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1. Safety Standards Outline
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Safety standards are established by a country or an organization representing it to protect general users from electrical shock and fire hazards.
It establishes standards for electrical devices and components. For electrical equipment manufacturers, utilizing switches that have been safety-approved ensures the safety of the switch. The use of a safety-approved switch also simplifies at least one part of the process of obtaining certification by safety testing.
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2. Major Safety Standards
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(1) Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law
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The conventional [Electrical Appliance and Material Control Law] has changed to [Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law] and has been enforced since April 1, 2001. Electrical appliances are categorized into special electric appliances and parts (formerly Class A) and Electrical appliances other than the special electric appliances (formerly Class B) .
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Special electric appliances are required to receive goodness of fit test at a certified test agency and to store the certificate. Also, penal provisions have been reinforced.
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(2) UL (Underwriters Laboratories Inc.)
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Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is the American safety approving organization. Its purpose is to ensure consumer safety and protect them from fire hazards. State law requires that equipment to be exported to the United States utilize UL approved power switches or power switches meeting UL standards and capable of passing UL tests.
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(3) CSA (Canadian Standards Association)
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Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is the Canadian safety testing association and tests electrical and other equipment to ensure the safety of individuals and prevent fire hazards. Provincial law requires that the power switches used in equipment for export to Canada be CSA approved or meet CSA standards.
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(4) SEMKO (Svenska Electriska Materielkontrollanstalten)
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Svenska Electriska Materielkontrollanstalten (SEMKO) is the Swedish safety testing organization. Its purpose is to prevent electrical shock and fires due to home electrical appliances. Nearly all electrical appliances sold in Sweden must be approved by SEMKO.
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(5) BS (British Standard)
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British Standard (BS) is the industrial and safety standards of Great Britain. It is made up of such organizations as the BSI and BEAB. It conducts investigations of electrical equipment for verification of safety. Electrical devices do not have to conform to this standard but those that do have a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
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(6) VDE (Verband Deutscher Electrotechniker)
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Verband Deutscher Electrotechniker (VDE) is the German safety testing organization. It is particularly concerned with preventing hazards to human life and fires. Approval is not mandatory but fines are levied against those companies whose unapproved products cause accidents. Therefore, in reality, conformity is a necessity.
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(7) ENEC (European Norms Electrical Certific, since 1)
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The "ENEC" mark is a common European product certification mark certifying the compliance of a product with the EN standards. Organizations that signed the ENEC agreement certify products. The mark has an identification number of these organizations that have tested and certified. The mark is applicable to power switches in our products.
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3. Standard Certification System
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This is the international system to simplify the safety certification processes of each country for the purpose of using a safety test certificate (CB Scheme) based on the IEC standard issued by the certification test agency. This system can be used for the power switch to acquire the certificates of European countries and China because the IEC and EN standards conform.
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(2) Mutual authentification system of the North American nations
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A mutual authentification system is effective with the UL (in the U.S.A.) and CSA (in Canada) and the "C-UL-US" makes UL approved goods sellable in Canada, while the "NRTL/C" makes CSA approved goods sellable in the U.S.A.
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4. Meaning of the Marking of Power Switch Ratings
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Power switches for electronic appliances
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Mainly power switches for electronic appliances such as TV sets, radios and amplifiers. However, if the voltage and current levels are below the ratings, they may be used in other electric appliances.
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Power switches for general appliances
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These switches are for use in appliances other than electronic appliances or motor appliances that have current surges. However, if the rating of the switch is 1/√2 or above the surge current of the circuit and meets construction requirements, it may be used in other devices.
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Power switches for motor appliances
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Mainly for appliances that are motor driven, such as copiers, vacuum cleaners, etc.
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5. Explanation of Safety Standard Terms
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1. Three insulation classes of the safety standards of IEC standards
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Switches are classed according to their type of insulation.
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(a) Switches for Class I Appliances
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Switches for use with appliances utilizing power plugs with ground pins having a normal level of insulation.
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（b）Switches for Class ll Appliances
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Switches for use with appliances having no ground pin and utilizing double or reinforced insulation.
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2. Micro-gap Construction
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This construction is one of the classifications of switches under the IEC standard. Switches in this class have a contact gap of less than 3mm. These switches bear the μ mark. In some case, use of Micro-gap switches may be limited in IEC standard.（Can not be utilized with outdoor electrical implements or computer equipment without power plugs.）
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3. Switches not covered in the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law
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Switches with [structure specialized for building into machines] are precluded from the special electric appliances and parts, and are not required to undergo a goodness of fit test. However, the technology standard must satisfy no less than the special electric appliances and parts. The major reasons for preclusion from the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law are as follows : All of our power switches are precluded.
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(1) All except for unipolar/single-throw, unipolar/double-throw, bipolar/single-throw.
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(2) All with signal changing-over switch attached.
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(3) All with lead, faston, wire-wrapping and printed terminals.
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(4) All without knobs and handles for manual operation.
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The approval type number means the type number on the safety standard described in the safety standard approval certificate or approval list. Therefore, the approval type number is different from the product number. There are cases where the approval type number varies with the acquired standard, rating, etc. even in the same series of products. When the set manufacturer applies for the set safety standard, the application must be made with the approval type number for the switch to be used.
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Safety Standards
