UL issues draft UL/CSA 60950
UL has issued a draft edition of UL/CSA 60950, based on the Third Edition of IEC 60950. The proposed timetable for the introduction of the standard is as follows:
The existing bi-national CSA 950/ UL 1950 may be used for new and existing products until April 1, 2003, and may be used for existing products until April 1, 2005.
The introductory date for the pending bi-national CSA 60950/UL 60950 was not specified.
Updated list of Harmonised Standards for the Low Voltage Directive published in the Official Journal of the European Union - September 22, 1999.
The Official Journal has published an updated list of Low
Voltage Directive harmonized standards, which can be downloaded in PDF format from the
.The harmonised version of EN 60950 is now:
EN
60950:1992/A1:1993/A2:1993/A3:1995/A4:1997/A11:199 7
Details of dates of withdrawal of previous versions of the standard are given in the Subscribers' section of i-Spec IT
The European Union's new R&TTE Directive comes into effect on 8th April 2000.
From 8th April 2000, manufacturers of radio and
telecommunications terminal equipment will be able to use the new R&TTE Directive (1999/5/EEC) to demonstrate compliance with the EU's requirements. This directive amalgamates the regulatory laws for radio and
telecommunication terminal equipment, placing the responsibility for demonstrating compliance on the manufacturer. For telecommunication terminal equipment, this directive replaces the TTE Directive, relaxing the
requirements to cover only protection of the network from harm. A license from a Notified Body will no longer be needed; the manufacturer will be required to make a
Declaration of Conformity based on applicable standards. Radio equipment using non-harmonised frequency bands will still need approval by a Notified Body.
Manufacturers must product a Technical File, containing full engineering details of the product, as well as details of test results, methods and standards, as evidence of compliance.
Argentina - New Regulations for Electrical Products.
Argentine Resolution 92/98 applies to all electrical
products, having a nominal voltage of up to 1000 Vac or 1500 Vdc.
This resolution came into effect on August 16, 1998 and is being implemented in three phases. The first phase, which
involved a manufacturer's Declaration of Conformity, has been completed. The second phase, which is now in effect, requires a Certificate of Conformity to Type. This certificate
must be issued by a certification body accredited by the OAA, the Argentine Accreditation Body, and based on tests carried out by an accredited laboratory against appropriate
national (IRAM - The Argentine Institute of Standards) or international (IEC) standards. Imported products may have a Certificate of Conformity of Type issued by a foreign
certification body, as long as the foreign body has a mutual recognition agreement with an Argentinean certification organisation.
The third phase of the new regulations starts on February
18, 2000 for equipment used in electrical installations, April 18, 2000 for domestic electrical equipment, and September 18, 2000 for electronic devices. Under this
phase all electrical products must carry the IRAM mark. As an alternative, imported equipment may be certified by a foreign certification body, as long as the foreign body has a
mutual recognition agreement with an Argentinean accredited organisation.
Do you need to update your EN 60950 test report?
If your compliance with the European Union's Low Voltage Directive is based on
EN 60950:1988/A1:90/A2:92 or earlier, or
EN 60950:1992/A1:93 or earlier,
then you should be aware that your products will have to be reevaluated to the latest version of the standard by March 1, 2000. The changes involved depend on the product and
may vary between paperwork changes to the report, to testing and possible redesign. Contact your Test House if you are unsure of what needs to be done.
Once your test report is updated you will be able to make the appropriate changes to your Declaration of Conformity. Remember, a DoC using the versions of the standard mentioned above, will not be considered to show
compliance with the Low Voltage Directive after March 1, 2000.
