CSA US Mark

7/27/2019 CSA US Mark

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For over 100 years, products have been tested and listed by independent testing laboratories or use in NortAmerica to assure public saety. Product certication marks are the result o an independent, accredited third ptesting and certication process. Today, the largest three product-saety testing and certication laboratories inNorth America are UL, CSA and ETL.

Although UL is oten thought o as the Kleenex o certication laboratories, the acceptance o the CSA/US mhas grown tremendously in the past decade, to the point where UL and CSA/US marks are virtually interchangable today.

The Most Important Thing to UnderstandThere are actually two considerations, the standard to which a product is tested and the independent testing ancertication laboratory that tests the product and certies its compliance, authorizing the manuacturer to applycertication mark.

All listed luminaires in the US are tested to the same standard, regardless o whether they are tested and certby, and carry either a UL or CSA/US mark. Hence, UL and CSA/US marks are interchangeable and are geneequally accepted today.

History o CSACSA is an independent, not-or-prot organization supported today by more than 8,000 members in the US,Canada, and around the world. Although UL pre-dates CSA by 25 years, CSA has a rich history o leadershipestablished in 1919. While CSA may still be perceived by some as a standards organization or the Canadianmarketplace, CSA also has a certication and laboratory division that provides services globally. CSA changename o their certication and testing division to CSA International in 1999 to refect this international ocus. Since1992,CSAInternationalhasbeenaccreditedbytheOccupationalSafetyandHealthAssociati (OSHA)totestandcertifyproductstoover400USStandards(includingANSIandULStandards).To viewtheOSHAlistinggoto:http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/csa.html CSAInternationalisaccreditedbyotherorganizationsincludingANSI,IAS,ASTM,IAPMO,

and others. AsaNationalCerticationBody(NCB)intheIECEECBandExSchemes,CSAcantestandcertiy to IEC Standards or the international marketplace.

CSAparticipatesintheharmonizationofstandards(UL,CSAandNOM)forNorthAmerica. CSAmaintainsofcesacrosstheUSandCanada.CSAalsohasofcesinEuropeandtheFarEast.

CSA Mark AcceptanceTheNationalElectricalCode(NEC)frequentlycallsforlistedequipment.

Listed: Equipment or materials included in a list published by an organization acceptable to the authorhaving jurisdiction and concerned with evaluation o product or services, that maintains periodic inspeco production o listed equipment o materials or periodic evaluation o services, and whose listing statethat the equipment, material or services, either meets appropriate designated standards or has been tesand ound suitable or a specifed purpose.

- NEC Article 100: Defnitions

Forlightingequipment,theAuthorityHavingJurisdiction(AHJ)isusuallythelocalelectricalinspectorthatmaytheNEC,applicablebuildingcodeorlocalcodesasaguide.ThousandsofAHJsnationwiderequirethatprodbecertiedbyanaccreditedlaboratory.USAHJsincludingthecitiesofNewYork,LosAngelesandChicagowellasthestatesofWashington,OregonandNorthCarolinaspecically,requirecerticationmarksasmandatoryandhaveformalrecognitionprograms.CSAisrecognizedbyalloftheabove-namedcityandstateAHJswell as many other local jurisdictions. In other jurisdictions, certication marks may be voluntary. In either casepresence o a reputable certication mark on the product is important because it shows that a product has beeindependently tested and certied to meet recognized standards or saety or perormance.

We eel, and have always elt, that CSA is already a nationally recognized testing agency, a name thawell known and respected throughout the industry.

- Reedy Creek Municipality,Gwinnett County, GA

WhitePaper:TheAcceptanceoftheCSA/USProductCerticationMark


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The CSA/US mark is widely accepted by US electrical inspectors. CSA has a close relationship with the InternatioAssociationofElectricalInspectors(IAEI)datingbackto1931.Infact,CSADirectorofAuditsandInvestigationDougGeraldeisanIAEIboardmemberandpast-President.IAEIExecutiveDirectorJamesCarpenterisalsoamemberofCSAInternationalsBoardofDirectors.

The CSA/US mark is widely accepted by US specifers. Through collaboration with CSA, The American Institute oArchitectsMASTERSPECtemplatehasbeenrevisedtoreferenceOSHArecognizedNRTLlabs(likeCSA)asacabletestinglaboratories.TheMASTERSPECspecicationsystemisusedbyEngineeringandArchitecturalcom

nies throughout the US.

