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From: ftpam1@acad3.fai.alaska.edu (MUNTS PHILLIP A)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Re:Selling Electronics Kits: FCC Approval ?
Message-ID: <1990Sep20.014846.17687@hayes.fai.alaska.edu>
Date: 20 Sep 90 01:48:46 GMT
References: 9009172016.AA07327@edison.CHO.GE.COM> <1990Sep18.163715.3371@mdivax1.uucp> <13623@mcdphx.phx.mcd.mot.com>
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In article <13623@mcdphx.phx.mcd.mot.com>, hbg6@citek.mcdphx.mot.com writes...

>I also believe UL testing is not manditory by regulation, it's just
>that a lot of organizations will not buy products without the test.
>Try to find a Korean hair dryer with a UL approval sticker.

     UL approval is basically to keep you from being sued out of existence if
anything ever goes wrong with your product.  Lack of approval is prima
facie evidence that your are an irresponsible manufacturer.  (Since it would
be nearly impossible to actually collect on a judgement against an overseas
manufacturer, they don't care.)

     I believe that UL approval (or equivalent) is required by OSHA under
certain circumstances.  I don't know the details but other testing organizations
recently managed to overturn UL's monopoly on something in this area.

     Other countries (UK, for example) have equivalent standards with the force
of law.

     The approvals and certification process is incredibly tortuous.  It cannot
really be described but has to be experienced.  Suffice it to say that the
company I used to work for (then a $10M size company with only a dozen or so
products) found it worthwhile to hire an expert full time just to do the
paperwork for certification.

     Most products had to meet many UL standards, FCC Part 15 Subpart J (EMI)
FCC Part 68 (telephone interconnection), NEC (national electrical code), CFM
(California Fire Marshal).  Security equipment (the product line) requires some
unique UL approvals, such as the dreaded Attack Test.  (How long does it take
to disable a system with a sledge hammer?)

Philip Munts N7AHL
NRA Extremist, etc.
University of Alaska, Fairbanks