PG
A&D SE IPC
SIMATIC PC
“CE and UL on SIMATIC PC/PG” - White Paper
Sept. 2008
About this document:
This White Paper is intended to
- answer the following questions:
- What does the CE marking signify, why is it needed and how do we obtain it for the
SIMATIC PC/PG?
- What is the purpose of UL approval for the SIMATIC PC/PG?
- What are the differences between CE conformity and UL approval?
- provide a clear explanation of the standards and directives connected with CE and UL
- show what further certifications are held by SIMATIC PC/PG
Note:
The information provided in this documentation contains merely general descriptions or
performance characteristics which in case of actual use do not always apply as described or
which may change as a result of further development of the products. An obligation to
provide the respective characteristics shall only exist if expressly agreed in the terms of
contract.
Published by
Siemens AG
Industry Automation
P.O. Box 2355
D-90713 Fürth
Germany
If you require further support
Please contact your local Siemens representative or branch
SIMATIC PC/PG on the Internet
To learn more about SIMATIC PC please visit:
www.siemens.com/simatic-pc
To learn more about SIMATIC PG please visit:
www.siemens.com/simatic-pg
To find your nearest SIMATIC partner please visit:
www.siemens.com/automation/partner
Siemens A&D mall for configuring and ordering your individual
SIMATIC PC/PG:
www.siemens.com/automation/mall
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Contents
1
CE conformity.................................................................................................................5
1.1
What does the CE marking on the SIMATIC PC/PG signify? ................................. 5
1.2
What is the "New Approach"?........................................................................................ 5
1.3
What directives exist relating to CE conformity? ..................................................... 6
1.4
How is CE conformity legally regulated and what laws apply to the SIMATIC
PC/PG? ............................................................................................................................................. 6
1.5
What new features are introduced by CE conformity compared with other
legal requirements? ...................................................................................................................... 7
1.6
Who checks that the rules on CE conformity are adhered to and what
happens in the event of non-observance? ............................................................................. 7
1.7
In which countries do these legal requirements apply? ......................................... 7
1.8
Do other countries accept the system of CE conformity? ..................................... 8
1.9
What must the manufacturer or importer do in order to prove CE conformity?
The conformity assessment process for SIMATIC PC/PG. ................................................ 8
1.10
What is the connection between CE conformity directives and standards?..... 9
1.11
What are harmonized standards? ................................................................................. 9
1.12
What are the differences between EN standards and IEC standards? ............... 9
1.13 What are the basic requirements of the EMC Directive and how is compliance
assured in the case of SIMATIC PC/PG?............................................................................... 10
1.14 What are the basic requirements of the Low-Voltage Directive and how is
compliance assured in the case of SIMATIC PC/PG?........................................................ 10
1.15 What are the basic requirements of the Radio & Telecommunications
Terminal Equipment (R&TTE) Directive and how is compliance assured in the case
of the SIMATIC Field PG? .......................................................................................................... 11
1.16
Is the CE marking a sign of quality for the purchase of the product? .............. 11
1.17
Is there such a thing as CE certification? ................................................................. 12
1.18 What is the difference between a CE Declaration of Conformity and an
approval (certification)?............................................................................................................. 12
1.19 Where are SIMATIC PC/PG devices tested according to the harmonized
standards?..................................................................................................................................... 12
2
UL approval of SIMATIC PC/PG ...............................................................................13
2.1
What does the "cULus LISTED" marking signify on SIMATIC PC/PG? ............ 13
2.2
Is UL approval a legal requirement?........................................................................... 13
2.3
How is UL approval obtained for SIMATIC PC/PG?................................................ 14
2.4
What are the differences between UL standards and harmonized EN
standards relating to CE conformity?.................................................................................... 14
2.5
UL?
Are certificates and tests of CE conformity under EN standards recognized by
15
2.6
What is the meaning of the other information beside the cULus marking on
the SIMATIC PC/PG?................................................................................................................... 15
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2.7
What is the significance of approval under UL 60950-1? ..................................... 15
2.8
What is the significance of approval under UL 508? ............................................. 15
2.9
How is UL approval checked and what happens in the event of nonobservance? ................................................................................................................................. 16
3
4
Other approvals and certifications of SIMATIC PC/PG .....................................17
3.1
What does the FCC symbol on SIMATIC PC/PG signify? ..................................... 17
3.2
How do SIMATIC PC/PG devices obtain FCC approval? ...................................... 17
3.3
What does the C-Tick symbol on SIMATIC PC/PG signify? ................................. 17
3.4
How do SIMATIC PC/PG devices obtain C-Tick approval? .................................. 17
3.5
What does the CCC symbol on the SIMATIC Field PG signify?.......................... 17
3.6
How does a SIMATIC Field PG obtain CCC approval and how is it monitored?
