Effect of Installation and Maintenance on the Certification of Electrical Equipment

When discussing electrical equipment, the terms "approval", "certification" and "compliance" are commonly used to indicate the equipment is tested or verified as meeting a standard(s). While the terms are generally treated as synonymous, there can be many variations between them and multiple meanings for a single word. For simplicity purposes, the term "certification" is used in much of this document.The certification of electrical equipment is used to provide evidence a product is suitable for use. The expectation being that any risk to persons and property being harmed is minimized to an acceptable level of safety or risk. The type of certification required is typically defined by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) over the local regulations for electrical installations.From a technical perspective certification applies to specific products or product assemblies as manufactured. Since a manufacturer does not normally control the installation, modification or maintenance of their product, their certification is verified prior to shipment. What a user does to that product afterwards can alter compliance with the manufacturers' certification.This paper will explain the certification process and the impact installation, modification and maintenance may have on the original product.