Third Party Field Evaluation Reports and Labels - An Alternative to UL or NRTL Listing

What is Field labeling?

Field labeling is a safety review. Although its main area of interest is electrical, other important aspects of machine and operations safety are also covered in the labeling/permitting process.  There are particular codes that are followed by all 3rd Party Inspectors, which do not vary. These codes are as follows:

• NFPA70 (The US “National Electrical Code”, which writes the rules for electricity)
• UL 508A Safety of Electric Control Panels
• NFPA 79 Safety of Industrial Machinery
• ANSI Z535.4
• OSHA requirements

Why would you do Field Labeling?

Most cities require Field Labeling to protect the inhabitants of their city from disasters that can result from faulty electrical equipment.  It satisfies local and/or state electrical and building inspector’s requirements.

• It protects your company, employees and building from potential catastrophes.

• It ensures that the money you spend on the equipment is “safe for use”.
• It assures safer and more reliable products.
• It aids in defense of a product liability action.
• It is cost effective.
• It gives the assurance that a product, process, or service conforms to all specified requirements.
• To get an outside independent evaluation to ensure your money was well spent.

What is evaluated in Field Labeling?

To ensure the electrical safety integrity of equipment, field evaluations focus on a number of key areas of the equipment construction. The following summarize the fundamental methods of field evaluations.

• Electrical Testing
• Wiring
• Over current Protection
• Lockout/Tag out
• Labeling
• EMO Tests
• Other Hazards

Lewis Bass International provides this service.  We are an approved Third Party.  We are known for being cost effective and minimizing turnaround time in completing the inspection(s) and getting the reports to the city so you can get equipment up and running.  Call Sandeep, our Customer Liaison Manager, at 408-942-8000, ext. 114.

Field Labeling Testing Procedures

A breakdown of what is tested and the procedure followed are listed below so your team can determine if your equipment will meet all the codes.

Electrical

• Machine grounding is tested at numerous points on the equipment, including all exposed metal surfaces that enclose electrical components. Ground continuity testing is performed at 30 amps and is required to demonstrate ground resistance is less than 0.1 ohm at all points measured referenced to facility ground.
• Surface leakage is tested to ensure that no more than 3.5mA of current exists on the exposed conductive surfaces of the equipment during non-fault operating conditions.
• Input current is tested and the electrical design of the equipment evaluated to ensure the correct size of the main over-current device is employed. The electrical components and connections within the equipment are measured for acceptable heating to ensure that the electrical components are not operating at their stress levels during normal equipment operation.

Wiring

• Wiring methods are reviewed to ensure the requirements of NFPA 79 are met for conductor colors, incidental contact, segregation of control circuits and devices, ground conductors, labels, buttons, and indicators.
• Isolation of hazardous voltages from earth ground as well as signal conductors are evaluated and tested through visual inspections and high potential breakdown testing to validate the visual inspection.

Lockout/Tag out

• The equipment is examined to ensure that the facility feed conductors are provided with the correct clearances and termination points according to NFPA 70 and NFPA 79. The main disconnect handle and main LOTO provisions are examined for conformance to NFPA 70, NFPA 79, and OSHA requirements. The electrical enclosure(s) of the equipment is examined for suitability within the environment in which they are incorporated according to the conditions described in UL 508 and UL 50.
• The full requirements of OSHA compliance for LOTO provisions on the hazardous energy on the equipment, as well as isolation for electrical energy are thoroughly reviewed. All of the energy that the facility provides to the equipment is examined and an evaluation of the ability to isolate all energy (process gasses, pneumatic gasses, cooling water, process liquids, etc.) with lockable isolation features is done.

Labeling

• We identify all hazards on the system and review the equipment for Hazard Warning labels according to the potential hazards present on the equipment and ANSI Z535.4.

EMO Tests

• Test the proper operation of any emergency stops for reliability and proper functioning.

Other Hazards

• Special consideration is given to ground fault protection requirements on equipment that incorporates immersion heaters. Those systems that could create an unpredictable current path through liquid distribution lines are carefully evaluated to ensure that any faults in the heating system are mitigated before they become an electric shock hazard to personnel.
• For equipment that uses flammable chemistry the requirements to use electrical components that are listed for use in classified locations are examined in detail.
• Where it is not possible to obtain components for classified locations, one of the requirements is that the equipment manufacturer has to produce the test reports that demonstrate adequate dilution of the flammable chemistry has been provided, and gives all pertinent information to conclude the evaluation.

Required Compliance and Safety Testing

In addition to relevant construction evaluations, the equipment will also be tested for compliance to safety requirements. The tests may vary depending on the type of equipment. However, some of the most common tests are:

Grounding Continuity Test:
Testing for proper grounding and bonding of the whole equipment

Dielectric Voltage Withstand Test (Hi Pot Test):
Testing for adequate spacing between conductive parts. Test is performed between primary and ground and primary and secondary of the unit.

Input Current Test:
Measuring the input current of the unit during maximum load operation and evaluating the suitability of protection mechanisms such as fuses, circuit breakers, etc.

Strain Relief Test:
Measuring the strength and suitability of strain relief through push and pull tests.

Interlock Test:
Tests the suitability and performance of all interlocks giving access to live parts and moving components.

What does the Field Label Testing look for?

Risk of Fire

• Design/construction/voltage
• Properly sized components
• Appropriate non-combustible enclosures
• Over-current/Overload protection & sizing

Risk of Shock

• 30Vrms/60Vdc
• Protection against accessibility
• Appropriate enclosures
• Articulated Finger Probe
• Grounding

Risk of Mechanical Hazards

• Pinch points/sharp points/Tip Hazard
• Accessibility to moving parts - Crushing and Tearing Hazards
• Appropriate Enclosures/Guards
• Appropriate warnings and labels
• Risk of High Current/Energy

Markings

• Manufacturer/Model No./Electrical Ratings
• Caution markings
• Risk of Fire/Shock/Mechanical Hazards
• Caution markings relevant to hazards within the installation site

You now have all the information needed to help you understand about Field Labeling.  If you have any technical questions, please call 408-942-8000, and ask for any of our engineers and they will be glad to help you.  Call Lewis Bass International if you are not sure if your city requires Field Labeling or if you are not sure if the city you are sending your equipment to requires it.