18
3.7
What is the CB Scheme? ............................................................................................... 18
Other issues ..................................................................................................................18
4.1
5
Is the triangle with exclamation mark also a sign of approval?.......................... 18
References to certificates and approvals .............................................................19
5.1
Where can documents relating to CE Declarations of Conformity and UL
approval be found? ..................................................................................................................... 19
5.2
The SIMATIC PC/PG type plate .................................................................................... 19
Note on terms used in the White Paper:
A European directive may be referred to as an "EC Directive" or as an "EU Directive", and it
does not matter whether its number contains the abbreviation "EEC" or "EC": both merely
reflect the time at which it was issued.
In the following White Paper the term SIMATIC PC/PG refers to all types and variants, as
well as client-specific versions of the SIMATIC Industry PC such as the Box PC, Rack PC,
Microbox PC, Panel PC and Field PG.
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1 CE conformity
1.1 What does the CE marking on the SIMATIC PC/PG signify?
"CE" as represented here (2 semicircles) is a symbol which tells you that
SIMATIC PC/PG meets the legal requirements on CE conformity under the
so-called "New Approach" of the European Union and all member states.
Briefly, in the case of SIMATIC PC/PG the CE marking means that SIEMENS
certifies conformity with the following EU directives:
EC Directive
EMC Directive
2004/108/EC
Low-Voltage Directive (LVD)
2004/108/EC
Radio & Telecommunications
Terminal Equipment (R&TTE)
Directive
1999/5/EC
SIMATIC PC/PGs affected
All
All types with 120/230 V AC power supply
Field PG (with WLAN)
Types with a 24 V DC power supply do not fall under the Low-Voltage Directive. Instead they
are covered by the "General Product Safety Directive" which is not subject to the directives
on CE conformity, therefore the conformity process does not apply to them.
The "CE" symbol is not an abbreviation, even though people occasionally try to explain it
with the French terms "Communauté Européenne" (European Community) or "Conformité
Européenne" (conforms to EU directives).
1.2 What is the "New Approach"?
The “New Approach” of the EU is a compendious rulebook consisting of so-called EU
directives: http://www.newapproach.org .
The aim of the New Approach is to eliminate barriers to trade imposed by existing national
laws and regulations so as to ensure the free circulation of products within the EU.
Instead of following different national laws, EU member states are obliged to apply the EU
directives in the form of national laws. At the same time, nearly all directives which fall under
the "New Approach" oblige the manufacturer or party bringing the product into circulation
(e.g. importer into the EU) to certify observance of all directives applicable to its product
through issue of the "EC Declaration of Conformity" and by affixing the CE symbol on the
product.
Example of national law: In the field of EMC, the "high-frequency law" (Hochfrequenzgesetz)
had applied in Germany (the Federal Republic) since 1947. Other EU countries had their
own, different laws and regulations. In 1989 the EMC Directive came into effect as one of the
first directives under the New Approach requiring CE conformity certification, and this
became obligatory in all EU states with the force of law.
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1.3 What directives exist relating to CE conformity?
At the time of writing (May 2008) there are 22 EC directives relating to CE conformity:
http://www.vdi-nachrichten.com/ce-richtlinien/basics/richtlinien.asp and
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newapproach/legislation/directives/table1.htm
Most of these directives are essentially concerned with the issue of safety, the term safety
referring both to the safeguarding of persons from bodily harm and to the protection of
domestic animals and property (technical installations, buildings, etc.). Examples include the
Machinery Directive, the ATEX Directive and the Low-Voltage Directive.
1.4 How is CE conformity legally regulated and what laws apply to the SIMATIC
PC/PG?
EC or EU directives (hereafter: EU directives) do not have the force of laws in the EU
member states. However, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed by
all member states, the directives stipulate that they must be incorporated into the national
laws with unchanged text in all member states within a very limited period – usually 1 to 2
years.
Therefore they do not become legally binding on the companies affected by the content of
the directive (firms, importers) as soon as the directive is published, but only when the
relevant law comes into force in the member state, though at latest on the date specified in
the directive if the law has not been passed by the stated deadline.