The CSA/US mark is widely trusted by manuacturers.CSAmarksappearonover1BillionproductsworldwideincludingproductsfromleadingUSmanufacturersincludingApple,Compaq,HP,IBM,Lennox,Mitsubishi Electrial&Electronics,Black&Decker,DeltaFaucet,GE,IBM,Sanyo,Whirlpool,Moenandothers.Luminairerom numerous leading manuacturers also commonly eature the CSA mark.

The CSA/US mark is widely accepted by retailers. CSA marks are ound on many products sold in leading US rechainstodayincludingAceHardware,BestBuy,CircuitCity,JCPenney,K-Mart,Lowes,Sears,theHomeDepot,Costco,Wal-Martandothers.Mostdistributorsofelectricalproducts,includingGraybarandWWGrainger,sCSA marked products.

CSA is a trusted partner and were confdent that products bearing the CSA mark have been rigorouslyexamined and tested to standards that are constantly reviewed and adjusted.

- Dan KamykowskiAce Hardware Merchandising Manager,Plumbing & Electrical

Demystiying Certifcation MarksThe certication mark provides visual evidence that the product was tested and certied to meet theapplicable standard. All listed luminaires or the US market are tested to the same standard, regardless owhethertheycarryaULorCSA/USmark.Hence,thefollowingULandCSAmarksareinterchangeableandagenerallyequallyacceptedtoday.

Marks or the US Marks or US and Canada

CSA A CSA mark with the indica-torUSorNRTLmeans

that the product is certiedor the U.S. market to theapplicable U.S. standards.

CSA mark with the indicators CandUSorNRTL/Cmeansthat

the product is certied or both theU.S. and Canadian markets, to theapplicable U.S. and Canadianstandards.

UL This is one o the mostcommonULMarks.Productswith this mark are certiedor the US market to theapplicable US standards.

UL mark with the indicators C andUS indicates compliance with bothCanadianandU.S.requirements.ThCanada/U.S.ULMarkisoptional.Uencourages those manuacturers with

products certied or both countries tousethisnew,combinedMark,butthemaycontinueusingseparateULMaor the United States and Canada

US

NRTL

C US

NRTL/C


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How US Product Testing & Certifcation WorksTestingandcerticationconrmsthatproductsmeetUSstandardsbybringingthreeindependentgroupstogeth

1. Manuacturers:whomaketheproducts(ex:Prescolite).ManufacturersusetheapplicableUSstandardin the design process.

2. Standards Writing Organizations:whoauthorUSnationalproductstandards(ex:ANSI).Theseorganizations include representatives rom industry and other interested parties

whodenethespecicstandardsforaparticulartypeofproduct(e.g.aluminaire).IntheUS,

responsibility or publishing, maintaining and distributing standards is oten delegated to a standards writingorganizationsuchasANSI,ASTM,UL,NSF,ASME,ASFE,etc.

3. Product Testing & Certifcation Laboratories: who test products to applicable standards and authorize productapprovalmarks(ex:CSA).Thelaboratoryishiredbythemanufacturertotestandcertifytha

their products meet the applicable standards.

Upon certication, the product is authorized to carry the appropriate certication mark licensed by the testinglaboratory(ex:CSA/US).

Sometimes,thename(oraportionofthename)ofanorganizationwellknownforitstestingandcerticationactivitiesappearsinthenameofstandardspublishedbythatorganizationsstandardsdivision(forexample,Ustandard1598forlightingxturesorCSAstandardZ21.47/2.3forgas-redcentralfurnaces).This does not that a product must be tested and certifed by the laboratory whose name appears on the standard. So-called

standards,NSFstandards,ULstandards,andothers,areavailabletoALLqualiedandaccreditedtestinglaboratories or use in testing and certiying products.

What is a Recognized Laboratory?IntheUS,testinglaboratoriesarerecognizedbytheOccupationalHealth&SafetyAdministration(OSHA)aNationallyRecognizedTestingLaboratories(NRTLs)thatarequaliedtotestandcertifythataproductmeetsUstandards,asgovernedbyOSHAregulation29CFR1910.7.AllNRTLstestproductsagainstthesamesetsofstandards, regardless o who wrote or published them.

CSAInternationalhasbeenaccredited(recognized)byOSHAsince1992andisfullyqualiedtotestelectrandlightingproductsfortheUSmarket.CSAisrecognizedbyOSHAtotestandcertifyproductstoover400standards including ANSI and UL Standards.

CSA Testing Standards

Today, it makes no dierence which recognized laboratory tests and certies a product. This is a direct result otheNorthAmericanFreeTradeAgreement(NAFTA)asappliedtothirdpartyconformityassessmentprocedurerecognizedbyOSHA.

