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NATA Accredited Testing...adding value to your product
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTIONAs of 1 January 1999 all electrical/electronic devices entering the Australian market, either locally or by import, must comply with the appropriate EMC standard if they fall under the scope of one of the EMC standards mandated by the Australian Communication Authority (ACA). Compliance is by means of Declaration of Conformity (DoC) and suppliers placing products on the Australian market must ensure that each product meets the appropriate EMC standard and be labeled with the C-tick mark. This article will discuss the critical advantages afforded by NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) accredited testing as a rigorous basis for proving compliance with the C-tick and international EMC regulations. It will be shown that testing is the most economical path to compliance for the majority of products and that the application of a NATA accredited test will greatly enhance the value of a product and facilitate its access to lucrative global markets. ENFORCEMENT OF EMC REGULATIONSIn the event that a product’s compliance is called into question, the ACA will carry out an audit of the relevant compliance folder and may undertake further investigations. The ACA will accept a NATA test report as final in any determination. For wilful violations, penalties may apply to both individuals and companies. Regulations are enforceable under the Radiocommunications Act 1992, the Trade Practices Act 1974, the Telecommunications Act 1997 and the Crimes Act 1914. A primary offence under the Radiocommunications Act for the supply of a non-standard device may result in the seizure and forfeiture of stock and up to $160,000 criminal penalties. Imprisonment is also possible under the Crimes Act and offences are also committed for breaches of the C-Tick labelling provisions under Trade Mark and Copyright regulations. Similarly harsh penalties are applicable in most other countries that have EMC regulations. The ACA will accept a NATA test report as proof of compliance. The use of NATA testing provides the best possible protection to the person signing the DoC since it can be used as the basis of a “due diligence” defence in any legal action. Where the DoC is based on non-NATA testing, then the supplier may be required to bear the cost of testing at a NATA test laboratory. The test samples and the NATA test laboratory will be nominated by the ACA. ADVANTAGES OF USING NATA (ACCREDITED) TESTINGTesting by an accredited NATA or MRA (Mutual Recognition Agreement) partner laboratory is the safest way of proving compliance. A NATA endorsed report is acceptable by the ACA (Australian Communications Authority) and most of Australia’s trading partners including all EU (European Union) countries. Accredited testing will minimise the risks should a dispute arise with the regulatory agencies. Non-accredited testing should be avoided as there is no guarantee of the reliability or the accuracy of the results. The use of non-accredited testing is generally a little cheaper, but in practice it may be rejected by the regulator. A NATA endorsed test report adds value to your product by providing it with the most credible and internationally accepted compliance status available. FACTORS IN SELECTING AN EMC TEST HOUSETest Time and Test CostsThe cost of testing is directly proportional to the test time and the use of the test facilities. The number of applicable tests and the nature of the product will impact on the total test time. Devices which are slow to respond or difficult to exercise during the testing require longer test times and are therefore subject to higher test charges. Test house charges in Australia range from A$200-$2000 per test depending on the nature of the test, the technical competence of the test house, the sophistication of the test facilities and the accreditation status.Appropriate Standards AccreditationsA test house may use NATA or an equivalent endorsement when it is accredited for testing to just one standard. Some NATA accredited test houses have a very limited scope of accreditation, often being accredited to one standard only. Some consultants are NATA accredited as Competent Bodies and Conformity Assessment Bodies (CAB). The NATA (or equivalent) logo often appears in advertising literature giving the perception that the Competent Body or CAB organisation is accredited for testing. A NATA test house with limited accreditation may appear to have wider terms of accreditation than is actually the case. This practise is misleading and results in confusion among those unfamiliar with the vagaries of NATA rules for the use of the NATA logo.When selecting a Test House, the supplier must be satisfied that the laboratory is NATA accredited to the appropriate standard as well as all the applicable clauses of that standard. A NATA endorsed test report may only be issued by a laboratory accredited to the specific EMC standard including all the relevant clauses. Risks of Overseas TestingThe cost of EMC testing in Australia is around 50% of the cost in South East Asia and 50% to 75 % of the cost of testing in European and North American test houses. Testing overseas can be extremely risky. The probability of compliance failure is very high for first time tests, particularly for those products tested against the more stringent residential class B limits.The initial savings offered by budget testing are quickly erased if a failure occurs as the time required to effect solutions and retest incurs additional costs well above the initial outlay. The cost of freight, courier fees, phones and faxes will result in further escalation of the costs. The supplier is advised to select an Australian test house that allows you to attend the testing. This ensures that the testing proceeds smoothly and allows you to assist in overcoming compliance problems should they occur. In general, budget testing is non-accredited and should be avoided.
CONCLUSIONMost countries have government regulations that mandate compliance with EMC standards before products can be legally marketed. Selecting an experienced EMC Test House accredited to test to all of the ACA standards, and that is also a Competent Body, will provide you with a valuable partner who can offer all the expertise required in dealing with the complexities of regulatory approvals, standards and specifications. The use of non-accredited testing, whether in Australia or overseas, may expose you to unnecessary risks. The use of NATA accredited testing is the lowest risk approach to EMC compliance and will also facilitate global acceptance of your product. NATA reports are accepted by Competent Bodies and may be also used in the preparation of a TCF (Technical Construction File). NATA test reports add value to your product and are your product’s passport through trade barriers into lucrative overseas markets.
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