In Germany this means that the directives applicable to SIMATIC PC/PG have to be
incorporated into German national law (the original text of the laws can be found at:
http://www.vdi-nachrichten.com/ce-richtlinien/basics/gesetze.asp ):
EC directive
EMC Directive
Low-Voltage Directive (LVD)
Radio & Telecommunications
Terminal Equipment (R&TTE)
Directive
German law
EMVG / Gesetz über die
elektromagnetische Verträglichkeit von
Geräten [Electromagnetic Compatibility Act]
1. GSGV / 1. Verordnung zum GeräteSicherheits-Gesetz (GPSG) [First
Ordinance Regulating the Equipment Safety
Act]
FTEG / Gesetz über Funkanlagen und
Telekommunikationsendeinrichtungen
[Radio and Telecommunications Terminal
Equipment Act]
The "General Product Safety Directive" (without CE-conformity) is enforced under the
German GPSG (Geräte und Produktsicherheitsgesetz – GPSG) [Equipment and Product
Safety Act]: http://bundesrecht.juris.de/gpsg/
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1.5 What new features are introduced by CE conformity compared with other
legal requirements?
The new thing about CE conformity is that the laws are preventive. In other words, from the
start of the distribution activities onwards, the manufacturer or importer must be able to
prove at any time to a supervisory authority (factory inspectorate, customs etc.) that the
product satisfies the applicable directive or directives. Violations may incur penalties and
even a ban on distribution (see also 1.6).
Non-preventive regulations (such as those concerning product safety in the USA) require
certain rules to be observed, but are only applied in individual cases when a claim for nonobservance of the law is brought before a court.
1.6 Who checks that the rules on CE conformity are adhered to and what
happens in the event of non-observance?
Monitoring of compliance with legal requirements is handled differently in the various
countries of the EEA (EU and EFTA, excluding Switzerland). All countries have regulations
issued by the relevant ministries concerning responsibility for "market monitoring" under the
individual directives. In Germany the market surveillance authorities, the factory
inspectorates of the regional authorities (for many EU directives such as the Low-Voltage
Directive, Machinery Directive, etc.), the Federal Network Agency (for the EMC and R&TTE
Directives) and other bodies have responsibility. To find the authority with regional
responsibility, look up the website of the ICSMS: www.icsms.org/
The authorities monitor the market by taking samples of products from retailers or by going
directly to the manufacturer or importer, and they respond to complaints filed with them. First
of all they carry out a formal check to see whether the CE symbol has been affixed and is
correct, and whether there is anything conspicuous about the product itself. The
manufacturer or importer is then asked to produce the CE Declaration of Conformity. Further
steps may involve requesting and checking test reports and the further technical documents
required under the relevant directive, and finally an examination of the product.
If the requirements of the directive(s) are not complied with, the authorities have the power
under the directives and laws to impose financial penalties ranging from a few thousand
euros for a faulty CE symbol to very large sums in case of more serious breaches of the
directives, including a ban on distribution of the product.
A system exists in the EU for publicizing warnings about faulty products as quickly as
possible: RAPEX. http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/safety/rapex/index_en.htm
Here you can find all products taken off the market from 2004 to the present day.
1.7 In which countries do these legal requirements apply?
The directives on CE conformity are applicable throughout the EEA (European Economic
Area http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europ%C3%A4ischer_Wirtschaftsraum ), which consists of
the EU member states and EFTA excluding Switzerland. Scope:
- all EU member states
- Norway
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
Candidates for EU membership may adopt these directives as laws before joining the EU,
and they must have adopted them by the time they join.
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1.8 Do other countries accept the system of CE conformity?
The following countries have signed agreements with the EU on mutual recognition of
conformity assessment, known as MRAs (Mutual Recognition Agreements):
- Australia
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Switzerland
- USA
These agreements, which are customary within the WTO, mean that the importing country
recognizes the conformity assessment carried out in the exporting country, if the product has
been checked in accordance with the regulations applicable in the importing country and the
conformity assessment body is professionally qualified in accordance with the agreement. If
both countries have identical or equivalent regulations, a conformity assessment carried out
according to the regulations of the exporting country alone is sufficient. This does not mean
that the CE conformity of a product automatically fulfils the conditions applicable in the
above-mentioned countries. The test reports must be approved before the product is
marketed.
1.9 What must the manufacturer or importer do in order to prove CE
conformity? The conformity assessment process for SIMATIC PC/PG.
