UL field inspections and evaluations are installation-level inspections that test how an electrical system performs in its specific usage and location. When successful, a UL inspection provides documentation that an electrical system is safe, reliable, and functioning as intended.
Authorities responsible for electrical safety— municipal inspectors, government agencies, utilities, and other oversight bodies—may request a field inspection for different reasons: the equipment has been moved, modified, bought secondhand, or failed a previous inspection.
Here are a few ways that UL field inspections
ensure electrical safety:
Test electrical systems and products for safe usage
The UL field inspection process, first and
foremost, tests electrical products to ensure they are safe for their intended
usage. This inspection may be performed on newly installed equipment, or it may
be done as a follow-up after failing a previous inspection. The field
inspection process is cost- and time-effective when the system does not have a
certification and/or label that is acceptable to the owner, regulatory, or
Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) involved.
Demonstrate compliance of large,
custom, and complex systems
Large electrical systems are often
custom-built for their unique application, rather than bought off the shelf. In
these cases, it may be quicker and more affordable to conduct a UL field
inspection after the system is installed than it would be to pursue a
factory-level certification. The field inspection process allows for unique,
custom systems while still ensuring safe operation of electrical equipment.
Allow for safe modifications of
electrical systems
UL-listed or previously certified electrical
equipment may need to be modified in the future—but the act of modifying the
equipment usually invalidates the original listing or certification. In this
case, a UL field inspection evaluates the performance and usage of the (newly modified) electrical
equipment to ensure it still meets all relevant safety standards.
For example, if switchgear is UL listed, but bus taps are made on the line or
load side of the main circuit breaker, a field inspection will be required by
the local utility, electrical inspector, or other AHJ. By using the field
inspection process, owners of large electrical systems can maintain safe
operation without paying to repeat the certification or listing process.
Ensure safety of imported and
secondhand equipment
Sometimes equipment is manufactured under one set of standards, then exported to be used in a different region with a different set of standards. While there is often overlap between the compliance schemes, a UL field inspection can help reconcile any differences between the two.
A UL field inspection also comes in handy with
equipment that is purchased secondhand. The original certification or listing
may not be valid any longer, but a successful field inspection can demonstrate
that the equipment is safe for use in its new location.
Contact G&M Compliance for a Field Evaluation
G&M Compliance is an accredited Field Evaluation Body (FEB) that can perform field evaluations or provide guidance on the field evaluation process for your situation. Whether your equipment has been moved, modified, red-tagged, bought from another owner, 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.