Electrical Equipment Certification Service

The Regulations provide a range of means for assessing conformity. However, as far as electrical equipment is concerned, conformity assessment through a notified body will be the norm, following much the same EC type examination processes and procedures that have been used in the past. There are, however, additional requirements for product quality control and third party audits. In the UK, the Electrical Equipment Certification Service (EECS) and SIRA Test and Certification Ltd already provide conformity assessment services, basing their assessments on the harmonised standards that already exist for explosion-protected electrical equipment the main standards are identified in Chapter 15. 

In the UK, the type testing and certification work has been carried out by the Electrical Equipment Certification Services (EECS), which is part of HSE, and by SIRA Test and Certification Ltd. The Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996 will change this, because they introduce a legal requirement for compliance with the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs) and the application of the CE mark using the applicable conformity assessment procedures, which may involve the participation of a notified body. This is a complicated area but, in summary ... 

Underwriters Laboratory Incorporated is a nonprofit organization that conducts scientific investigations, studies, experiments, and tests related to hazards of life and property. As part of its role, it publishes standards, classifications, and specifications aimed at reducing hazards. It evaluates and tests products. It authorizes UL recognitions of tested products that comply with its standards. UL is best known for testing and certification of electrical equipment. Its services extend to fire-related and other products. 

British Approvals Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres (BASEEEA) and Physikalische-Technische Bimdesanstalt (PTB), Germany, which, along with other European approvals bodies, provides certification to the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) standards... 

UL has six basic services it offers to manufacturers, inspection authorities, or government officials. These are product listing service, classification, service, component recognition service, certificate service, inspection service, and fact finding and research. UL s Electrical Department is in charge of evaluating individual plastics and other products using plastics as components. The Electrical Department evaluates consumer products such as TV sets, power tools, appliances, and industrial and commercial electrical equipment and components. 

Currently certification in Great Britain is through the British Approval Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres (BASEEFA). 

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