Various processes or "modules" exist for assessing conformity. For SIMATIC PC/PG, under
the terms of the EMC Directive and the Low-Voltage Directive, only the "internal production
control" method may be applied. In addition, for the Field PG and its radio card a radio
approval issued by a "named body" is required.
The "internal production control" method essentially involves:
• The issue and safekeeping
o of the conformity declaration
o of a list of the applied standards
o of the technical documents required by the directive in relation to the product
(e.g. in the case of the LVD: description, design drawings, etc.)
o of test reports (including those issued by third parties)
• The affixing of the CE symbol on every product
• Ensuring that the manufacturing process guarantees that the products conform to the
technical documentation and the requirements of the relevant directive
In the case of SIMATIC PC/PG this method is applied within the framework of the project
management of the development and works. To this end, development and works are
incorporated into a quality assurance system pursuant to ISO 9001. Type tests for CE
conformity are carried out in a test laboratory that is accredited under the laboratory
standard DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025, a standard which goes far beyond the scope of ISO 9001.
In addition, series-accompanying type tests are carried out.
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1.10 What is the connection between CE conformity directives and standards?
There are two types of CE conformity directive depending on how detailed the requirements
relating to the product are stipulated:
a) Directives setting out in great detail the requirements which the products
must satisfy, so that conformity can be verified based on the text of the
directive and so that testing can be carried out according to this directive. An
example is the Pressure Equipment Directive. This type of directive will not
be discussed further here.
b) Directives such as the EMC and the Low-Voltage Directive, which "roughly"
define the requirements and allow the use of harmonized standards for
conformity assessment. This involves a so-called "presumption of
conformity": If a product satisfies a specific, "listed" standard, it is presumed
that it also satisfies the directive. The "listing" in turn means that the standard
appears in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), in the current
list of standards relating to the directive concerned. Such lists are regularly
published in relation to all corresponding directives. In line with this
publication in the OJEU, every member state publishes these lists in its own
official journal, whereby they are incorporated into their own laws and
become applicable on a national basis. These lists contain EN or HD
standards which are issued by the European standards organization
CENELEC (www.cenelec.eu).
Put simply: If a product satisfies a current EN standard which is assigned to the
corresponding EU directive via the Official Journal, it also satisfies the EU directive. The
applied standard must be named in the CE Declaration of Conformity.
Example: The current SIMATIC Box PC 627B with 120/230V power supply has been
examined for conformity with the product safety standard EN 60950-1, 2003 version. Since,
according to the current official journal of the German Federal Government (and the Official
Journal of the EU), this standard is the applicable standard governing the product safety of
IT equipment, this device also conforms to the requirements of the EC Low-Voltage
Directive.
1.11 What are harmonized standards?
Harmonized standards are published by the European standards organizations CENELEC,
CEN and ETSI. Only standards published on behalf of the European Commission are
regarded as harmonized.
1.12 What are the differences between EN standards and IEC standards?
"EN" standards are published by the European standards organizations. Many of these EN
standards are in turn based on IEC standards.
IEC standards are published by the IEC (International Electrochnical Committee,
www.iec.ch), based in Geneva. At the time of writing (May 2008) 52 countries are members
of the IEC. 17 countries are associate members. At present there are 179 technical
committees (TCs) and around 700 project teams which formulate new standards and update
existing ones. These committees and working groups are made up of experts who are
delegated by the national standards organizations. All the national and international
standardization work of the many thousands of experts is honorary. That is to say, they are
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paid by their employers (private companies such as manufacturers and test laboratories, as
well as governmental and quasi-governmental bodies such as employers' liability insurance
associations) for this activity.
IEC standards come into being in principle on the basis of international agreements, via the
basic procedure (proposed standard) and through publication of the complete text of the final
standard.
IEC standards are published unchanged, or simply with a foreword by the European
standards organization or, supplemented with national European regulations, as EN
standards.
1.13 What are the basic requirements of the EMC Directive and how is
compliance assured in the case of SIMATIC PC/PG?
The EMC Directive states that equipment must be so constituted that, if installed and
operated in accordance with relevant regulations, the electromagnetic interference caused
by the equipment shall be limited to such an extent that radio and other telecommunications
devices and other equipment can be operated with freedom from interference. The
equipment must also have adequate resistance to interference, so that it can be used for its
intended purpose.
Or more briefly: the equipment must not cause electromagnetic interference to other
devices, nor must other devices be capable of interfering with it. This applies to both radiated
and conducted interference.
