During a field evaluation, an expert inspects the site to verify that the electrical system complies with the standards applicable to its specific applications and the location where it will be used. This is because, in order to put a machine or system into operation in the U.S., it must meet certain requirements and standards. In the U.S., both local and national codes apply, with national codes taking precedence over local codes. However, both are based on the standards published by Underwriters Laboratories Inc., known as UL standards for short. The CE marking required in the EU is not recognized by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the U.S. agency responsible for workplace safety and health.
Relation to UL
A field evaluation allows systems to be tested at the installation site to verify their operational readiness, and non-certified products can be certified retroactively. The inspection is conducted on-site by an NRTL. A certified control cabinet can significantly shorten this process, which can also be reflected in the costs.
What is a field evaluation?
Field evaluation describes a process in the United States whereby products that do not have certification approved under applicable standards can be evaluated and certified with regard to their intended use (or scope of use). The process includes structural inspection and installation, as well as various tests. Regardless of the Field Evaluation, one of over 38,000 AHJ inspectors then decides on the approval of the industrial machine or system. Field evaluations are often conducted when equipment has been modified or overhauled. They are also performed when equipment imported into North America from abroad—for example, from the EU—lacks the necessary certifications.
How is a field evaluation conducted?
The field evaluation is conducted in several steps. First, the product’s technical documentation provided with the product is thoroughly reviewed; second, a thorough visual and mechanical inspection is performed. Both steps are carried out in accordance with the National Electrical Code (NEC). A detailed technical report concludes the field evaluation. This report lists all defects identified during the evaluation process, along with references to the applicable standards, so that these can be corrected before the AHJ inspector’s inspection. If the system already complies with the specified standards and regulations, it is affixed with a test mark —the Field Evaluation Product Label or Inspection Label—which generally makes approval by the AHJ inspector a mere formality.
Why is a field evaluation useful?
A field evaluation is strongly recommended, especially if a system or parts of it do not have certification recognized by OSHA. This allows the product’s compliance to be verified even before an AHJ inspector conducts an inspection. If parts of the system do not comply with applicable standards and regulations, the necessary modifications must be made. If the AHJ inspector is the first to determine that the system does not meet the required standards, the inspector will refuse to authorize its startup or will shut down a system that is already in operation. In both cases, this is referred to as a “red tag.” This must, of course, be avoided at all costs, as a delay or halt in the production process is typically associated with high costs. A thorough field evaluation can prevent delays in production processes.
What is the difference between a pre-field evaluation and a field evaluation?
While field evaluation refers to a testing process conducted at the product’s actual site of use, pre-field evaluation is a preliminary acceptance testcarried out at the system’s production site or at an accredited testing laboratory or testing organization (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, or NRTL for short) .
In Germany, there are only a few accredited testing laboratories authorized to conduct a pre-field evaluation. Among others, Underwriters Laboratories, with its locations in Germany, is one such accredited testing organization. A field evaluation may result in the issuance of a field evaluation label or inspection label; a pre-field evaluation, however, does not.
What is the Field Evaluation Service (FES)?
The Field Evaluation Service (FES) refers to a service provided by an organization or company in which a certified expert conducts the testing and certification of a product at the site of use in accordance with the standards applicable in North America. This service facilitates subsequent approval by an AHJ inspector, as any nonconformities with applicable standards have already been identified and corrected, and the system has been affixed with an inspection label.
Field Evaluation Service in Germany
The Field Evaluation Service in Germany should actually be referred to as a Pre-Field Evaluation Service. This is because the evaluation cannot be conducted at the deployment site, and consequently, no certification—that is, no inspection label—can be issued. However , Field Evaluation Services offered here in Germany typically include both the pre-field evaluation in Germany and the field evaluation at the site of use. The process therefore consists of three steps:
- Pre-field evaluation in Germany at an NRTL, including a detailed report
- Modification of the system by the customer using the defect report
- Re-inspection at the installation site by an NRTL, based on the report issued in Germany, followed by certification
Registering for such a testing process often involves a great deal of red tape. For this reason, the organization of the process or the negotiation of terms with the testing laboratory can also be offered as a pre-field evaluation service. A Pre-Field Service Agent handles the time-consuming registration process and manages the entire procedure, right up to the delivery of the test report.
Why should a pre-field evaluation always be conducted in conjunction with a field evaluation?
Both procedures are similar in terms of how they are carried out, but they also have key differences that offer certain advantages. The report from a pre-field evaluation allows the customer to make urgently needed changes while still in Germany to ensure compliance with the standards applicable at the system’s future location. This would no longer be as easily possible after export. The field evaluation, on the other hand, is conducted directly at the site of operation and can therefore be certified by an NRTL with the inspection label, which is a major advantage of this testing process.
This shows that machines manufactured in Germany undergo a pre-field and a field evaluation to ensure smooth acceptance by the AHJ inspector. If either of these tests—or even both—is omitted, commissioning in the U.S. can become very time-consuming and costly. Accordingly, a comprehensive field evaluation service in Germany should be able to offer and organize both testing processes.
Zusammenfassung
The field evaluation is conducted by an NRTL directly at the system’s installation site. First, the technical documentation is thoroughly reviewed, and then the system undergoes a visual and mechanical inspection. Only if the system is found to be in compliance with applicable standards and regulations is a Field Evaluation Label issued, which in turn can significantly facilitate approval by the competent authority. For this reason, so-called Field Evaluation Services (FES) are often offered, in which an FES agent organizes the complex testing process.
