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Machines and switchgear systems must meet special standards for the North American market in order to obtain official type approval. Certification of the products and/or systems proves that the requirements of the standards have been met. The relevant standards are defined by bodies including Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in the US and the CSA Group (Canadian Standards Association) in Canada.
A distinction is made between product standards, which are mainly aimed at component manufacturers (e.g. UL 489/CSA C22.2 No. 5-09, UL 508/CSA C22.2 No. 14-05, UL 1077/CSA C22.2 No. 235-04 (R2009), etc.) and installation standards (UL 508A, NFPA 79), which are mainly aimed at processors and installers, such as machine or switchgear system builders.
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The procedure for planning, building and commissioning the electrical equipment of machines for export to North America is sometimes very different from that in countries that work according to IEC guidelines.
The key difference is that equipment with UL or CSA certification cannot always be used for the same applications as IEC-certified equipment. It must also be approved for the respective applications by local inspectors: the Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs).
For example, the following differences from IEC apply, roughly:
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The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that equipment, machinery and systems be approved by local inspectors known as the Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs). In turn, the AHJs trust the expertise of Nationally Recognized Test Laboratories (NRTLs), which certify products. This certification is verified by means of test marks that are affixed to the product or to the system.
There are several ways to obtain an NRTL label for a system or machine:
Listing
The listing method is recommended for switchgear systems and machines that are to be produced in larger quantities and over a longer period of time and are to be supplied to North America. This type certification evaluates compliance with the relevant standards and codes, ensures the necessary tests are performed, and regularly monitors production as part of follow-up inspections in accordance with OSHA requirements. The manufacturer then receives authorization to apply an NRTL label to its products itself directly during manufacturing.
Limited product certification
If the system is to be manufactured within a limited period of no more than three months, and it is therefore not worthwhile to perform a listing with annual fees and regular plant inspections, limited product certification offers an alternative to obtaining the NRTL label. The evaluation is carried out on the manufacturer's premises with this method too, using exactly the same codes and standards that are also used for a listing. At the end of the three months, a further visit from the NRTL can be requested at any time for evaluation of another batch of the same previously tested systems.
Approval for a manufacturer's own workshop
One further approval method is for a manufacturer to have its own workshop approved for electrical assembly by an NTRL. The manufacturer can then apply an NTRL label to the electrical equipment itself. The approved workshop is subject to a paid semi-annual or quarterly audit by the NRTL, during which the NRTL must be satisfied that both its own specifications and the relevant codes and standards are being complied with.
Field evaluation
The next way to get an NRTL label is to have a field evaluation performed by an NRTL once the system arrives at the installation site in North America. If possible, it should be done prior to acceptance by the AHJ. This method is particularly attractive to European manufacturers who export large-scale equipment or customized industrial and mechanical equipment to North America.
In principle, the US and Canada each have an independent system of standards and regulations. However, the two organizations UL and CSA have signed a memorandum of understanding according to which they mutually recognize tests, inspections and certificates. For example , UL and CSA certifications are interchangeable at "ordinary locations" (OrdLoc), i.e. all environments except potentially explosive atmospheres. For the export of machines and systems to North America, it is possible to choose whether machines, switchgear or control cabinets are certified according to UL or CSA.
However, Canada has a separate program for inspecting machinery and systems, known as the Canadian Special Inspection (SI). The SI can be carried out at the manufacturer's plant or at another specified location. While the US program uses the applicable end-product standard, the Canadian SI program uses a specific standard: CSA SPE-1000, also referred to as the Model Code. The Model Code does not cover type testing; instead it allows for equipment evaluation by setting minimum requirements for design, marking and testing. SI inspectors must therefore be recognized product inspectors who are familiar with Canadian requirements and are under the control of a Canadian authority.
Selling a "North American machine" almost always requires more effort than marketing an "IEC machine." However, if you observe the correct codes and standards, you have a good chance of planning and building electrical machinery that is accepted by North American AHJs. Eaton's whitepaper of the same name provides tips on how to avoid typical faults in the electrical equipment of machines for export to North America.
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