John F Showell

Product Approvals Ltd is a consulting engineering practice specialising in helping electronics companies with obtaining product safety approvals, for example CE marking for the European market and nationally recognised testing laboratory (NRTL) marking for the North American market using third-party agencies such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Here are some further benefits to you of using my services:

• Completely impartial advice aimed at helping you fulfill your specific product approvals requirement.
• An in depth understanding of the unique requirements for electronic products
• An emphasis on tailoring a solution to your unique needs.
• A hands-on approach if that's what you need.
• Over 10 years experience in obtaining UL safety certifications.
• Knowledge of standards including UL 508C Power conversion equipment, UL 840 Insulation co-ordination, UL 50 Enclosures for electrical equipment, UL 746 Polymeric material use in electrical equipment, UL 1449 Transient voltage surge suppressors, EN 61800-5-1 Electrical power drive systems, EN 50178 Electronic equipment for use in power installations, EN 60529 IP codes, NEMA-250 Enclosures for electrical equipment, Canadian standard CSA C22.2 No. 14 Industrial Control Equipment etc.
• Determination of optimal product certification routes.
• Additional flexible resource as and when you need it.
• A means of staying up-to-date with current legislation affecting electronics equipment.
• Design reviews - on site - or by web conferencing.
• Custom-written design guidelines

The service will be tailored to best suit your unique requirements.

1. Preliminary safety design reviews. To help ensure conceptual designs are compliant with key safety requirements from the outset of the project.
   • Service code PSDR1 (on-site)
   • Service code PSDR2 (web based)
2. Project management and facilitation of third-party safety approval submittals e.g. obtaining agency listings for US and Canadian markets.
   • Service code TPSA
3. Assistance with self-certification CE-marking of products to the Low Voltage Directive for the EU market.
   • Service code SCA-LVD
4. Creation and implementation of complete product design verification plans to address product conformity aspects including safety, EMC, environmental (climatic, vibration), user-interface, integrity and reliability aspects as required.
   • Service code PDVP
5. Review of market entry product approval options. For example investigation of alternate certification agency routes and product label markings.
   • Service code ME
6. Legislation monitoring. This could for example involve monitoring of a key safety standard - or looking at the implications of new EU legislation such as the Energy-using Products (EuP) directive.
   • Service code LM
7. Design guideline writing. This can be a valuable aid to reducing time spent by design engineers navigating and interpreting sometimes confusing or complicated information laid-out in technical standards. Collating differing requirements across various applicable standards when considering e.g. PCB clearance requirements is another example of a potential benefit.
   • Service code DG
8. Data research and collation. This service can be of help for example when selecting suitable polymeric materials for an electrical enclosure and can include review of relevant parameters such as flammability, relative thermal index for electrical & mechanical performace, comparative tracking index, arcing and hot wire ignition resistance and so forth.
• Service code DRC

Other services or combinations of services can be provided in order to satisfy your requirements please ask info [at] productapprovals [dot] co [dot] uk.

Do you need design assistance as well? My associate is a highly experienced power electronics design expert, please contact: Steve Foster, Power Electronics Consultant