Electronic Gadget Government Regulations

R

Rene

Guest
I am building an electronic device that I intent to use in my own business.
The device will be used by our customers when stopping by the business. The
gadget is really no big deal, it basically consist of nothing more than a
bunch of computer parts (e.g.: motherboard, 8.4" LCD screen, etc) all inside
a custom case. There will be around 10 of these units throughout the store.



My question is, do I have to get some type of approval by the government to
be able to use the device? Someone told me that all electronic equipment
must have the government seal of approval to make sure is safe so that
people with, say hart pacers, don't die if they touch it or get to close!



Is this true? If it is, does anyone have any links that explain the process
to get my device approved by the government?



Thank you
 
On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 07:46:01 GMT, "Rene" <nospam@nospam.nospam> Gave
us:

My question is, do I have to get some type of approval by the government to
be able to use the device? Someone told me that all electronic equipment
must have the government seal of approval to make sure is safe so that
people with, say hart pacers, don't die if they touch it or get to close!



Is this true? If it is, does anyone have any links that explain the process
to get my device approved by the government?
Click to expand...
Let's just say that your liability would be greatly decreased by
getting a product certified by a safety organization. Particularly if
it is human contact.

Without it, one would most certainly be liable for damages claimed
by someone in an injury incurred. Even a sharp edge or burr, much
less electronic induced injuries.
 
Let's just say that your liability would be greatly decreased by
getting a product certified by a safety organization.
Click to expand...
Do you have the names of such organizations?

Thanks.
 
On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 08:04:56 GMT, "Rene" <nospam@nospam.nospam> Gave
us:

Let's just say that your liability would be greatly decreased by
getting a product certified by a safety organization.

Do you have the names of such organizations?
Click to expand...
Underwriter's Laboratories.

CSA

CE

DVE

Depends on the country, really.

UL and CE are the most recognized.

CSA is canada, but they rec UL and CE, and DVE is Germany.
CE is Europe.

There are several others for other nations and regions.

Do a google search on "safety organizations"

The cost of the certification would almost make it cheaper to buy
products that already exist for such purposes. Also such a product
would have to be quite thoroughly documented before they would even
take it on, yet another huge cost item if you didn't fully develop it.
 
Thanks, this helps, but I am still not sure if I *have to have* some kind of
certificate to make my product available to the public or if this is not
government regulated in the USA.
 
DarkMatter wrote:
On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 07:46:01 GMT, "Rene" <nospam@nospam.nospam> Gave
us:



My question is, do I have to get some type of approval by the
government to be able to use the device? Someone told me that all
electronic equipment must have the government seal of approval to
make sure is safe so that people with, say hart pacers, don't die if
they touch it or get to close!



Is this true? If it is, does anyone have any links that explain the
process to get my device approved by the government?


Let's just say that your liability would be greatly decreased by
getting a product certified by a safety organization. Particularly if
it is human contact.

Without it, one would most certainly be liable for damages claimed
by someone in an injury incurred.
Click to expand...
Its pretty much irrelevant whether it is "certified" for some
organisation as to injury liability. If you injure someone, your libel.
You may or may not have insurance to pay for your liability.

For example, you mention UL. UL is a private company, unrelated to any
government agency and only really has relevance to insurance companies.
I agree, that a minor number of government agencies have decided to
include a UL spec in their legal codes, but this is beside the point.


Kevin Aylward
salesEXTRACT@anasoft.co.uk
http://www.anasoft.co.uk
SuperSpice, a very affordable Mixed-Mode
Windows Simulator with Schematic Capture,
Waveform Display, FFT's and Filter Design.

"That which is mostly observed, is that which replicates the most"
http://www.anasoft.co.uk/replicators/index.html

"quotes with no meaning, are meaningless" - Kevin Aylward.
 
On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 09:44:31 -0000, "Kevin Aylward"
<kevindotaylwardEXTRACT@anasoft.co.uk> Gave us:

Its pretty much irrelevant whether it is "certified" for some
organisation as to injury liability. If you injure someone, your libel.
You may or may not have insurance to pay for your liability.
Click to expand...
The point was that if a safety org certs it, it is VERY unlikely to
exhibit hazardous behavior.

Do catch up.
 
On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 09:44:31 -0000, "Kevin Aylward"
<kevindotaylwardEXTRACT@anasoft.co.uk> Gave us:

For example, you mention UL. UL is a private company, unrelated to any
government agency and only really has relevance to insurance companies.
I agree, that a minor number of government agencies have decided to
include a UL spec in their legal codes, but this is beside the point.
Click to expand...
She asked about governments, but I know of none that have
"government approved" programs for products. Many have government
requisites which require either private organizations or government
sponsored programs for product safety eval and cert.

In Europe, for example, all electronic products and devices sold
there must have CE certs, and typically can only be Mfgd by ISO9000
companies.

As far as law goes, I believe that any AC powered device must be UL
approved to be sold in the US to consumers. A business can buy any
product I make, If they wish. Custom racks for instrumentation are a
perfect example, but you'd have a hard time funding an AC powered
device here for consumer mass market use that does not have the UL
mark for recognition or an actual listing number for the product.
They also must state "risk of electric shock" on them IIRC.