SIMATIC PC/PG units fulfill these requirements by virtue of the fact that
• EMC measures are taken into account during their development
• The PC units are tested in Siemens' own EMC test centers (in Erlangen and Karlsruhe)
by EMC experts who provide development support and monitoring
• Type testing is carried out in the company's own accredited test centers prior to
distribution
• In the event of modifications to the PC, series-accompanying tests are carried out again
The EMC tests are carried out according to the requirements of the so-called "generic
standards" EN 61000-6-x.
1.14 What are the basic requirements of the Low-Voltage Directive and how is
compliance assured in the case of SIMATIC PC/PG?
The Low-Voltage Directive, whose full title is the "Directive relating to electrical equipment
designed for use within certain voltage limits", or LVD for short, defines product safety
requirements for equipment with a voltage rating of between 50 and 1000 V AC and between
75 and 1500 V DC.
These requirements are intended to protect people, domestic animals and – where
applicable – property from the hazards arising from electrical equipment (EE):
• Hazard caused by direct or indirect contact with electric current
• Hazard caused by temperatures, arcs or radiation
• Non-electrical hazards (e.g. chemical hazards) and hazards caused by external
mechanical and non-mechanical influences acting on the EE during use as prescribed.
SIMATIC PC/PG units fulfill these requirements by virtue of the fact that
• Product safety requirements are fully taken into account during their development, with
advice on the supplementary requirements being obtained where required
• Type testing together with UL approval testing are carried out in an accredited test
laboratory
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• A device from the initial batch is fully checked prior to delivery release
• All modifications are examined by the accredited test laboratory prior to release
• Safety under the Low-Voltage Directive is also checked on a regular basis in the context
of the quarterly UL inspections
Product safety tests relating to the Low-Voltage Directive are carried out according to
standard EN 60950-1, combined with the largely corresponding tests under UL 60950-1 for
UL approval.
The SIMATIC PC/PG units with 24 V DC supply, which do not fall under the LVD, are
likewise tested according to EN 60950-1, but according to the legal requirements this is not
described in the CE conformity certificate.
1.15 What are the basic requirements of the Radio & Telecommunications
Terminal Equipment (R&TTE) Directive and how is compliance assured in
the case of the SIMATIC Field PG?
The R&TTE Directive imposes the following requirements:
a) Adherence to the Low-Voltage Directive, but without any lower voltage limits
being applicable. This means that even extra-low voltage equipment (up to
50 V AC, up to 70 V DC) must comply with this directive
b) Compliance with the EMC Directive
c) Effective use of the assigned radio frequencies, without interference
occurring
The Field PG fulfils these requirements by virtue of the fact that
• as previously described, it meets the requirements of the other two directives
• the radio card has been tested by a "named body" for adherence to the radio frequency
requirements
1.16 Is the CE marking a sign of quality for the purchase of the product?
The CE marking is assigned by the manufacturer or importer itself. The purchaser cannot
determine from this marking alone whether the statement directly associated with it, that the
product complies with all the "CE directives" applicable to it, is true or guaranteed.
Furthermore, the legal requirements expressly define the CE marking as information for the
monitoring government bodies (such as the factory inspectorate and customs) and that CE
conformity may not be used for advertising purposes. It is seen as a minimum requirement
which every such product has to meet.
However, there are ways of enabling a purchaser to recognize clear quality features against
the background of the product's CE conformity. Admittedly the manufacturer or importer may
not advertise by saying that he imposes and satisfies high quality standards, but he can
obtain additional certifications, such as the legally protected "GS" symbol for product safety
or UL approval, or he can have tests carried out by an accredited test laboratory.
In the case of SIMATIC PC/PG the quality of CE conformity is assured by virtue of the fact
that:
• every device is fully tested for EMC and product safety in an accredited laboratory
• any modification of the product is only released after CE conformity has been assured
• inspections are regularly carried out for UL approval, which also help ensure CE
conformity (standards have the same basis).
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1.17 Is there such a thing as CE certification?
No, the CE marking is a sign that the manufacturer or importer "assigns" himself. Therefore
it cannot and may not be assigned within the framework of a certification process.
The CE Declaration of Conformity is a "manufacturer's declaration" and has none of the
characteristics of a certificate.
The term "self-certification" which is sometimes used in relation to CE conformity is
materially incorrect, because one cannot certify oneself.
1.18 What is the difference between a CE Declaration of Conformity and an
approval (certification)?
