HONG KONG, June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CSA Group, a leading standards development organization and a global provider of product testing and certification services, announces a new automated explosive atmospheres laboratory located in its Cleveland, Ohio facility. The new laboratory is equipped to provide full-service explosion-proof and flameproof testing to the applicable requirements of Canadian, U.S., IECEx, and ATEX standards.
"This expansion and multiple accreditations greatly expands CSA Group's capabilities as a global leader of testing services for products being used in explosive atmospheres and hazardous locations such as the oil and gas and mining industries," says Richard Weiser, Vice President, U.S. and Mexico Region, CSA Group. "With dedicated and accredited testing laboratories in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, CSA Group has increased its capacity to meet the growing needs of global clients seeking these highly specialized and sophisticated explosive atmosphere testing services."
The new facility is designed so that explosive atmospheres are replicated on a small scale in a controlled laboratory testing environment in a specially constructed test chamber. This limits danger to personnel and risk to the surrounding structures or community. It can rapidly test manufacturer's model sizes from several cubic centimeters to hundreds of cubic liters in volume, and equipment with ambient temperature operating ranges from -80 degrees Celsius to +180 degrees Celsius. This facility can accommodate testing of explosionproof/flameproof switches, circuit breakers, motors, and other equipment while under power.
The facility is also equipped with specialized high speed video equipment to capture slow motion analysis of flame propagation test failures, allowing manufacturers to pinpoint the exact location of initial flame-front penetration, potentially saving many hours of additional investigative testing and exploratory redesign. Additionally, the laboratory is equipped to provide Intrinsically Safe and Nonincendive spark ignition testing, thermal ignition testing, nonincendive component testing, chemical compatibility testing, testing of IP and other enclosure ratings, all types of electrical testing and a full suite of materials evaluation tests to the applicable requirements of Canadian, US, IECEx, and ATEX Hazardous Locations standards.
The Equipment and Protective systems intended for use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (ATEX) Directive 94/9/EC provides the technical requirements to be applied and the relevant conformity assessment procedures before placing this equipment on the European market. These requirements are given technical expression by "Harmonised Standards", developed by the European Standardisation Organisations: CEN (for non-electrical equipment) and CENELEC (for electrical equipment) and published by the European Commission in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).
IECEx refers to the International Electrotechnical Commission System for Certification to Standards relating to Equipment for use in Explosive Atmospheres. The objective of the IECEx System is to facilitate international trade in equipment and services for use in explosive atmospheres, while maintaining the required level of safety. This IECEx Mark of Conformity is granted by accredited IECEx Certification Bodies (ExCBs) located in IECEx participating countries. An IECEx Certificate of Conformity is evidence that a product meets all applicable construction, performance, and marking requirements, and is manufactured under systems that are under ongoing surveillance by ExCBs.
For comprehensive testing and certification services information for the new Cleveland explosives atmosphere testing laboratory, contact Peter Schimmoeller, Manager, Hazardous Locations, CSA Group at Peter.Schimmoeller@csagroup.org or telephone 216-524-4990 Ext: 88258. For a detailed services quote, email cle.quotation@csagroup.org
About CSA Group
CSA Group is an independent, not-for-profit membership association dedicated to safety, social good and sustainability. Its knowledge and expertise encompass standards development; training and advisory solutions; global testing and certification services across key business areas including hazardous locations and industrial, plumbing and construction, medical, safety and technology, appliances and gas, alternative energy, lighting and sustainability; as well as consumer product evaluation services. The CSA certification mark appears on billions of products worldwide. For more information about CSA Group visit www.csagroup.org
Contacts:
| Phyllis Fong | Crystal Liu |
| CSA Group | Hill and Knowlton Strategies |
| +852-2992-7552 | +852-2894-6268 |
| Phyllis.fong@csagroup.org | Crystal.liu@hkstrategies.com |
