A common perception in the restoration industry is that all of the electrical equipment on the market has been tested and certified to applicable standards.
 
It would seem logical that they should be, since restorers and contractors use this equipment in some pretty rough conditions.
 
What happens if an air mover isn’t tested and certified to run continuously for hours? What if voltage is never tested? How about cycle testing (on/off, on/off)? 
 
With the way restoration equipment is used, the places it is used, and the beating and banging it takes, don’t we all assume that it’s built with safety in mind and tested accordingly? 
 
Unfortunately, this perception is wrong. Not all electrical equipment on the market has been tested and certified.
 
Does the contractor care? Should he care? If certain manufacturers are not spending the time and money on this testing, should other manufacturers bother? Does it make a difference in purchasing decisions? 
 
We all want to know specifications such as amp draw, cfm, etc; but shouldn’t we be just as concerned if an air mover, portable air scrubber, dehumidifier, etc. is approved to operate in our work conditions? Contractors must consider safety and their liability just as much as price and performance.
 
Safety first
 
Many IICRC Water Restoration Technician (WRT) instructors discuss safety from the first day of class. I know that I did when I was an instructor.
 
It should be of utmost importance to every contractor to insure that their employees and customers are not subjected to unsafe or dangerous conditions. One way they can do this is to make certain that their equipment has been tested and certified to applicable electrical standards.
 
The testing and certification process is time consuming and costly. It starts by submitting equipment to rigorous testing at an OHSA-accepted Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), such as Environmental Testing Laboratories (ETL), Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Canadian Standards Association (CSA). 
 
The cost for testing a piece of equipment can range from $5,000-$20,000 and can take up to three months to complete the testing. It is important to note that even if the unit’s components are certified, the unit as a whole must go through the entire process as well. 
 
Stating a “UL approved motor” only means the motor has been approved, not the unit in which the motor is operating.
 
Why is NRTL certification important? Unless a unit is tested, end-users have no way of knowing whether it is properly and safely designed to meet the requirements of the applicable electrical codes.
 
For liability issues, it is wise to require that the products you purchase are NRTL certified and bear the label showing the certification. In the USA, OSHA safety standards for General Industry and Construction (OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910 and Part 1926.20) and the National Electrical Code (UL 507 Fans and Blowers Standard) require testing and listing (certification) of electrical products to applicable standards. 
 
Check your owner’s manuals, as most manufacturers state certification in the unit’s manual. 
 
Meeting the standards
 
Why is electrical safety important?  OHSA and CSA safety standards for construction and general industry require the use of electrical products that meet applicable UL standards per the NEC (National Electrical Code). 
 
Products made with UL Recognized components do not meet this requirement. The only way to know that the overall product has met required safety standards is if the manufacturer has submitted it to one of the NRTL’s for electrical safety testing and the NRTL has certified it.
 
Let’s examine even more reasons why the equipment you use should be tested and certified.
 
I’m sure we’ve all heard the horror stories of a restorer’s equipment catching fire and burning a customer’s home. You purchase the equipment, you use the equipment, you are therefore just as liable as the manufacturer of the equipment if something goes wrong.
 
Wouldn’t it make sense to be sure your equipment has received NRTL approval? Many of the plastic resins commonly used are highly flammable and not intended or rated for use as enclosures housing energized electrical components. Cabinets made with these resins can burn aggressively if exposed to a flame. There is only one way to ensure that a product is fire safe: Make sure that the manufacturer has submitted to a NRTL, such as UL, ETL or CSA for thorough testing and that the NRTL has certified it to pass the UL flammability and flame-spread standards.
 

Besides employee and customer safety and contractor liability, there are other potential equipment safety  ramifications such as:

  • OSHA fines
  • Increased worker compensation rates
  • Occupant and building owner lawsuits
  • Emotional effects of using equipment that causes serious injuries.
So back to my original question: Does the end user care? My hope is this article will shed some light on a subject that is not well understood.
 
Safety considerations should be at the top of everyone’s list when making purchasing decisions. Why bother asking the cfm or amp draw if the equipment has not been tested and certified for use?
 

Ask the right questions and get the answers you need before you purchase electrical equipment. The cost of using non-certified equipment could potentially be many times what was saved in the purchase price.  

 

Cara Agerbeck is the national sales and marketing manager for Abatement Technologies, Inc. She can be reached at cagerbeck@abatement.com.