CSA and UL luminaire testing is conducted in compliance with the same standard. This bi-national US/Canadiatesting standard, called UL 1598/CSA 22.2 No. 250.0-00, went into eect February 1, 2001 as a replaceto such previous UL/ANSI standards as UL 1570, UL 1571 and UL 1572.


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The Benefts o CompetitionBecausemultiplelaboratoriesarerecognizedbyOSHAtotestandcertifyproducts,manufacturershavethefreedomtoselectamongthembasedonturnaroundtime,priceandconvenience.SinceallOSHANRTLsevaluproducts against the same standards, owners, contractors, distributors and speciers can select products basedbrand,priceandqualityratherthanonwhodidthetestingandwhosecerticationmarkappearsontheprodu

Acompetitivetestingandcerticationmarketplacehelpsmanufacturersbringproductstomarketquicklyandeconomically while also ensuring that they are subjected to the testing called or by the applicable standards.

How to Write a Better Specifcation or Approval MarksCustomers can take advantage o this openness and competition and ensure that they have access to the broadpossible selection o products only i they ensure that their product selection practices are not unduly restrictive.purchasingorspecicationpolicyrequiringproductscertiedbyaparticularlaboratoryunnecessarilylimitstherangeofproductsavailablewhereasapolicythatacceptsproductstestedandcertiedbyanOSHANationalRecognizedTestingLaboratory(NRTL)protectsagainsttheuseofnonconformingproductswithoutplacingunnecessary limitations on product selection.

Toensureaccesstoafullrangeofqualifying,safeandhighqualityproducts,specicationsshouldbewrittentacceptproductstestedandcertiedbyanyNationallyRecognizedTestingLaboratory(NRTL)asdenedinOregulation29CFR1901.7.

Prescolite Product ListingsSince UL and CSA/US marks are virtually interchangeable today, Prescolite enjoys the reedom o pursuing wh

evermarkallowsustobringproductstomarketthemostswiftly.Hence,Prescoliteproductsmightcarryeitheraor a CSA/US mark. No Prescolite products are ETL listed today.

Frequently Asked Questions1. Where can I get more inormation on CSA?

CallCSAInternationalat800-463-6727orvisitwww.csa-international.org.

2. Who can I call or help i I encounter a specifcation that preers UL over CSA? ContactCSAInternationalBusinessDevelopmentManagerat416-747-4142.or SueDempsey,CSAInternationalVPNorthAmericanSalesat216-524-4990.

3.Can I obtain documentation o CSAs acceptance by my local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)? Over10yearsago,CSAinitiatedtheirRecognitionintheUSprogram,visitingmanystateandloca

authorities to promote and obtain acceptance o the CSA/US mark. CSA retains many letters o

acceptance rom these jurisdiction as evidence o their acceptance o the CSA/US mark. ContactLenMitchellatCSAInternational(416-747-4277)tocheckonyourlocaljurisdictionandobacceptance documentation.

4.How is it ensured that products continue to comply with the standard(s) against which they arelisted over time?

Certicationagenciesconductaseriesofunannounced,on-siteinspectionsasmandatedbyOSHAfproducts sold in the US and the Standards Council o Canada or products sold in Canada.

5. I understand that a product can be tested to a UL standard yet carry a CSA mark. How can this be?

I the standard is UL, doesnt the mark also have to come rom UL?Companies such as UL and CSA are involved in both standards publication and testing. It is a comm

misperceptionthatbecauseacompanysnameappearsonaparticularstandard,thatcompanyslaboratory must exclusively perorm product testing against the standard. The act is, the standards a

testing roles are perormed independently within companies like UL and CSA in order to avoid a con ofinterest.Thestandardsareavailableforthemanufacturersuseindesignandmanufacturingandalso available to all accredited testing and certication agencies or product testing.

6. I all listed luminaires in the US are tested to the same standard and it makes no dierence whichaccredited agency tests and certifes a product, why doesnt Prescolite just list all o their products wisingle agency?

SincethequalityandmeaningofthelistingmarkisthesamebetweenULandCSA,thedifferentiator inPrescolitesagencydecisionisservice.Tomeettheneedsofourcustomers,wemustdevelopprod quickly.Tomeettheneedsofourcompany,wemustalsodosocosteffectively.Atanygiventime,on

agency might be more responsive than the other. We also negotiate competitive ee structures with bagencies. We try to leverage the universal acceptability o UL and CSA certication to work with the

agencythatallowsustodevelophighquality,safeproductsthefastestandthemostcosteffectively.acceptance o Prescolite products that carry either a UL or CSA/US mark give

us the fexibility we need to do this.

WP # 0001bMarch19,2008

Documents

CSA US Mark