CE conformity is attested by the manufacturer or importer himself and is not subject to
"control" by third parties.
Certification or approval on the other hand may only be granted by an appropriate,
independent certifier. After it is granted it remains under the certifier's control and may
become invalid after a certain period of time, or it may be cancelled at any time following a
breach of the approval conditions. To verify adherence to the conditions, approved/certified
products are usually monitored by the certifier during production on a regular basis.
To find out how this works in the case of UL approvals, see Section 2.
1.19 Where are SIMATIC PC/PG devices tested according to the harmonized
standards?
SIMATIC PC/PG devices are tested in accredited test laboratories (for a definition of
accreditation: www.lubw.baden-wuerttemberg.de/servlet/is/31915/ )
Accreditation means that the test laboratory works according to a quality assurance process
monitored annually by a third party, focusing particularly on the following issues:
• Qualifications of personnel in relation to the corresponding standards and test methods
(coaching, training, application of standards)
• Calibration and maintenance of test equipment and measurement uncertainty
• Preparation of test reports
• Handling of samples
The tests are carried out as part of the development activities, as type tests prior to
distribution and as series-accompanying tests.
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2 UL approval of SIMATIC PC/PG
2.1 What does the "cULus LISTED" marking signify on SIMATIC PC/PG?
This symbol indicates that the product holds an approval from UL for Canada ("c") and the
USA ("us") in the form of a "listing".
UL stands for "Underwriter Laboratories". This is a private organization in the USA with
branches all over the world which writes standards, carries out tests and issues approvals
(www.ul.com/about).
UL is only concerned with product safety and UL bases its standards on the NEC (National
Electric Code) of the USA and increasingly on international (IEC) standards.
Under an agreement with Canada, for relevant standards UL can also issue combined
approvals for the USA and Canada.
"Listed" means that the product can be operated as sold, in accordance with its inscriptions
and operating instructions, without retesting by UL.
There are also products marked with the UR sign
or
(ULrecognized): these are not "ready-for-use" products, rather they are components forming
part of a system or product in which they must be retested to ensure that they meet certain
conditions. An example would be the power supply units built into the SIMATIC PC/PG.
2.2 Is UL approval a legal requirement?
UL approval is not legally regulated, that is to say, there is no obligation to apply it. In the
USA (and Canada) there are no legal rules on preventive measures for product safety
corresponding to CE conformity under the LVD.
However, UL approval is usually required for electrically operated products in the US market
for a number of reasons (either individually or together):
• Thanks to an extensive image campaign relating to product safety, UL has achieved a
status such that people now have it fixed in their minds that only products with UL
approval are truly safe (comparable with the effect of the VDE sign in Germany, at least
before the CE system arrived).
• Insurers of industrial installations in the USA (and Canada) demand or expect national
certification of product safety.
• Customers in the USA expect a minimum standard of product safety and usually only buy
products if they are presented with a reliable assertion of product safety that is geared to
national conditions. UL approval enjoys a high degree of acceptance in many other
countries too.
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2.3 How is UL approval obtained for SIMATIC PC/PG?
In the "normal" case, UL approval is obtained either by sending the product together with its
documentation (manual, circuit diagrams, parts lists, component certificates, etc.) to UL and
having it fully tested there, or, if the manufacturer has its own suitably equipped test
laboratory, by having a UL specialist come to the manufacturer to supervise the tests and
record the results.
As well as Europe-wide accreditation under the Low-Voltage Directive, the test laboratory
which tests the product safety of SIMATIC PC/PG holds certification from UL for the "Client
Test Data Program" (CTDP), which is another way of obtaining approval.
This program has to be renewed each year with a "reassessment" (similar to an audit) and
means that individual people from the test laboratory may carry out certain tests according to
one or more UL standards and send the results to UL.
As to how SIMATIC PC/PG devices receive cULus approval: The test laboratory carries out
the necessary tests and sends them, together with the certificates concerning the suitability
of the safety-relevant components (corresponding to their UL approvals), concerning the
equipment configuration and concerning the safety-relevant information printed in the
manual, to UL. At UL the supplied data are thoroughly checked by a first specialist and the
approval documents are prepared or completed. They are reviewed by a second UL
specialist and the approval is then granted. It is sent immediately via e-mail to the test
laboratory which forwards it to the project manager.
