All UL/CSA certifications involve the US/CAN Certification Agency verifying that the productcomplies with the applicable UL/CSA safety standards. Projects that do not involve long-term
testing usually are completed within an 8 – 12 week process (perhaps longer with some
agencies).
Those companies receiving their 1st certification are also required to have an initial factory
inspection before final certification is authorized. This inspection is scheduled after the
Certification project is successfully completed. The factory inspection itself lasts only a few hours,
but it can take anywhere from days to weeks to schedule and conduct the initial inspection
depending on the factory location. Subsequent certifications at the same factory location usually
do not require an initial inspection prior to certification being granted.
A UL/CSA Certification project is a 5-step process culminating in either a Findings Report for
products that do not comply or a Certification Report for products that do comply. The
Certification report is used during factory inspections to verify that the product continues to be
manufactured as originally certified.
The Five Step Certification Process
- Construction Review
- Testing
- Report Prepared
- Project Reviewed
- Report Issued
Step One: Construction Review
A “Construction Review” is the physical review of the product construction to determine
compliance with the applicable safety standards. This review includes documenting how the
product complies with each clause in the standard and why any clause is “not applicable”. To
accomplish this, a compliance engineer opens and inspects a product sample while verifying
and documenting compliance. This process also includes a review of installation instructions,
the user manual, and all markings/labeling. This is a time-consuming process that results in an
engineering report that can be hundreds of pages in length.
Step Two: Product Testing
Step Three: Project Report
- Findings Report: If your product is found to have non-compliant construction features or test
results, the Agency Compliance Engineer will draft a “Findings Report” that will summarize
the non-compliant concerns and provide suggestions for resolution. If you receive a Findings
Report, you can also expect a project extension and cost increase to re-evaluate the revised product - Certification Report: If the product is found to comply with the applicable product safety standards, the Agency Compliance Engineer will draft a “Certification Report”. The
Certification Report controls the elements of the product that are critical to bringing the
product into compliance with the standards = components, dimensions, materials, important
instructions, and mandatory markings. The report includes pictures and illustrations. The
report is used by the manufacturer to insure that they continue to produce the product as
required by the report. The report is also used by the Agency Factory Inspector to confirm
the product continues to be manufactured as originally certified.
Step Four: Project Review
Step Five: Report Issued
- Findings Report: If you receive a Findings Report, you will need to make revisions in order to resolve the non-compliant issues. When you have identified your resolutions, you will need to provide the Certification Agency with a response to the Findings Report. An updated project plan will be prepared accordingly, with a cost increase and project extension request provided by the Certification Agency.
It is very important to understand that each revision you make has the potential to have a broad impact requiring more than just a simple review of the change. Also note that a review of your revision(s) can lead to new non-compliant issues. Changing the enclosure material, changing a power supply, or re-laying a mains voltage circuit board are examples of revisions that could create the need for an extensive re-evaluation. For example, changing an enclosure material from plastic to metal could resolve a problem with your plastic while leading to a new problem with grounding or electrical spacings.
We have heard of manufacturers who have received multiple findings reports, each report having an increasing number of problems, with the product getting farther and farther from compliance. If you receive a Findings Report, you should consider getting assistance from a compliance expert. - Certification Report: If it is your 1st Certification, you will only receive a letter indicating that the product has been verified to comply with the standard. The letter will further indicate
that you need to schedule and complete your initial factory inspection before certification
will be granted. If it is not your 1st Certification, you will receive a copy of the Certification
report and the product will be part of your next regular factory inspection.
The Certification Report is to be used by the manufacturer to insure that they continue to
produce a compliant product. Each time the manufacturer applies the UL/CSA certification
mark, they are stating that the product fully complies with the Certification Report.
Therefore, it is important that when the manufacturer receives the Certification Report,
they completely review the contents and inform the Certification Agency if there are any
inaccuracies needing correction.
Planning For Success
Most manufacturers would like to get through the process and receive a Certification Report on
the first pass. Having to repeat the certification process because you received a Findings Report
causes unanticipated cost increases and time delays. However, in order to avoid a Findings
Report, you need to be properly prepared.
In a perfect situation, your product was designed for compliance to the applicable standards –
you own the current edition of the applicable product safety standards, and your design
engineers know the requirements. However, not many companies have these resources and
training. If you have not designed for compliance in this manner, your product is unlikely to
comply. The standards consist of hundreds of requirements and knowledge of the requirements
is needed in order to achieve success. And the fact is, most companies simply do not have a
compliance expert on staff.
Submitting your product directly for Certification can be a very expensive experiment. If you do
not have a compliance expert guiding your design team, you should consider having a
preliminary review conducted by a product safety expert. Options include a design document
review, a basic review, focused only on catching major non-compliance issues or, a full
construction review which aims to find all non-compliant issues and create the test plan.
Although it may delay the start of the Certification project by a couple of weeks, the likelihood
of receiving Certification on the first pass increases dramatically. This saves time & money. In
fact, a Preliminary Review usually pays for itself!