Officials issue warning over dodgy electrical goods

(CNS): Although all electrical equipment used and installed in buildings in the Cayman Islands are required to be certified as free from electrical hazard under the planning laws, officials say that non-listed and non labelled equipment is a growing concern.  The Department of Planning warned that non-certified equipment poses a serious life-safety hazard to people both in the workplace or home through shock or fire which may result in serious injury or death. Owners are being advised to check goods have been properly tested before buying them to avoid spending money on goods that won't past local muster.

Officials said that when buying equipment to avoid the risk of hazard owners need  to check the goods are labelled* or listed** by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) or other testing agency recognized by the Department of Planning such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

Manufacturing equipment and uniquely designed systems may be unlisted and can delay the review and inspection process as they would then require certification through a field listing report.  A complete list of qualified independent testing laboratories acceptable to the Department can be found on OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html.

Not all laboratories provide verification of compliance for every type of standard, so the owbers are asked to contact the facility to clarify the needed testing.

If there are additional questions or concerns regarding an electrical product, please contact the Building Control Unit of the Department of Planning at (345) 769-7526.

*Labelled: Equipment or materials to which has been attached a label, symbol, or other identifying mark of an organization that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and concerned with product evaluation, that maintains periodic inspection of production of labelled equipment or materials, and by whose labelling the manufacturer indicates compliance with appropriate standards or performance in a specified manner.

** Listed: Equipment, materials, or services included in a list published by an organization that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and concerned with evaluation of products or services, that maintains periodic inspection of production of listed equipment or materials or periodic evaluation of services, and whose listing states that the equipment, material, or services either meets appropriate designated standards or has been tested and found suitable for a specified purpose.