Bulletin number:
Affected program:
For the attention of SCC-accredited certification bodies certifying organizations under the CBAP program.
SCC has learned that some certification bodies (CB) accredited by SCC may not be including all the applicable requirements in their certification activities. Specifically those that may come from the regulatory codes applicable within the various jurisdictions across Canada.
Often the requirements of the certification standards and the regulatory requirements are aligned, but sometimes they are not.
One specific example of where they are not is that some of the electrical safety certification standards permit certification of a product to the maximum current limit of the branch circuit to which it is intended to be connected. This means that for general household products (hairdryers, toasters, etc.), they can be certified to the full 15A rating of a typical house branch circuit. However the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) 8-104 requires that the maximum continuous load on typical branch circuits in homes shall only be 80% of the maximum rating for that branch circuit. This means that for the typical 15A house branch circuit, the maximum continuous loading is 12A. Therefore products certified to the requirements of the certification standard with a continuous load above 12A would not be permitted to be connected to a typical 15A house branch circuit. This is one example. It is possible that other examples exist in all regulated sectors.
It is the responsibility of each CB to ensure that the product that it certifies conforms to all the usual applicable requirements (e.g. certification standards) for that product.
It is required that all CBs ensure they also consider all applicable regulatory requirements (e.g. codes, local requirements in accordance with the applicable AHJ) in their certification activities.
The requirement for CBs to consider regulatory requirements (e.g. codes, local requirements in accordance with the applicable AHJ) in their certification activities, where applicable, has been confirmed with the following Regulatory Authority Advisory Bodies (RAAB):
- Canadian Advisory Council on Electrical Safety (CACES);
- Canadian Regulatory Committee on Plumbing (CRCP);
- Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners (CCFM&FC);
- Interprovincial Gas Advisory Council (IGAC).
If you have any questions, please contact Cynthia Milito, Director, Accreditation Services at cynthia.milito@scc.ca or +1-613-238-3222 ext. 489.