Amongst other things, this process has the advantage that the tests relating to EN 60950-1
and UL 60950-1 are carried out simultaneously, bearing in mind that over 90% of the tests
are usually the same, since both standards are identical in this respect to standard IEC
60950-1, according to which the equipment is also tested. Moreover the start of testing can
be coordinated, almost to the day, with product development. And if the SIMATIC PC/PG
also has to be approved under standard UL508, the relevant tests can be dealt with in one
test operation.
At UL, testing is followed by a second operation for UL508 approval, as described.
2.4 What are the differences between UL standards and harmonized EN
standards relating to CE conformity?
UL standards vary widely in terms of their development history. They may be (this list is not
exhaustive):
• entirely prepared by UL itself, based on the NEC (North American Electrical Code) where
appropriate
• prepared by UL jointly with the US standards organization ANSI (American National
Standards Institute), supplemented to include UL deviations
• bi-national standards prepared by UL together with ANSI and CSA (Canadian Standards
Association, a Canadian private-sector standards organization), based on IEC standards.
EN standards are often, in turn, based on these IEC standards.
The two UL standards used for the SIMATIC PC/PG come from two different categories:
• Standard UL 60950-1 for IT equipment is based on the international standard IEC 609501 and is a bi-national "modern" standard used jointly with Canada. In Canada the
corresponding standard is C22.2 No. 60950-1. This standard is always required for UL
approval of PCs.
• Standard UL 508 is prepared entirely independently by UL and its origins go back a very
long way (first published in 1925). It is additionally required for SIMATIC PC/PG devices if
they form part of a control installation (control cabinet) which must be approved as a
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whole by UL. UL 508 bears the title "Industrial Control Equipment" and is used, for
example, in the approval of SIMATIC SPS S7-xxx devices.
Canada and the Canadian approval organization CSA apply standard CSA/CAN C22.2.
No. 142 whose content corresponds to UL 508.
There is no international equivalent to either in the form of an IEC standard.
2.5 Are certificates and tests of CE conformity under EN standards recognized
by UL?
No. Admittedly UL standards and EN standards are often based on the same IEC standards,
and are therefore 60% to maybe 80% identical, but UL imposes different or additional
requirements in terms of the power supply, the housing, the combustibility of plastics or the
qualification of insulation systems etc. A notable feature is that all components qualified
under independent standards, such as fuses, cables, printed circuit boards, plastics or
functional parts of the equipment such as power supply units, must have their own UL
approval. Approvals and certificates of other organizations are not recognized.
2.6 What is the meaning of the other information beside the cULus marking on
the SIMATIC PC/PG?
The letters "I.T.E." mean that the product is approved under the IT standard UL 60950-1.
The letters "IND.COND.EQ." mean that the product is approved under standard UL 508.
2.7 What is the significance of approval under UL 60950-1?
UL approval according to this standard means that the device satisfies the product safety
requirements for IT equipment under US and Canadian regulations.
2.8 What is the significance of approval under UL 508?
UL approval under this standard means that the device meets the safety requirements for
"Industrial Control Equipment". It contains requirements for many types of industrial
controllers, such as drive controllers, relays and switches, proximity switches, programmable
controllers, etc.
Since UL 508 must be applied in order to obtain UL approval for control cabinets and control
installations, the components used and thus also SIMATIC PC/PG must likewise satisfy UL
508.
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2.9 How is UL approval checked and what happens in the event of nonobservance?
Factories producing UL-approved devices and components are visited by a UL inspector on
a quarterly basis. He examines all the devices and/or components currently in production to
see whether they match the descriptions in the approval documentation relating to the
safety-relevant parts and their assembly.
If a minor discrepancy is found, the inspector can report it to UL headquarters and carry out
a reinspection after a few days or weeks to ensure that this discrepancy has been
eliminated. In the event of a serious discrepancy, he can order an immediate stop to
distribution of the UL-labeled product. In particularly serious cases, for example if the
manufacturer has slipped up repeatedly and failed to come to grips with the problem, UL
may terminate all further cooperation with the manufacturer and cancel all previously issued
UL approvals.
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3 Other approvals and certifications of SIMATIC PC/PG
3.1 What does the FCC symbol on SIMATIC PC/PG signify?
The FCC symbol shows that the device holds the EMC approval legally
required in the USA. This EMC approval is different from the EMC
requirements of the European EMC Directive, and only imposes
requirements relating to radio interference.
3.2 How do SIMATIC PC/PG devices obtain FCC approval?
FCC approval can be granted by an EMC laboratory that has been certified to that end by
the FCC. This certification is held by the Siemens EMC Center. Here, SIMATIC PC/PG
devices are checked according to FCC criteria and granted FCC approval.