DC powered devices may or may not. I don't think they do.

Not sure how a taser device would have to be marked.

One doesn't see anyone suing S&W successfully, because some guy
murdered someone with one of their products. The person commits the
act, not the tool with which he commits it.
 
DarkMatter wrote:
On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 09:44:31 -0000, "Kevin Aylward"
kevindotaylwardEXTRACT@anasoft.co.uk> Gave us:

For example, you mention UL. UL is a private company, unrelated to
any government agency and only really has relevance to insurance
companies. I agree, that a minor number of government agencies have
decided to include a UL spec in their legal codes, but this is
beside the point.

She asked about governments, but I know of none that have
"government approved" programs for products.
Click to expand...
Governments can and do require many products to meet certain specs.
Goverments makes the laws.

Many have government
requisites which require either private organizations or government
sponsored programs for product safety eval and cert.

In Europe, for example, all electronic products and devices sold
there must have CE certs, and typically can only be Mfgd by ISO9000
companies.
Click to expand...
CE standards are set by Goverments.

As far as law goes, I believe that any AC powered device must be UL
approved to be sold in the US to consumers.
Click to expand...
Nope. This is not true. As I stated UL is a private company. I mentioned
some jurisdictions because when I was last looking at this issue, LA
city had it written into their code that products must be UL certified.
This is not in general. You can generally sell products pretty much
anywhere in the US without UL.

A business can buy any
product I make, If they wish. Custom racks for instrumentation are a
perfect example, but you'd have a hard time funding an AC powered
device here for consumer mass market use that does not have the UL
mark for recognition or an actual listing number for the product.
Click to expand...
I agree. This is because UL is a formation that resulted directly from
insurance companies. They require it, not the government. If you don't
have UL, you cant get insurance. Without insurance you don't have a
business.



Kevin Aylward
salesEXTRACT@anasoft.co.uk
http://www.anasoft.co.uk
SuperSpice, a very affordable Mixed-Mode
Windows Simulator with Schematic Capture,
Waveform Display, FFT's and Filter Design.

"That which is mostly observed, is that which replicates the most"
http://www.anasoft.co.uk/replicators/index.html

"quotes with no meaning, are meaningless" - Kevin Aylward.
 
DarkMatter wrote:
On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 09:44:31 -0000, "Kevin Aylward"
kevindotaylwardEXTRACT@anasoft.co.uk> Gave us:

Its pretty much irrelevant whether it is "certified" for some
organisation as to injury liability. If you injure someone, your
libel. You may or may not have insurance to pay for your liability.

The point was that if a safety org certs it, it is VERY unlikely to
exhibit hazardous behavior.
Click to expand...
Not at all. This is the real world.

Do catch up.
Click to expand...
I cought up with the real world, many years ago.

Kevin Aylward
salesEXTRACT@anasoft.co.uk
http://www.anasoft.co.uk
SuperSpice, a very affordable Mixed-Mode
Windows Simulator with Schematic Capture,
Waveform Display, FFT's and Filter Design.

"That which is mostly observed, is that which replicates the most"
http://www.anasoft.co.uk/replicators/index.html

"quotes with no meaning, are meaningless" - Kevin Aylward.
 
On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 14:32:09 -0000, "Kevin Aylward"
<kevindotaylwardEXTRACT@anasoft.co.uk> Gave us:

I agree. This is because UL is a formation that resulted directly from
insurance companies. They require it, not the government. If you don't
have UL, you cant get insurance. Without insurance you don't have a
business.
Click to expand...
The government does have standards for electronic devices in the US.
It is called the FCC.
 
"DarkMatter" <DarkMatter@thebarattheendoftheuniverse.org> wrote in message
news:0tmb10da3bp6n5h2qa8tasb7gbqmcn515l@4ax.com...
On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 14:32:09 -0000, "Kevin Aylward"
kevindotaylwardEXTRACT@anasoft.co.uk> Gave us:

I agree. This is because UL is a formation that resulted directly from
insurance companies. They require it, not the government. If you don't
have UL, you cant get insurance. Without insurance you don't have a
business.


The government does have standards for electronic devices in the US.
It is called the FCC.
Click to expand...
The FCC is not involved in the same sorts of standards as UL and
similar safety/environmental regulatory groups or agencies. It is
concerned primarily with RF emission and susceptibility limits, which UL
in turn doesn't address at all. UL compliance is technically NOT
a legal requirement for selling products in the U.S., but it is a de-facto
one for the exact reason that Kevin mentioned - UL certification or
recognition goes a long way toward reducing potential liability. UL
recognition also often becomes, effectively, a legal requirement with
respect to sales to the government or military itself, and as such it is
generally simplest/best simply to get any US-bound product blessed
by UL.

There are some other US government agencies that get involved with
electronic product standards as well, specifically the DHHS (X-ray
standards, for example) or the EPA (the "Energy Star" program), but
again these really don't overlap with the work of UL.

Bob M.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Welcome to EDABoard.com

Sponsor

Back
Top