5 Points to consider for Testing and Certification

As the world continues to navigate the current global pandemic, we have all been forced to think out of the box and explore creativeness. If you have been thinking about creating or developing a new product… this article is for you! The next few lines highlight 5 Points to consider for Testing and Certification products for the Canadian or US markets.

Having a clear idea of the product’s intended use, the target market, and ratings is key to providing the chosen third-party with the necessary information for the product’s future testing and certification. On occasion, one standard will take precedence over another due to the intended use or rating limitations of the product, such as the maximum voltage.

Why it matters: Your product’s voltage rating, environment (industrial/consumer), and target market dictate whether CSA SPE-1000 or UL/ANSI standards apply. For Example, A 240V medical device requires different testing than a 12V automotive accessory.

• Pro Tip: Document exact use cases early. Misalignment here causes 37% of certification delays. Learn more about how ratings affect hazardous location certifications.

Determine if you are about to test an individual model or a series including multiple models and give it a name. This is important to know as, for electrical safety, the whole series can be evaluated by testing a representative sample, instead of testing every single model. That is, if the models only have minimum variations among them. This will be up to the third-party approval agency to determine. Also, if you are planning to distribute your product to other markets in the future, such as Europe or Australia, evaluating the product to the standards for all your desired markets at the same time, instead of performing individual tests for one market at a time, will save time and economic resources.

 How to Maximize Efficiency:

• Series Testing: Submit product families (e.g., smartphones with varying screen sizes) as a series. Labs test representative samples, cutting costs by up to 60% 13.

• Multi-Market Strategy:

  • Combine CE (EU), UKCA (UK), and NRCan (Canada) testing upfront.

  • Avoid re-testing fees by using MRA-recognized labs (e.g., LabTest’s CETA status for EU/Canada mutual recognition). You can plan global approvals using our market access guide.

On occasions, products require to be evaluated to different standards like, for example, Lithium batteries, which not only require to be evaluated for Electrical Safety and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), but they also require to pass Environmental tests in order to be used in transportation, increasing considerably the amount of time and the number of required samples needed for the full testing scope. Contacting your third-party agency ahead of time to discuss all of the different applications for your product will save headaches later on.

Hidden Complexities of Lithium Batteries Requirements:

1. Electrical Safety (UL 2054)

2. EMC (FCC Part 15B)

3. Environmental (UN38.3 for transport)

4. Performance (IEC 62133)
   Consequences: Overlooking layers = 8+ weeks of re-testing.
   Solution:

• Share all product applications (e.g., “used in drones + backup power systems”) during lab intake. Navigate multi-standard projects like battery testing.

First, verify that the testing laboratory of your choice is an ISO 17025 Accredited laboratory, with its accreditation provided by one of the ILAC signatory members, and that the standards required for your product are in their Scope of Accreditations. Next, pay attention to their response time, as you will have to deal with that for the next few weeks/months, and time is money! Lastly, find out how long it is going to take to get your product approved, as that will be your time-to-market.

The above image shows an example of a cLCus label on an already installed product which was tested as per the applicable CSA and UL standards.

Consider the time it will take for the whole process. Testing is not the only thing that will take up time. Lead time; shipping the product to the laboratory; gathering documentation like manuals, drawings, and schematics; communication; getting your manufacturing facility ready for and conducting Initial Factory Inspection; any product non-compliances; and lastly, potential required modifications, are all factors that will add time to the final process. While some standards will only take weeks to complete, others could take months. When inquiring about turnaround time, note that the clock will start ticking from the moment that samples, documentation, and anything else needed by the third-party to start working on the project is received. Track global logistics via Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).