock, high-current/high-energy and mechanical safety hazards. U.S. Technologies provides clients with the experience to get products approved and globally accepted. We generate reports, conduct testing and file applications with the appropriate agencies. In addition, our engineering staff specializes in design review and corrective engineering services.
Product Safety approvals open the doors to all strategic markets throughout the world. Early preparation and certification of products by regional and international standards allows companies to do business worldwide, thus reducing time to market and without incurring any unnecessary costs.
We offer testing and certification services for a variety of products including Information Technology Equipment (ITE), Laboratory, Test and Measurement Equipment, Audio and Video Equipment as well as Household Appliances and Electrical Components. Nationally & Internationally recognized test marks are testimony to products' compliance with the relevant safety criteria.
U.S. and Canadian Product Safety Approval Marks
Consumers and businesses in North America demand quality products that are reliable and safe to operate. Both, the U.S. and Canadian governments have specified regulations that products must meet certain regulations before they can be placed on the market. The U.S. government requires that a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) must certify the product under the respective national standard. The Standards Council of Canada has adopted many of the U.S. standards allowing manufacturers to demonstrate compliance for both markets using a single mark. Listed below are some examples of accepted safety marks for the U.S. and Canadian markets:
- UL Approvals
- TUV Approvals
- CSA Approvals
- U.S. Technologies has acceptance by all major NRTL’s to perform witness testing at our own facility.
We are also a TUV Product Service recognized Agent Laboratory for a number of US, Canadian and EU standards. This allows us to test your product at our facilities without Witnessing, write your report, and obtain a TUV America (cTUVus) Mark for compliance with North American requirements.
Please contact your representative at 770.740.0717 or via email at certify@ustech-lab.com for detailed information.
European Approval Marks
The European Commission refers to the CE Marking as a passport for products. The letters "CE" are the abbreviation of French phrase "Conformité Européene" which literately means "European Conformity". The term initially used was "EC Mark" and it was officially replaced by "CE Marking" in the Directive 93/68/EEC in 1993. "CE Marking" is now used in all EU official documents. "CE Mark" is also in use, but it is NOT the official term.
CE Marking on a product is a manufacturer's declaration that the product complies with the essential requirements of the relevant European health, safety and environmental protection legislation, in practice by many of the so-called New Approach Directives (see list below).
New Approach DirectivesThe New Approach Directives contain the "essential requirements" and/or "performance levels" and "Harmonized Standards" to which the products must conform. Harmonized Standards are the technical specifications (European Standards or Harmonization Documents) which are established by several European Standards writing agencies (CEN, CENELEC, etc). CEN is the European Committee for Standardization. CENELEC stands for the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization.
- CE Marking on a product indicates to governmental officials that the product may be legally placed on the market in their country.
- CE Marking on a product ensures the free movement of the product within the EU single market.
- CE Marking on a product permits the withdrawal of the non-conforming products by customs and enforcement / vigilance authorities.
Whenever a CE Marking is used to meet EU Directives, it must be accompanied by a Declaration of Confoprmity (DOC)
Along with more directives' becoming effective, more and more products are required to bear the CE Marking for gaining access to the European Union market.
Participating EU Members
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
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International Safety Recognition
CB Scheme
The CB Scheme is the world's first truly international system for acceptance of test reports dealing with the safety of electrical and electronic products. The CB Scheme is a multilateral agreement among participating countries and is based on the principle of mutual recognition by all participating members (currently over 40 countries) through the means of certification by applying internationally accepted standards. A manufacturer utilizing a CB test report issued by one of these organizations can obtain national certification in all other member countries of the CB Scheme.
The CB Scheme is based on the use of international (IEC) Standards. In some cases, members' national standards cannot be completely harmonized with IEC Standards; thus national differences are permitted if clearly declared to all other members. The CB Scheme utilizes CB Test Certificates to attest that product samples have successfully passed the appropriate tests and are in compliance with the requirements of the relevant IEC Standard and with the declared national differences of various member countries.
The main objective of the CB Scheme is to facilitate international trade by promoting the harmonization of national standards with international standards. The system fosters the cooperation among participating organizations worldwide in order to bring product manufacturers a step closer to the ideal concept of "one product, one test, one mark, where applicable.'
Prior to the implementation of the CB Scheme, manufacturers were required to obtain country specific approvals for their products. This required testing and certification by many different testing laboratories/certification bodies - a difficult, time-consuming and expensive process.
Participating Countries in the CB Scheme
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, Yugoslavia.
Please contact your representative at 770.740.0717 or via email at certify@ustech-lab.com for detailed information.
Other International Safety Marks
The GS Mark
The GS Mark is a voluntary test mark used in Europe. It is attached to a product to highlight that a third party has tested the product according to the safety requirements and that a continuous production control is in place.
In contrast to the GS Mark, the European CE Marking system is based on a manufacturer's self-declaration and on compliance to all applicable directives. For most products sold in the EU, the use of the CE Marking and a Declaration of Conformity are mandatory.
US tech is a TUV Product Service Recognized Agent Laboratory, allowing the same ease of testing location and acceptance of reports and test data as reviewed in the US Product Safety Section of this website, and resulting in a TUV GS Mark.
Please contact your representative at 770.740.0717 or via email at certify@ustech-lab.com for detailed information.
IRAM Mark for ArgentinaInstituto Argentino de Normalizacion (IRAM) is the standards institute in Argentina. In accordance to the Resolution 92, (effective since August 1998), the official compliance law, electronic and electrical products marketed in Argentina must bear the IRAM Safety Mark.
For granting the conformity marks a Pre-License Inspection to the manufacturing factory is required. Once the license is granted, a follow-up inspection is necessary to maintain the license status. The IRAM License is valid for the time for which the holder pays the fees and complies with the regulations setforth by the certification body.
The IRAM Safety Mark is granted on the base of the compliance with the Safety Requirements of a National IRAM Standard or an IEC Standard.
Please contact your representative at 770.740.0717 or via email at certify@ustech-lab.com for detailed information.
GOST Mark for RussiaGOSSTANDART OF RUSSIA, the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Standardization and Metrology, is charged with the implementation of a compliance system for imported products. The previously voluntary program became mandatory in 1994 and requires that most products imported to Russia have the bear the GOST-R Mark.
Products bearing the GOST-R mark indicate that they are in compliance with the relevant standards and have been issued a GOST-R certificate by an accredited certification body.
Please contact your representative at 770.740.0717 or via email at certify@ustech-lab.com for detailed information.
NOM Mark for MexicoIn contrast to the United States where standards are primarily voluntary, market driven requirements, most product standards and all technical regulations issued in Mexico are government mandated. Mexico has two types of standards; voluntary and mandatory.
NOM (Normas Oficial Mexicanas): These are mandatory technical regulations. All Mexican Government technical regulations, regardless of the Ministry that issues them, now have the prefix NOM. If there is a mandatory product standard in force for a given good, then all domestic as well as imported goods must comply with the applicable NOM.
NMX: (Normas Mexcicanas) These are voluntary standards, intended for use as references. The use of voluntary standards, or NMXs is increasing.
In 1995, Mexico issued an official statement mandating the implementation of the NOM emblem for all electrical and electronic products. Most products subject to mandatory standards or NOMs must receive a NOM Certification prior to importation. Only Mexican Corporations may receive product safety certification known as NOM Certificates. NOM Certificates are not transferable and must be renewed annually.
Please contact your representative at 770.740.0717 or via email at certify@ustech-lab.com for detailed information.
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