Partner for progress

Certification Process for Obtaining and Maintaining CSA Certification

John Gorman – Technical Advisor – CSA International

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Agenda

Overview of Process Manufacturer’s Responsibilities Certification Marks CSA Certification Programs General Process Flow from Submittal to Certification Certificate of Compliance Descriptive and Test Report Listing of the model(s) in CSA on-line directory Inspection Notice/informs Lab Accreditation Special Services (TIS, Special Inspection/Field

Evalaution, specific standards training, ONSPEX)

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Overview of Certification Process in North America

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Overview of Certification Process in North America

The bridge from the design of a manufacturers product to the end use of the product by the consumer is the certification agency. In North America, for agencies to have credibility, they must have accreditation/recognition from a various governmental or national organizations to provide testing to national standards (e.g. OSHA, ANSI and Standards Council of Canada in Canada)

Certification of product is not federally mandated in the United States. The need is driven by retailers, code authorities.

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Overview of Certification Process in North America

In Canada, the need for certification is mandated by government.

Certification provides means for all manufacturers of a product to be reviewed against a common set or rules, namely the ANSI/CSA standards.

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Manufacturer’s Responsibilities

The use of the CSA marks indicated on the Certificate of Compliance can only be used if the appliance is produced without deviation from the tested design as provided in the certification report.

Certification marks can only be applied to the product at the authorized factory. The marks cannot be applied to the appliance after it is outside the control of the manufacturer.

The certification marks may appear in manufacturer’s advertising literature and website provided that the literature does not misrepresent the certified model.

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Manufacturer’s Responsibilities

The manufacturer must inform CSA International of any significant design changes to the product, changes in the production of the product that may affect the CSA inspection process, a new factory location, etc.

The manufacturer must notify CSA International of any incidents involving a certified model that involve injury or property damage to the public. The manufacturer must also notify the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of an incident in the United States.

CSA International will take appropriate action with the manufacturer to resolve any concerns with the certified design.

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Manufacturer’s Responsibilities

Details of the manufacturer’s and CSA International’s responsibilities to the certification of products are specified in CSA document “Product Service Agreement”, which must be signed by the manufacturer prior to entering into a certification project for the first time.

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Certification Marks

These marks are for gas appliances certified for the United States.

The color blue in the mark is optional

Appliances that are certified for both countries will have either of these marks along with the Canadian “flame” mark on the rating plate(s)

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Certification Marks

These marks are for gas appliances certified for Canada.

The color blue in the mark is optional

Appliances that are certified for both countries will have either of these marks along with the US “star” mark on the rating plate(s)

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Certification Marks

These are the marks used on electrical and gas and components that are used on gas appliances.

The mark with the superscript “US” is an indication that the component is listed for the United Stated only.

The mark without any superscript is an indication that the component is listed for Canada only.

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Certification Marks

This mark is used for electrical and gas components used on gas appliances.

The superscripts “C” and “US” indicates that the component is listed for both Canada and the United States.

The Energy Verification Mark is applied to the heater after it complies with the energy efficiency requirements in Canada.

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CSA Certification Programs

Testing as CSA International Labs Including partner laboratories

Witness Testing at Manufacturers Labs Laboratory must be accredited by CSA International CSA personnel witness complete test program

Manufacturers Generated Data Program Laboratory must be accredited by CSA International Only authorized personnel from manufacturer submit

data to CSA International. Following review, limited witness testing of select

models conducted by CSA

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General Process Flow from Submittal to Certification

Submittal of design for certification to CSA International or it’s partners must include the following details:

Intended use of appliance. Is it a boiler or a water heater? Ratings – Input ratings, operating pressures, gas

pressures. Units of measurement in the North American standards are English, with metric equivalent

Controls used along with their electrical/gas ratings and approvals. If not North American approved, approvals in Europe should be provided.