3.3 What does the C-Tick symbol on SIMATIC PC/PG signify?
The C-Tick symbol is the sign for the EMC approval that is a legal requirement in
Australia. The requirements largely correspond to those of the European EMC
Directive and the assigned EN standards.
3.4 How do SIMATIC PC/PG devices obtain C-Tick approval?
The test results of the accredited Siemens EMC laboratory are sent to the relevant
Australian authority. If the measurement results meet the requirements, the authority grants
the approval.
3.5 What does the CCC symbol on the SIMATIC Field PG signify?
The CCC symbol refers to the safety certificate that is a legal requirement
in China. CCC stands for: China Compulsory Certification.
http://www.ccc-cn.org/cccindex.htm
CCC approval is a legal requirement for certain product groups. Of the
SIMATIC PC/PG range, only the Field PG is affected by this regulation.
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3.6 How does a SIMATIC Field PG obtain CCC approval and how is it monitored?
CCC approval can be obtained by testing the product in a CCC laboratory in China or in a
test laboratory accredited for that purpose or via the "CB Scheme". The CB Scheme can be
used where the Chinese standard corresponds 1:1 with the corresponding IEC standard.
The Field PG receives CCC approval via the CB Scheme which is described in the next
paragraph. The CB Report together with the CB Certificate is sent to the Chinese approval
authority. Once the latter has granted the approval, factory inspections are carried out on a
regular basis by an authorized test laboratory.
3.7 What is the CB Scheme?
The CB Scheme (http://www.iecee.org/CBSCHEME/default.htm) is a testing process
controlled and monitored by the IECEE (http://www.iecee.org/).
The test reports and certificates (CB Report, CB Certificate) issued according to this
procedure by a test laboratory accredited for that purpose are designed so that they can be
recognized, without further product testing, by other countries and testing organizations that
follow the process. To obtain such recognition, the test report is checked against the
following criteria:
• Have all tests required by the IEC standard been carried out and are they complete?
• Have all national divergences of the country concerned been taken into account?
• Do the safety-relevant components used in the product satisfy the requirements of the
country concerned or of the approval authority (e.g. in the case of UL approval via the CB
process)?
The CB process does not have its own approval symbol to be affixed on approved products,
nor does it have a monitoring procedure. However, under the mutual recognition system
every test report is checked carefully. The test report, including the certificate, can be
cancelled.
The test laboratory which checks the product safety of the SIMATIC PC/PG follows the CBSMT process.
4 Other issues
4.1 Is the triangle with exclamation mark also a sign of approval?
This symbol is not a sign of approval. It refers to a "general hazard" and also
principally means: "Observe the operating instructions".
It is affixed in relation to the matter of product safety and, in the case of
SIMATIC PC/PG, means that the points to be followed to ensure safe
operation, such as maximum ambient temperature, permitted installation
position and connection to the power supply, must be read and observed.
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5 References to certificates and approvals
5.1 Where can documents relating to CE Declarations of Conformity and UL
approval be found?
Documents for SIMATIC PC/PG are available on the Internet in the Service&Support area by
clicking the "Certificates" link for the corresponding products:
SIMATIC PC: http://support.automation.siemens.com/WW/view/de/10805661/134200
SIMATIC PG: http://support.automation.siemens.com/WW/view/de/10805333/134200
Please also refer to the information on CE conformity and UL approval in the manuals and in
"Getting Started" in the appendix. The standards complied with are also listed here.
5.2 The SIMATIC PC/PG type plate
The type plate on every SIMATIC PC/PG also provides information on the approvals and
standards complied with:
Example: Type plate for SIMATIC Microbox PC 427B with CE, cULus and C-Tick marking, with
reference to the UL standards complied with
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Trademarks
All product designations may be trademarks or product names whose use by third parties for
their own purposes could violate the rights of the owners.
Copyright © Siemens AG 2008 All rights reserved
The reproduction, transmission or use of this document or its contents is not permitted
without express written authority. Offenders will be liable for damages. All rights are
reserved.
Disclaimer
We have checked the content of this manual to ensure it conforms to the hardware and
software described. Since deviations cannot be ruled out entirely, we cannot guarantee
complete conformity. However, the data in this manual are reviewed regularly and any
necessary corrections included in subsequent editions. Suggestions for improvement are
welcomed.
Subject to change without prior notice.
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