Intertek’s comprehensive suite of quality assurance services including ETL Mark, energy efficiency assessment, chemical and material analysis, supply chain assurance, across a global footprint give manufacturers and retailers the most options for bringing high-quality LED lighting products to global markets.
Key Safety Standards
When exporting to the North American market, there are four key safety certification standards to consider:
- ANSI/UL 588, Edition 19 for Seasonal & Holiday Decorative Products
- CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 37 for Decorative Lighting Products
- NOM-003-SCFI-2000 for Electrical Product Safety Specifications
- NMX-J-521/1-2012 for Household and Similar Electrical Appliances
These safety standards are not harmonized.
Manufacturers should consult a third-party testing agency to understand the differences between the standards and create a plan for compliance. Third-party certification is recommended by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Health Canada, and a requirement for almost all North American retailers.
In addition, there are a variety of performance measures required by various jurisdictions or retail outlets, including criteria for energy efficiency, chemicals and materials, retailer protocols, or competitive benchmarking.
Intertek has expanded quality assurance services for decorative lighting string manufacturers and retailers with sales and technical support in our 1,000+ global locations, and testing laboratories in the following Centers of Excellence:
- Guangzhou, China
- Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Taipei, Taiwan
- Kista, Sweden
US & Canada: Important Concerns
In the US, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is requiring that decorative lighting strings comply with:
- minimum wire size
- sufficient strain relief
- overcurrent protection
These items, which can be checked easily by government inspectors, are checked unless the product is listed by a Nationally Recognized Test Lab (NRTL).
In Canada, Health Canada has been inspecting and conducting recalls when lampholder materials, wire size, and conductor materials do not comply with the standards for decorative lighting strings and/or the wire requirements for wiring used in the products. The special tests that may be conducted by Health Canada on products entering the Canadian market are detailed below:
- Wire gauge (CSA C22.2 No. 2556-13, Clause 3.3)
- Strain relief (CSA C22.2 No. 37-89, Clause 6.2.1)
- Flammability of lampholder component (CSA C22.2 No. 017-00, Clause 9.2.1 & 9.2.2)
- Flammability of the wiring (CSA C22.2 2556-13, Clause 9.4)
- Conductivity (or resistance) of the wiring (CSA C22.2 No. 49-14, Clause 4.1.1.2)
Intertek, through certifications and inspections for retailers, can provide testing to support compliance to all regional and global requirements.
Global Considerations
Manufacturers want to distribute their products to global markets, and retailers want to source from wide range of manufacturers. To reach global markets, the following standards should be considered: ANSI/UL 588, Edition 19; CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 37; NOM-003-SCFI-2000; NMX-J-521/1-2012; and the additional standards impacting wiring.
