A field evaluation is a way of demonstrating that a product or piece of equipment meets applicable safety standards, without completing the entire certification process. Unlike a factory-level product certification scheme, the field evaluation is an installation-level evaluation of the equipment in its real-world location and usage.
Some new products bear a certification mark, like CE or CCC, but other new pieces of industrial equipment require a field evaluation. Why is a field evaluation necessary for some, but not all, new equipment?
Here are a few reasons a field evaluation
might be needed for a new piece of machinery or industrial equipment:
The equipment was manufactured according to different standards
Our modern, global economy enables machinery
to be manufactured in one country and then put to use in another—often with
major overlap between regional certification schemes. Even when there is
significant crossover between the requirements of each certification system,
certain types of machinery will require a field evaluation to ensure the
equipment meets the requirements of the
country in which the product is being used.
The machinery was moved to a new place
If the equipment is installed in one location
and then moved to another, the original certification or field evaluation may
be invalidated. In this case, the equipment essentially functions the same as
it did before, but the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) or internal policies
may dictate that a field evaluation is performed before operations continue.
The machinery was modified for its current location and/or usage
Sometimes industrial equipment is certified or
evaluated for use in one location, and later it is modified. Modifications, in
many cases, will invalidate the original listing or certification. If the
equipment is modified, the AHJ may require a field evaluation to demonstrate
compliance with safety, electrical, and other relevant standards.
The purchase agreement mandates a successful field evaluation
When buying a piece of industrial equipment or
other large machinery, the purchase agreement may include a clause for a
successful field evaluation. This provision helps the customer ensure that the
equipment will perform according to the agreed-upon standards for safety,
reliability, energy usage, etc. This is another reason that a field evaluation
may be performed on newly installed equipment.
The equipment is highly specialized and/or custom-made
For some pieces of equipment—especially large,
complex, and custom-made pieces—the cost of listing one specific piece is
extremely high. Therefore, it is more cost-effective to perform a field
evaluation of the equipment onsite, rather than pursuing a listing or a
certification for the custom system.
Contact G&M Compliance for a Field Evaluation
G&M Compliance is an accredited Field Evaluation Body, recognized by the International Accreditation Service. Whether your equipment has been moved, modified, red-tagged, or needs an evaluation for any other reason, our expert field evaluators can help.
Contact
G&M Compliance to learn more about the field evaluation process
for your product.