Blog

PSES Symposium Reviews Smart Grid Equipment Safety Issues

Today is the second day of the Product Safety Engineering Society’s (PSES) 3-day IEEE Symposium on Product Compliance Engineering in Boston, Massachusetts.  In attendance and taking notes is Rick Cooper, MET Laboratories’ Director of Laboratory Operations, Safety Laboratory.  “Safety Considerations for Smart Grid Technology Equipment” was presented today by Don Geis of Alcatel-Lucent.  Here are his... Read More

PSES Symposium Features Talks on Product Safety Recalls, Automotive EMI

Today is the first day of the Product Safety Engineering Society’s (PSES) 3-day IEEE Symposium on Product Compliance Engineering in Boston, Massachusetts.   In attendance is Rick Cooper, MET Laboratories’ Director of Laboratory Operations, Safety Laboratory.  Following are his summaries of the day’s two presentations. CPSC Keynote The keynote address was “Check, Double Check, and Don’t... Read More

ENERGY STAR Meeting Closes With Specification Updates

Yesterday was the last day of the ENERGY STAR Partner Meeting in Denver, CO.  On the agenda was an overview of planned and pending specification updates for ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, including clothes washers, dishwashers, room air conditioners, and refrigerators-freezers.  Also covered was the ambitious Super Efficient Dryer Initiative.  Clothes Washers Revised criteria takes effect... Read More

Manufacturers to Improve Appliance Efficiency, in Exchange for Concessions

In a surprise move, an appliance manufacturers group has teamed with energy efficiency and environmental groups to push for significantly beefed-up efficiency standards for refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, air conditioners and dishwashers.  Here’s why: Efficiency upgrades are bundled with: The hope for a 3-year extension of the manufacturers’ tax credit A petition this month to... Read More

First Blood Diamonds. Now Blood Electronics?

To product safety and electromagnetic compatibility compliance, add another regulatory hurdle for electronics manufacturers.  To assure “conflict minerals” are not imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring conflict areas, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered companies will have to start documenting the source and purpose of Congo-related raw materials. The affected minerals include:... Read More