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U.S. EPA Announces Criteria for ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2016
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced final recognition criteria for ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2016. The ENERGY STAR Most Efficient designation is eligible in 12 product categories: Air Source Heat Pumps and Central Air Conditioners Boilers Ceiling Fans Clothes Washers Dishwashers Computer Monitors Furnaces Geothermal Heat Pumps Refrigerator Freezers Televisions Ventilation Fans Residential... Read More
ENERGY STAR Certification Program is Growing to Include LNE & Other Product Categories
MET Labs was fortunate to have the opportunity recently to host U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR Product Manager Verena Radulovic, who gave a talk on the ENERGY STAR Product Certification Scheme. Here are a few key points from her presentation: The ENERGY STAR program is a big success. 87% of households recognize the ENERGY... Read More
Most Popular Solar UV Tests Include MIL-STD-810G Method 505.5 and ASTM Standards
Call it what you want: solar radiation, UV exposure, accelerated weathering. When is this testing necessary or advisable and which test should be used? When is easy: You should perform solar testing if your product will be exposed to sunlight. Which test is more difficult to answer. There are several different types of solar tests.... Read More
Gulf Countries Introduce GCC Certification for Safety & EMC of Low Voltage Electrical Equipment
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Standardization Organization (GSO) has introduced a common Technical Regulation for low voltage electrical products, effective July 1, 2016. This Technical Regulation (BD-142004-01) covers safety and electromagnetic compatibility and will affect seven GCC member states: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Yemen. It follows a similar existing regulation for... Read More
Top 7 Questions about IEC 60601-1-2 4th Edition for EMC Testing of Medical Devices
This Compliance Today post is a follow up to last week’s post on IEC 60601-1 Edition 3.1. Are there safety benefits to the 3rd edition of IEC 60601-1-2 compared to the 2nd? The test levels required by both the 2nd and 3rd editions of IEC 60601-1-2 are the same. The main change was in clause... Read More
IEC 60601-1 Edition 3.1 Introduces New Product Safety Requirements for Medical Electrical Equipment
IEC 60601-1 Third Edition Amendment 1 (Ed. 3.1) What you need to know For manufacturers of medical electrical equipment and systems, IEC 60601-1 Edition 3.1 (or IEC 60601-1:2005+AMD1:2012) represents a significant departure from Edition 3.0 of the standard. While the application of risk management principles have been clarified, the amended standard includes new requirements regarding... Read More
Korea Changes Electrical Appliances Safety Control Regulation for KC Mark
The Korean Electrical Appliances Safety Control Regulation for KC marking has recently been amended; the new regulation took effect August 1, 2015. Major changes to the Electrical Appliances Safety Control Act include: The validity period of self-regulatory safety confirmation registration has been changed from 5 years to as much as 10 years, depending on the... Read More
ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU Replaces 94/9/EC for Explosive Atmosphere Equipment in EU
Due to Europe’s New Legislative Framework, the ATEX Directive 94/9/EC will be replaced by ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU in 2016, for the testing and certification of certain equipment intended for potentially explosive atmospheres in the EU. From the manufacturer perspective, the changes are not significant, as there are no changes to the Essential Health and Safety... Read More
Avionics RTCA DO-160 Testing Includes EMC and Environmental Components
When it comes to aircraft safety, the stakes are high. There are tons of components on a commercial airliner. One malfunction for any reason can be DO-160 applies to the United States, and there’s an identical set of standards for Europe, known catastrophic. That’s why equipment testing is crucial to ensure hardware meets quality and... Read More
UL 60335-1 is Part of Tri-National Standard for Product Safety of Household Products
In June, MET Labs Product Safety Lab Director Rick Cooper gave a presentation in Oslo, Norway on Household Product Certification in the United States. For those who missed it, here is a basic summary: In the United States, UL 60335-1 covers the General Requirements for electrical/electronic household products. This harmonized standard is part of the... Read More
