Ratings and Approvals Explanation Guide
Type NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association)
Type NEMA devised a standard rating system for enclosures, connectors and other equipment exposed to liquids, rain, ice, corrosion and contaminates such as dust. For standard-rating system the approvals and ratings are also location specific.
In an indoor non-hazardous environment the Type NEMA 4X is rated and the Type NEMA 4X rating includes protection from access to Hazardous parts, Ingress of solid, foreign objects such as Falling dirt, Ingress of water from the result of things like Dripping and Hose down as well as splashing water. Also covered is protection from corrosive agents. The 4X in addition to the ingress of solid foreign objects such as falling dirt also protects from circulating dust, settling airborne dust, lint, fibers, and flyings. With the exception of falling dirt, these fibers and flyings are non-hazardous materials and are not considered Class III type ignitable according to Type NEMA.
The 4X and 6 Type NEMA ratings are location specific. For the outdoor , non-hazardous 4X rating from Type NEMA, the 4X covers access to hazardous parts, the ingress of solid, foreign objects like windblown dust, lint, fibers and flyings, corrosive agents and lastly, the ingress of water such as Rain, Snow, Sleet and hose down. With the exception of water hose down the Type NEMA 4X outdoor rating states that external operating mechanisms are not required to be operable when the enclosure is ice covered.
The Type NEMA 6 rating overlaps some with the 4X rating. the 4X and 6 rating. The Type NEMA 6 rating indoor has the same coverage of the 4X, with exception; the 6 rating indoor covers ingress of water with occasional temporary submersion and the 6 does not include protection from corrosive agents. Since the Sealconusa.com products both Type NEMA 4X and 6 ratings approved on the nylon products the fittings protect against corrosive agents according to Type NEMA. Hopefully the information about the Type NEMA ratings will help you to make a more informed decision on what you might or might not need for your perfect solution.
IP (Ingress Protection)
The IP rating system is set forth by the IEC or International Electrotechnical Commission. In the IP rating system, the first number identifies the degree of protection against solid objects and the second number identifies the degree of protection against liquids. Sealcon offers products each with different IP ratings. All are dust tight, indicated by the 6 as the initial digit. An IP67 designation indicates dust tight and temporarily immersible. IP68 increases protection to continuous immersion. Finally, the IP69K rated fitting is dust tight and withstands a high pressure and temperature water jet. Read More
PSIG / 10 BAR
As a breakdown, PSIG simply means pounds per square inch gauge. The BAR is a metric unit of pressure exactly equal to 100,000 (PA) or Pascal. It is about 10x more pressure than the earth’s atmospheric pressure at sea level.
V0 Rating
The V0 rating is a plastics flammability standard released by Underwriters Laboratories that classifies plastics according to how they burn. The UL system rates the fittings from lowest or least flame retardant to highest or most flame retardant.
The first rating, the HB is rated for slow burning on a horizontal specimen; burning rate. The second rating V2 which rating means burning stops within 30 seconds; drips of flaming particles are allowed. The third rating V1 means burning stops within 30 seconds; no drips allowed. The fourth rating which is the rating V0 means that the burning stops within just 10 seconds; no drips allowed. While the 5VB and 5VA ratings the burning stops within 60 seconds with no drips allowed.
UL F1 (746C) UV Ozone Rating
UL is a global independent safety science company with more than a century of expertise innovating safety solutions. The UL F1 (746C) is an outdoor suitability rating. Materials that are considered suitable for outdoor use are testing using ultraviolet (UV) light exposure and/or water immersion. UV exposure is performed by using either a twin-enclosed carbon weatherometer for 720 hours, or a xenon-arc weatherometer for 1000 hours. Water immersion testing is performed for 7 days at 70°C.
Specimens are tested are testing using before and after exposureto measure exposure’s impact on mechanical impact and mechanical strength. Materials whose properties are not significantly degraded in any of these areas are considered to have passed and are suitable for outdoor use.
There are two ratings as the end result of these testings. The highest rating awarded to the SealconUSA black nylon parts is F1 which means The material extinguished its flame within 10 seconds has met both UV and water immersion requirements. The lower rating is the F2 and means the material has met either UV or water immersion requirements, or has only been partially tested.
REACH
REACH concerns the presence of SVHC (Substance of Very High Concern) in products. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) reviews and regulates this list. REACH is a regulation of the European Union, adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry. It also promotes alternative methods for the hazard assessment of substances in order to reduce the number of tests on animals.
REACH is currently at 163 SVHC.
RoHS Directive (Restrictions of Hazardous Substances)
RoHS is EU legislation restricting the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC) and promoting the collection and recycling of such equipment (WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC) This Directive has been in force since February 2003.
The legislation provides for the creation of collection schemes where consumers return their used e-waste free of charge. The objective of these schemes is to increase the recycling and/or re-use of such products. It also requires heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium and flame retardants such as polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) to be substituted by safer alternatives.
WEEE Directive (2012/19/EU)
The WEEE Directive aims to reduce the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment that ends up in landfill. The directive may require changes throughout the Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) product cycle, including improved product design to ease dismantling, recycling and reuse.
