Conformity Magazine - November 2007 - (Page 31)

• All components used in a safety circuit (e-stops, interlocks, etc.); • Wire and cable carrying hazardous voltages or used outside the machine enclosures; • Flammable components (PCB materials, wire and cable insulation) exposed to or in an area where an ignition source is present (e.g. hazardous voltages, etc.). Compliance of components must be both visually verified, by examination of the component NRTL approval mark, and documented by the NRTL. Where components are “buried” in the machine and it will be difficult to examine the component directly, it is useful for the machine manufacturer to have a second component available for bench examination. If components are found which should have NRTL approval but do not, the machine manufacturer is notified in the preliminary report. The manufacturer can either: a) replace the component with an approved component; b) have the component tested by the NRTL; or c) provide verification that the component is approved to a non-U.S. standard which is equivalent to a U.S. technical standard for the component type. Safety Testing The final part of the preliminary inspection is safety testing. Sometimes the machine is not operational at the time of the preliminary inspection, and in this case the manufacturer may discuss this situation with the NRTL and delay safety testing until the time of the final inspection. The following safety tests are performed: • Verification of the machine electrical ratings (voltage and current); • Verification of operating temperatures for control cabinets and components; • Ground bond testing to verify grounding connections; • Insulation resistance testing; • Dielectric strength testing; • Functional testing of all safety circuits and functions. The NRTL records all test data. If the machine fails any of the functional testing, the NRTL records the failure (and as much information relevant to the failure as possible) in the preliminary report. The machine manufacturer may assess the problem and make repairs. The Field Evaluation Final Inspection The final inspection is performed only at the installation site for the machine. It is possible that the preliminary and final inspections are performed at the installation site and, in some cases, both can be performed at the same time. However, the two inspections always remain distinct inspection processes with unique goals for each inspection. The final inspection focuses on the installation-specific requirements of machine compliance with the regulations and standards. Site-Specific Review The primary goal of the final inspection is to perform a sitespecific review of the installation. This site-specific review covers the following areas: • Installation of the machine in the site: clearance distances around electrical cabinets, site-specific hazards with an influence on the machine or machine operator, visibility or visual hazard indicators under site conditions, audibility of audible hazard indicators under site conditions, and so forth; • Installation-specific connection of the machine to the facility AC mains: proper sizing of facility protection devices, proper sizing of facility power wiring into the machine, proper connection of the power wiring into the machine, proper connection of the facility ground bonding, NOVEMBER 2007 CONfORMity 31 http://www.spira-emi.com http://www.spira-emi.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Conformity Magazine - November 2007

Conformity - November 2007 Contents Editor’s Note Commission Sets Date, Terms for 700 MHz Auction FCC Reaffirms Roaming Obligations Commission Moves to Improve USF Management FCC Proposes Fines for Violations of E911 Handset Requirements Commission Levies $1 Million Plus Fines for Unsolicited Fax Advertisements GR-3150 - Lithium Battery Certification Levels Based on Criteria for General Product, Safety, and Performance, Part 2 ESD Open Forum Machinery Field Evaluation for the United States Validation, Verification, and Immunity Testing Techniques for EMC for Functional Safety Thermal/EMC Simulation Addresses New Mechanical Design Challenges Product Safety Equipment Buyer’s Guide FCC Releases Report on Telephone Numbering Resource Utilization Canada Still Has PCS Spectrum to Assign Updated Standards List for the EU’s Medical Devices Directive Updated Standards List for EU Directive on Active Implantable Medical Devices Call for Papers for the 2008 EOS/ESD Symposium Announced Mobile Phone Use in Hospitals May Be Dangerous CPSC Actions in the News IEC Standards Update UL Standards Update Telcordia Standards Update From Our “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” Department Product Reviews Looking Back: Items from Past Issues of Conformity Upcoming Events Advertisers

Conformity Magazine - November 2007

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