Know your standards!
The sale and production of power supplies depends on the range of relevant safety standards in each individual region. These standards are in place to protect each user from risks of fire, injury and electric shock. Each and every power supply must meet the standards based in the area, and there are a high volume of standards, markings and agencies to understand.
Major Safety Standards
The key safety standards follow advice from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and then any areas of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) that are relevant based on location. There are locational agencies, such as the British Standards Institution (BSI) and the Canadian Standards Organisation (CSA) covering North America. Additionally, the IEC 60950-1 is a key standard based on protecting the user against injury and damage.
Classes of Equipment
There are different classes of equipment based on the standards for the user’s safety. The classes are based on how the power of the unit is supplied:
Class I
The equipment has electric shock protection through a basic level of insulation and grounding.
All conductive parts that could take on a harmful voltage are connected to a protective earth conductor.
Class II
The equipment has double or reinforced insulation and requires no grounding.
Class III
The equipment operates from a Safety Extra Low Voltage (SELV) supply circuit.
It naturally protects against electric shock as it does not generate a hazardous voltage, so the user is safe.
Visual shows our Open Frame, Plugin, Desktop, In-wall & USB Power Supplies
Safety Agencies & Markings
After understanding the many national and international bodies that regulate requirements for testing and assuring all equipment conforms to safety, there are product markings to understand next. Product markings may show certificates of compliance with certain standards that are legally required.
CE and UL marks are two of the most widely used conformance marks, while there are several other safety marks that may be utilised regionally.
To ease the issue of regional variations, the Certification Body (CB) scheme allows manufacturers who have been issued a CB test certificate by one National Certification Body (NCB) to obtain certification marks from other participating NCBs.
Major Safety Agencies and Marks
The UK Conformity Assessment or 'UKCA' Mark
UKCA is the new conformity standard that will be used after the UK leaves the EU on 31st December 2020.
This will replace the CE Mark for UK products by 2022
The 'CONFORMITÉ EUROPÉENNE' or 'CE' Mark
The CE Mark was introduced nearly 30 years ago for certain products sold within the European Economic Area to show conformity with legal requirements in respect of relevant safety, health and environmental rulings.
The 'UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES' or 'UL' Mark
The UL Mark indicates that either Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) has tested and determined that a product meets UL specified product safety requirements. This certification allows a manufacturer to show that their product is “UL Listed” by using the familiar UL logo.
TÜV RHEINLAND
The TÜV Rheinland Group is a leading provider of technical services worldwide. It is primarily concerned with safety and quality and operates product testing services that cover Inspection and Certification, with test marks, across a wide range of markets, including electronic components.
Regional Marks
CSA Mark | Canada
The Canadian Standards Association operates the CSA marking scheme alongside UL certification to identify products acceptable in either Canada and/or the USA.
NOM Mark | Mexico
The NOM Mark identifies compliance with Mexico’s “Normas Oficiales Mexicanas” (NOM)
safety standards for household electrical appliances.
INMETRO Mark | Brazil
Certification of certain product groups, such as medical electrical equipment, ballasts and equipment used in hazardous locations, is mandatory in Brazil with accreditation indicated by the INMETRO Mark.
S Mark | Argentina
Product certification to IEC-based standards is mandatory in Argentina under the auspices of its standards body IRAM with conformance indicated by the S Mark.
AAA Mark | Africa
The AAA Mark identifies compliance with "Africa’s Approval Agency”
This marking is for imaginary electrical appliances.
ENEC Mark | Europe
The ENEC Mark is simply the mark used to denote compliance with the European Norm (EN) standards for all electrical product sectors.
Nemko Mark | Norway
Nemko is an organization that offers product safety testing and certification to worldwide standards.
EAC Mark | Russia
The Eurasian Conformity (EAC) mark has replaced the previous GOST-R and PCT national certification standards and marks. This mark is used to indicate products that meet all the technical requirements of the Eurasian Customs Union.
GS Mark and DIN Mark | Germany/EU
Germany’s TUV standards agency operates the GS Mark to show conformity with German’s Equipment and Product Safety Act. The GS Mark assures commercial buyers and consumers the product has been tested by an authorized institution such as TUV Rheinland.
VDE Mark | Germany
The VDE Testing and Certification Institute is another German-based independent testing organization for electric and electronic products. The VDE Mark indicates conformity with the VDE standards.
BSI Kitemark | UK
The British Standards Institution (BSI) was the world’s first national standards body and continues to be a leading global standards maker. BSI is also the UK’s National Standards Body, representing UK interests worldwide.
DENAN PSE Mark | Japan
The PSE Mark is used to show compliance with Japan’s Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law (DENAN) as applied to various classes of product and equipment.
KCC Mark | Korea
Korea’s KC Mark is administered by its Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) to show compliance for mandated products with the Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Control Law.
It replaced the original EK mark.
BSMI Mark | Taiwan
The BSMI (Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection) Certification is the approval scheme for ITE and audio/ video products in Taiwan.
CCC Mark | China
The CCC (China Compulsory Certificate) Mark indicates compliance with Chinese laws and regulations and, as its names implies, is compulsory for any product used for commercial purposes in China.
RCM Tick Mark | Australia
Australia has a national standards body, Standards Australia, covering many different industry sectors including Electronic technology and Energy, which embraces electrical/electronic equipment and appliances with relevant standards for safety.
PSB ‘SAFETY’ Mark | Singapore
Singapore’s safety authority, the Productivity and Standards Board
Suruhanjaya Tenaga (ST) and SIRIM | Malaysia
A statutory body established under the Energy Commission Act 2001, Suruhanjaya Tenaga (ST) is responsible for regulating the energy sector in Peninsular Malaysia and
DID WE FOOL YOU?!
One of the above approval symbols is a work of fiction! Can you identify it?
CONTACT US
