Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) and CSA International has announced the further expansion of a 1996 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) allowing the free exchange and acceptance of data between the two product testing organizations.
UL and CSA International also implemented the second phase of a three-phase, 18-month pilot agreement allowing the mutual acceptance of certain components used in low voltage distribution equipment and industrial control equipment. As part of the second round of negotiations, both parties agreed that a total of at least four follow-up inspections of manufacturers' facilities are necessary for acceptance of components under this agreement.
The agreements, which are designed to assist manufacturers in getting their products to the Canadian and U.S. markets more quickly, are the result of several months of negotiation between UL and CSA International, with support from National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) and major electrical manufacturers.
Based upon a request from NEMA, UL and CSA International have expanded the scope of the MoU to include Transfer Type Switches. Further work is currently under way to expand the MoU to include the acceptance of high-current-capacity short-circuit follow-up test (re-testing) reports conducted on Circuit Breakers and Series-Rated Circuit Breakers. The target date for the completion of this work, including the necessary validation, is Aug. 30, 2004.
Phase two of the Agreement on Acceptance of Components now includes the end products and components from phase one, which have been certified in accordance with Canadian requirements. Phase one previously included component and end-products certified in accordance with U.S. requirements. Phase two also includes the addition of transfer switches and power conversion equipment certified in accordance with Canadian and/or U.S. requirements. The expansion of the agreement now allows the use of these components in products being evaluated for both the Canadian and U.S. market places.
With the completion of the second phase of the component agreement, UL and CSA now accept numerous component categories for use in low voltage distribution equipment and industrial control equipment certified in accordance with U.S. and Canadian safety requirements.
For more information, including a complete listing of components and end-products covered by the expanded MoU and the component acceptance agreement, visit www.ul.com/components or www.csa-international.org/components.