Design features including venting type, ignition type, etc. Relation to other CSA listed appliances made by the

manufacturer. If the design is part of a series of models, a breakdown of

all models in the series

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General Process Flow from Submittal to Certification

Submittal of Design: CSA International has forms to assist in the submittal of

information that can be used but are not mandated.

CSA International and/or it’s partner will assess information provided to determine the scope of testing needed considering the following factors:

Approvals of controls Relation to other CSA Listed models Possible reduction in testing based on approval of same

design in Europe. Location where the testing will take place. (Partner lab,

CSA International lab or accredited manufacturer’s lab). Any specialized testing requested such as efficiency, high

altitude, NOx.

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General Process Flow from Submittal to Certification

Cost and schedule are assigned to the project and the manufacturer’s authorization is provided.

The construction is reviewed against Part I of the standards and the necessary performance tests are conducted.

Should the design be found not to be in compliance with a test or evaluation, the project will be stopped until the issue is resolved.

As a certification agency, we are not permitted to “consult” on the resolution of a failure.

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General Process Flow from Submittal to Certification

Items that often delay the completion of a project include:

Controls not listed in North America that may require extensive evaluation to applicable control standards.

Lack of instruction manual/markings for review. Products being certified for Canada require French translation.

Lack of an acceptable Manufacturing and Production Test Plan

Insufficient information including necessary drawings for the final report

Satisfactory completion of Initial Factory Evaluation (IFE)

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Initial Factory Evaluation (IFE)

Initial Factory Evaluations (IFE) are required at all new manufacturing facilities before a CSA Mark is applied to a product manufactured in the factory. The IFE objectives are as follows: evaluate the capability of the new factory to produce

products within a consistent manufacturing process evaluate the capabilities of the new factory to produce

certified products in accordance with the requirements of the Manufacturing and Production Test Plan and factory Test section of the report. Items such as necessary test equipment to conduct audit testing and receiving inspection procedures are reviewed.

An IFE can be waived if: the factory is a relocation of an existing factory with same

management staff and test equipment. The factory produces similar products listed by CSA

partners for international (CE) certification

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General Process Flow from Submittal to Certification

When working with partners, CSA International requires an independent review of the test plan prior to testing.

Following the completion of testing, CSA will review all test results and construction evaluation.

CSA International will make the final decision on certification.

Following satisfactory completion of all activities, CSA international will assemble the final report and Certificate of Compliance to be forwarded to the manufacturer and partner.

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Certificate of Compliance

This certificate is the verification that CSA International has found the design to be in compliance with the standards. Key elements include:

Certificate Number Master Contract Number Authorized Certification Marks Issue Date Project Number associated with any revision to the file Standards including the date specific edition. The CSA International people authorizing the

certification

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Descriptive and Test Report

The descriptive and test report details the specific features of the design being certified. It is used by CSA and its partners as the basis for inspection. Key elements include:

A listing of all models covered by the file along with ratings.

A list of all key components, both gas and electrical used on the designs.

Details of the factory tests required to maintain certification. These details relate to the Manufacturing and Production Test requirements identified in the standard and includes the following details:- The frequency of the models being tested- Pass/fail criteria for each test

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Descriptive and Test Report

The descriptive and test report also contains necessary drawings and photographs identifying key parts of the design. Dimensioned drawings of at least the following features are needed:

Burners, unless the burner is a CSA listed conversion burner

All flue gas passageways Venting system unless the system is a North American

listed system. All air openings for ventilation or combustion air Relationship of ignition/flame sensing devices to

burner(s) Heat Exchangers

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Descriptive and Test Report

The descriptive and test report also contains the latest approved instruction manuals and markings used on the design. If the product is certified for Canada, the French translations are also maintained in the report.

