Field Evaluation Service (FES) for U.S. and Canada

Fast, Expert Field Evaluation Services

Has the city or building Inspector red tagged your equipment? Do you have a piece of unlabeled equipment that needs a third-party certification mark?

We can quickly and cost-effectively provide you with a solution. Our TUV Field Label or Special Inspection Label for Canada, let's Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) know the product complies with nationally accepted standards.

We can also provide NEXT DAY serivce to most areas in the U.S. and Canada.

What Standards can TÜV Rheinland evaluate to?

The choice of a suitable standard depends on the type of equipment. TUV engineers decide on a case by case basis which standard or combination of standards best matches the type of equipment that needs inspection. We evaluate to standards for electrical and electromechanical equipments as written by UL, NFPA, ANSI, CSA, etc. Some of the most commonly used standards are:

  • UL 508A Safety of Electric Control Panels
  • NFPA 79 Safety of Industrial Machinery
  • UL 987 Safety of Electric Tools
  • UL 73 Safety of Motor Operated Appliances
  • UL 60950 Safety of Information Technology Equipment
  • UL 60601-1 Safety of Medical Equipment
  • SPE 1000 Model Code for field evaluation of electrical equipment

Evaluating Photovoltaic Systems

TÜV Rheinland could evaluate your residential or commercial photovoltaic installation to the National Electric Code 2005; Article 690: Photovoltaic Systems. If the photovoltaic modules or CPV's (Concentrator photovoltaic modules) are mounted on tracker systems, TÜV Rheinland could assess the moving parts and the control system to ANSI/ISO 12100-2 for the mechanical safety and UL 508A/NFPA 79 for the electrical safety in order to satisfy the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

Benefits at a Glance

TÜV Rheinland is recognized throughout North America for field evaluation services and recognized by OSHA (as an NRTL), ANSI for product safety certification. Our field evaluation services help you:

  • Save time and money with our quick turn-around time and next day service
  • Benefit from our highly experienced and trained experts
  • Get access to our regional resouces through TÜV Rheinland's Partnership Program
  • Avoid problems during the approval process with local inspectors and AHJ's (Authorities Having Jurisdiction)
  • Increase confidence in the quality and reliability of your machines

Our Customers Have an Advantage

  • One of the fastest turn-around times in the industry.
  • We offer one of the most competitive prices in the industry - we match or beat any serious competitor's prices.
  • We offer preliminary inspection at the product origination site anywhere in the USA, Canada or any of our offices in more than 47 countries.
  • Final inspections, will be provided by our North American engineers out of any of our 14 locations and numerous partners throughout North America.
  • Full knowledge and experience with U.S. and foreign equipment.
  • Significantly experienced engineers in all relevant product safety requirements.
  • Assistance in identifying non-compliances (if applicable) and ways of correcting them.
  • Full customer service to achieve compliance in an expedient and cost effective manner.

Our Services for Field Evaluation

  • Evaluation to relevant UL, CSA and NFPA standards
  • SPE-1000 Special Inspections in Canada
  • Evaluation to SEMI, NEC and CEC requirements
  • Evaluation to relevant OSHA safety requirements
  • TUV Rheinland follows the recommended practice and procedures for unlabeled electrical equipment evaluation developed by the American Council for Electrical Safety (ACES)

Four Steps to Getting Approval

It only takes four steps for our experts to help you get approval for your machines:

1. Preparation

Contact TÜV Rheinland and provide us with the technical documentation for your machines.

2. Preliminary Audit

We will perform an on-site preliminary audit of the machine, inspect your production facilities, corresponding technical documentation, instructions for installation and operations.

3. Audit Report

Our experts will issue an audit report upon successful completion of the audit, determining if your machine meets local requirements and compliance to standard.

4. Final Audit

Upon installation, our experts will perform a simplified on-site acceptance procedure for the machine and issue a positive FES Report, if the machine meets all requirements. The system will then be approved by the local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) representative.

Inspection Procedures

Component Evaluation:

The following safety relevant components are inspected for suitability of electrical rating and NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Lab) approval.

Construction Evaluation:

The equipment's design is visually inspected with particular attention to the following areas:

Circuit Breakers
Push-buttons
Transformers
Lasers
Interconnecting cords
Interlocks
Motor Overload
Lamps
Cables and Wires
EMO's
Heaters
Controllers
Fuses
Relays
Internal Wires
Power Cords
GFCI's
Motors
Motor Contractors
Receptacles
Disconnect Switches 		Power Supplies
Use of Listed Components
Proper conductor protection
Accessibility of live parts
Environmental conditions
Guarding of moving parts
Environmental conditions
Suitability of enclosures
Pinching, crushing, falling hazards
Suitability of material
Proper wire bending spaces
Proper Transformer protection
Ground and bonding
Wiring methods
Guarding of Live Parts
Accessibility of moving parts
Sharp edges
Availability of suitable markings
Damaged Components
Wiring ampacity
Proper Motor protection

Required 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.

EMO Tests:

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

Rain Tests (for outdoor use equipment):

Equipment is exposed to simulated rain conditions for up to four hours. Following the test, the equipment is inspected for ingress of water and tested for dielectric breakdown and insulation resistance.

Interlock Test:

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

Legal Standards in the US and Canada

The applicable regulations can be found in articles 90-7, 110-2, and 110-3 of the NEC (“National Electric Code”, and 29 CFR 1910.301 (subpart S) of the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). Both organizations require official approval of all electronic devices and systems in the US and Canada. Approval can be proven via a “listing” or a “field evaluation”.

Accrediting Jurisdictions

  • A Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory accredited by OSHA
  • An Inspection Body (IB) and a Certification Body (CB) accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC)
  • Accepted throughout the world as one of the largest international testing laboratories.
  • Accepted in jurisdictions throughout the United States
  • Member of IAEI (International Association of Electrical Inspectors)
  • Member of ICC (International Code Council)
  • Member of ACIL (American Council of Independent Laboratories)

Industry Examples

Our Customers include:

  • Machinery manufacturers
  • Tool manufacturers
  • ITE (Information Technology Equipment) Manufacturers
  • Telecommunications & Audio/Video Manufacturers
  • Medical Equipment manufacturers and users (Hospitals & Medical Offices)
  • Semiconductor manufacturers and users
  • Food Preparers & Processors
  • Printers & Packagers
  • Electrical Contractors
  • Industrial & Commercial Consultants
  • And Much More...