In addition, the directive includes the provision of national WEEE collection points and processing systems, which allows consumers to put WEEE into a separate waste stream to other waste, resulting in it being processed, accounted for and reported to the national enforcement authority.
Producers are expected to meet the cost of the collection and processing of WEEE.The implementation of a national WEEE scheme requires involvement from national and local government, EEE manufacturers, distributors, vendors and consumers.
Most EEE is covered by the Directive but there are specific exclusions, for example, large scale industrial tools and products designed for military use.
ATEX (Electrical and mechanical equipment for use in explosive atmospheres)
The ATEX Directive requires equipment and protective systems intended for explosive atmospheres to be designed and manufactured to minimize the occurrence and limit the severity of accidental explosions.
It applies to new equipment intended for use in explosive atmospheres such as electrical components and apparatus and machinery. ATEX is also for separately supplied protective systems for controlling unavoidable explosions in explosive atmospheres such as explosion vents, suppression systems, etc.
TUV
The TUV certification involves rigorous testing of the applications for which the component is designed. It includes verification that the device satisfies the strictest European regulations for the industry in which the component was designed for and ensures the component specifications are stated correctly. Periodic retesting of the component is required to maintain TUV approval and the certification is without question the most comprehensive testing any product would undergo. In the case of a tuning module, TUV approval means the product complies with legal exhaust-emissions standards.
TUV Testing first verifies the use of quality materials in the manufacture of an automotive product. TUV secondly ensures emissions standards are similar to the original manufacturers standards. Thirdly TUV makes sure there is no danger in the fit or use of the product. Lastly TUV verifies that stated power and economy figures are accurate and are not misleading.
Germanischer Lloyd (GL)
Germanischer Lloyd is dedicated to ensuring the safety of life and property at sea, and the prevention of pollution of the marine environment.
As an independent third party, GL develops state of the art rules, procedures and guidance for ship owners, shipyards and the maritime supply industry in order to offer commercially sound answers in times of economic challenges and tight regulatory regimes. GL performs inspections on over 7,300 ships-in-service, representing more than 110 million gross tons, on a regular basis. With expertise in all aspects of shipping, GL maritime experts are advisors to governments, the IMO, flag states and port states
VDE
The VDE Mark is a certification mark for electrical appliances used in over 30 countries. Products have displayed the VDE Mark since the association’s foundation in 1920. VDE tests and certifies products for compliance with numerous standards, directives, and legal requirements. Certified products range from hand dryers to hedge trimmers to circuit breakers.
The certification criteria vary depending on the standards, directives, and legal requirements to be met. Testing may cover tests for safety, harmful substances, usability, energy efficiency, etc.
The VDE Testing and Certification Institute tests companies and products against the criteria provided by the relevant standards, directives, and legal requirements. Companies and products that fulfill these criteria are certified.
CSA (Canadian Standards Association)
When manufacturers bring their products to CSA, they are subjecting them to extremely rigorous safety testing. Manufacturers not only enhance the value of their products, they are also strengthening their own brands among consumers who perceive a manufacturers commitment to safety.
Because of the many rigorous tests, a manufacturer must follow stringent CSA guidelines in creating, building and testing its products in-house to CSA’s uncompromising standards.
The Listing process involves numerous steps: creation of product, construction descriptions, process reviews, design modifications as needed and product testing. It is a comprehensive procedure focused upon manufacturing standards and product safety.
CE (Conformité Européenne)
CE marking is a certification mark that must be legally affixed to products that must be in compliance with the essential requirements out of the European New Approach Directives. With the mark, the manufacturer, his authorized representative or the importer (also for products imported from outside the European Union) indicate that the product meets the legal requirements described in the applicable directive (s).
All products bearing the CE marking have free access to the entire market within the European Economic Area (EEA). Products that are not in compliance with the essential requirements out of the European Directives and further have no CE marking cannot be legally traded within the EEA.
UL (UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES)
UL Listing means that UL has tested representative samples of the product and determined that it meets UL’s requirements. These requirements are based primarily on UL’s published and nationally recognized Standards for Safety.
UR (UNDERWRITERS REGISTERED)
UR Listing means that UL has tested representative samples of the product and determined that it meets UR’s requirements. These requirements are based primarily on UL’s published and nationally recognized Standards for Safety.
Unlike UL Listing UR will typically need to have the components for the product assembled in a specific way to achieve the rating.
TUM (Technische Universitat Munchen)
The TUM certificate products have been evaluated for compliance with the Hygienic equipment design criteria of the EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group).
The EHEDG is a consortium of equipment manufacturers, food industries, research institutes as well as public health authorities that enables safe food production by providing guidance as an authority on hygienic engineering and design.
EAC
EAC certificate in Russian Federation is a certificate of compliance, required for the import of technical equipment into the customs territory and the release of low-voltage equipment and electronic equipment into circulation on the domestic market.
The Russian EAC certificate required for electrical equipment includes equipment for the generation, transformation, transmission, distribution and utilization of electrical energy, including for direct use, and equipment built into machines, network equipment and other applications. Two examples of equipment that require the EAC approvals are Computers and Satellite stations.