The report is updated as the certification of the product changes over time as a result of:

Design modifications by the manufacturer Revisions to the standard

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Listing of the model(s) in CSA on-line directory

Certified models are listed on CSA International’s on-line directory. The address is as follows: http://directories.csa-international.org/

The directory can be searched by any of the following methods:

CSA Class number. This number uniquely identifies a product type. The class number for boilers and water heaters are:- Water Heaters – 2901-(05,85) – Residential - Water Heaters – 2902-(13,93) – Commercial- Boilers – 1501-(01,81) - Residential- Boilers – 1502-(02,82) - Commercial

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Listing of the model(s) in CSA on-line directory

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Inspection Requirements

Inspections are conducted at all factory locations producing a listed product.

A minimum of 4 inspections are conducted per year except for the following situations:- Inspection frequency can be reduced as requested by a

manufacturer on the basis of production frequency and results of previous inspections. Reduction to no less than 2 per year is permitted.

- Inspection frequency may be increased by CSA International as a result of reoccurring issues with inspections.

Inspections at factory locations in Europe are conducted by CSA Partners.

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Inspection Requirements

During the inspection, a production sample shall be reviewed using the following criteria: Components and materials are the same to that

specified in CSA Certification Report Construction of the product is in compliance with the

CSA Certification Report. The review will focus on critical parts of the product including burners, pressure vessels, air openings, ignition system location, baffles restricting flow of products of combustion

Marking details on the product and instructions are in compliance with applicable CSA Certification Reports

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Inspection Requirements

In addition to a review of a production sample, the inspector will also review the following:

Outstanding issues from the last inspection Review factory procedures for receiving material and

components used on CSA Certified product. Review calibration records of test equipment used to

conduct the periodic audit tests specified in the factory test section of the report and in the Manufacturing and Production Test Plan

Review test records to verify that the appropriate tests are being conducted and satisfactory results have been attained in accordance with the factory test section of the report and in the Manufacturing and Production Test Plan

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Notices

Notices – Method of identifying changes to the standards that require listed manufacturers take action to comply

Notice contains a summary changes to the standard Effective Date: CSA assigns an effective date for

standard revisions. This date establishes the deadline for manufacturers to comply with the changes to the standards.

If the manufacturer is not complaint by the effective date, the listing of the product may be withdrawn

Notice contains an “Apply By” date by which the manufacturer should be replying to CSA International

After the file has been updated, the manufacturer must begin marking the rating plate of the appliance with the number of the updated standard

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Informs

Informs also identify changes to the standards. However, the changes are not substantial and do not require any action by the manufacturer.

An effective date is not established The rating plate of the appliance does not need to

indicated this issue of the standard.

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Lab Accreditation

Accreditation of a manufacturers laboratory by CSA International is necessary for the manufacturer to participate in witness or manufacturer’s generated data programs.

Accreditation is based on ISO/IEC standard 17025 CSA International in conjunction with our international

partners conducts an initial review of lab to verify that lab procedures, test equipment and calibration is in accordance with ISO 17025 and CSA requirements

CSA International in conjunction with our international partners will conduct a yearly review of the accredited lab to confirm that the lab is performing in accordance within established procedures.

Every 3 years, a complete ISO 17025 audit is required.

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Special Services

CSA International offers special services intended to assist manufacturers in the certification of products.

Specific standards training- Reviews all performance tests in the standards- Prepares manufacturers personnel as part of qualification

for manufacturers generated data program.- Requires three to five days to complete training

Technical Information Service (TIS)- Assesses product during the design phase- Is intended to reduce delays during certification

Special Inspection- Testing of non certified product at the point of installation- Not the same as certification. Local authority typically

approves installation on the basis of testing.

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OnSpeX Services

Services Specialized Testing

- Performance standards, custom defined testing protocols, comparative testing

Product and Factory Audits - Qualify production facilities

Prototype testing - - Production, random and pre-shipment inspections, post

market/distribution site inspections Product design consulting

- Pre-certification and/or sourcing specifications, return analysis

Data analysis

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Questions

Email Address John.gorman@csa-international.org