Conformity Magazine - November 2007 - (Page 32)

assessment for inadvertent creation of ground loops during machine installation, and so forth; • Installation of site-specific construction: assessment of installation of required conduit, cable trays, and cable trunking, and so forth; • Verification of required end-user installations or actions for safety, if any were identified during the preliminary assessment; • The installation facility input power levels are measured and verified to the equipment rated voltage values. Safety Testing If the final inspection is performed at a different location from the preliminary inspection (meaning the machine was moved after the preliminary inspection), then some safety testing is re-performed to verify that the safety features are still present after the machine was relocated to its final installation site. In particular: • The ground bonding examination is performed to verify that safety relevant grounding is in place; • The dielectric strength examination on AC mains is performed, to verify that safety relevant insulating strength between line and ground is still present; • Each safety control and safety interlock is functionally verified to ensure the control operates as intended. The NRTL Field Label Once the product has been examined during the final inspection and found to comply with all applicable requirements, an NRTL field label is applied to the equipment. This field label denotes to the AHJ that the equipment has been inspected by the NRTL and that all requirements of the technical standard have been complied with. The NRTL field label is applied only by the engineer from the NRTL. Typically, the field label bears a unique numerical designation, which is included in the field evaluation report. The field label is also required to list the technical standard to which the product was assessed and found compliant. Normally, the field label is applied by the NRTL engineer immediately next to the machine nameplate. The Field Evaluation Report A report from the NRTL indicating compliance with the standards is an important element of the field evaluation process. Two reports are produced. A summary report summarizes the field inspection process, the equipment inspected, the locations of the inspection, the technical standards used, and the compliance of the machine with the technical standards. If field label(s) were applied to the machine, the field label numbers are included in the summary report. Typically, for a compliant machine, the summary 32 Conformity noVEmBEr 2007 report is 4-5 pages in length. This report may be provided by the manufacturer as proof of compliance with regulations and requirements. In addition, more detailed reporting is performed. This detailed reporting examines the requirements of the technical standards and indicates how the machine complied with each requirement. This detailed reporting is supplemented by the list of safety-relevant components, and by copies of important documentation such as photographs of the construction, electrical schematics, and so forth. This more detailed reporting is compiled by the NRTL as proof of compliance for the machine, and is available to the machinery manufacturer on request. It is recommended that manufacturers request this documentation and maintain a compliance file for the approved product. Interface to the Authority Having Jurisdiction The final step in the field inspection process is providing information to the AHJ. Where the AHJ is known, the NRTL can provide a copy of the summary report to the AHJ directly. This is often desired by the machine manufacturer, for it allows the compliance report to be directly communicated to the AHJ by the NRTL, and any issues resolved directly by the AHJ and NRTL. If the manufacturer wishes, the summary report can be issued only to the machine manufacturer, who then has the responsibility of providing the report to the AHJ4. Once the summary report has been issued to and accepted by the AHJ, the field inspection process is successfully completed. Frank West is the North American Industrial Machinery Manager for TÜV SÜD America, and can be reached at fwest@tuvam.com. References 1. 2. 3. Approval by an NRTL for specified product categories is required under 29 CFR 1910. The list of product types requiring NRTL approval may be located at www.conformity.com/1142. TÜV SÜD America has a form which may be used to record this information. This form is available to machine manufacturers on request. Some jurisdictions require the NRTL to issue the report directly to the AHJ. Within these jurisdictions, the machine manufacturer does not have the option of having the report issued only to the manufacturer. The NRTL can provide guidance on which jurisdictions require the report to be issued to the AHJ. 4. FAST Link www.conformity.com/1140 http://www.conformity.com/1142 http://www.conformity.com/1140

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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