Industry-Specific Standards: A Closer Look at Industrial Computer and Embedded System Certifications
The world of computing is constantly evolving, and with it, are the requirements for the safe and reliable use of computer products in various industries. In specialized fields such as rail transport, oil and gas, medical facilities, marine and military operations, the use of computer products is subject to strict regulations and standards to ensure the safety of people and equipment. This is where certifications come in – they serve as a guarantee that a product meets the necessary safety and performance requirements for a particular industry.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the different certifications that are relevant for computer products in specialized industries, including ATEX, C1D2, medical, marine and military certifications, and discuss what they mean for the safe and reliable use of computer products in these fields.
Industry-Specific Standards in Computer Safety:
Exploring Rail, Medical, Marine and more
Industry-Specific Safety Standards – Rail
EN45545, EN50155 and EN50121 are European standards that specify safety and performance requirements for electronic equipment used in the railway industry.
- EN45545 is a standard that covers fire safety requirements for electronic equipment used on railway vehicles. It sets out requirements for fire behaviour, fire resistance and smoke emissions, as well as marking and documentation requirements for electronic equipment used on trains, trams and other rail vehicles.
- EN50155 is a standard that specifies the performance and testing requirements for electronic equipment used in rolling stock on railway systems. It covers a wide range of topics, including environmental, electrical and mechanical requirements and applies to electronic equipment and systems used on trains, trams and other rail vehicles.
- EN50121 is a standard that covers the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of electronic equipment used in railway applications. It sets out the requirements for EMC performance, testing and measurement of electronic equipment used in railway control and signalling systems, as well as on trains, trams and other rail vehicles.
Overall, these standards are meant to guarantee the reliability, safety and interoperability of the electronic systems and devices used on railway system, and are widely applied in the industry.
Industry-Specific Safety Standards – Medical
UL60601-1 and EN60601-1 are medical device safety standards that establish requirements for the safety, performance and testing of medical electrical equipment. These standards ensure that medical devices are safe for use by patients, operators and maintainers, and also aim to prevent electrical shock, fire and mechanical hazards.
- UL60601-1 is a standard developed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an American safety consulting and certification company. It’s a widely recognized standard for the safety of medical electrical equipment, and it specifies the general requirements for the safety of medical electrical equipment and systems.
- EN60601-1 is a standard developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), a global organization that develops and publishes international standards for electrical, electronic, and related technologies. it is similar in content as UL60601-1 standard but it’s focus on European and International market.
- ISO 13485: A standard for quality management systems for medical devices, which focuses on the design and production of safe and reliable medical devices, it’s internationally recognized and widely used in the medical devices industry.
- ISO 14971 is an international standard for the risk management of medical devices. It is published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and is widely recognized and used in the medical devices industry. The standard provides a systematic and comprehensive process for identifying, assessing and controlling the risks associated with medical devices, with the goal of ensuring their safety and effectiveness.
Both 60601 standards cover similar requirements for the safety of medical electrical equipment, but there are some slight differences in the specific requirements, testing methods and markings between the two. For example, UL60601-1 includes additional provisions for the labelling of medical devices, while EN60601-1 includes additional requirements for testing and evaluation of the devices, including EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) tests.
Manufacturers of medical devices that want to sell their products in the US and Canada will have to comply with UL60601-1, and for international market will have to comply with EN60601-1, these standards are widely recognized as the safety and quality markers for the medical devices industry.
Industry-Specific Safety Standards – Marine
ECDIS, IEC60945 and IACS-E10 are standards related to the use of electronic equipment on ships and other marine vessels.
- ECDIS stands for Electronic Chart Display and Information System. It is a navigation system that allows a ship’s crew to view and interact with digital nautical charts and other navigational information. ECDIS systems are required on all ships operating in international waters and are intended to improve navigation safety and efficiency.
- IEC60945 is an international standard for marine navigation and radio communication equipment and systems. It specifies requirements for equipment performance, testing and documentation, and is intended to ensure that marine navigation and radio communication equipment is safe and reliable for use on ships and other marine vessels.
- IACS-E10 is a guideline developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) that provides recommendations for the design and construction of ECDIS systems. It is intended to ensure that ECDIS systems meet the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), and that they are safe and effective for use on ships and other marine vessels.
Overall, these standards ensure the reliability, safety and compliance of the electronic systems and devices used on ships, they also provide guidance and recommendations on the design and construction of such equipment, that are widely recognized by the maritime industry.
Industry-Specific Safety Standards – Military
MIL-STD-461 and MIL-STD-810 are U.S. military standards that establish requirements for the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and environmental durability of electronic equipment used by the Department of Defence (DoD).
- MIL-STD-461 is a standard that covers the EMC requirements for electronic equipment used by the DoD. It sets out requirements for the testing, measurement and control of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic susceptibility (EMS) for electronic equipment. The standard is divided into four parts, each covering different types of equipment and different levels of EMI/EMS performance. It mainly applied to military equipment and vehicles but also can be used in other industries as well.
- MIL-STD-810 is a standard that covers the environmental durability of electronic equipment used by the DoD. It sets out requirements for the testing and measurement of equipment performance in various environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, shock, vibration and altitude. The standard is divided into multiple sections, each covering different types of equipment and different levels of environmental performance, it’s applied to the military equipment and vehicles.
Both MIL-STD-461 and MIL-STD-810 are intended to ensure that electronic equipment used by the DoD is safe, reliable and able to operate effectively in demanding environments. These standards are widely recognized as the standard for military equipment and also as guidance for similar applications in other sectors.
Industry-Specific Safety Standards – Hazardous Locations
ATEX, C1D2 and IECEx are certifications and standards that apply to electronic equipment used in hazardous environments, such as those with explosive gases, dust or other flammable materials.
- ATEX is a certification issued by the European Union that stands for “ATmospheres EXplosibles.” It establishes safety requirements for equipment and protective systems intended for use in explosive atmospheres, such as those that may be found in the oil and gas, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. ATEX certification is divided into two main categories: Zone 2 and Zone 22. Zone 2 applies to areas where explosive gas atmospheres are not likely to occur in normal operation but may occur in exceptional circumstances, while Zone 22 applies to areas where explosive dust atmospheres are not likely to occur in normal operation but may occur in exceptional circumstances.
- C1D2 (Class 1 Division 2) is a certification issued by the National Electric Code (NEC) in the US, it establishes safety requirements for equipment and protective systems intended for use in areas where flammable gases, liquids, or vapor are likely to be present in the air in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures. It’s widely recognized in the US, Canada and Mexico and widely used in oil and gas, chemical and petrochemical industries.
- IECEx is a certification scheme based on the international standard IEC 60079-0, -11 and -15 that is recognized internationally and widely used in the oil and gas, chemical and other industries. It’s issued by the IECEx, the international certification scheme for equipment used in explosive atmospheres, it certifies equipment and service organizations to the international standard IEC 60079-0, -11 and -15.
All these certifications are intended to ensure the safety of equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres by testing equipment for compliance with the appropriate standards and guidelines for design, construction and performance. These certifications ATEX Zone 2, Zone 22, C1D2 and IECEx are widely recognized and accepted by industry standards, regulations and by the relevant authorities in many countries around the world.
Other Safety Standards
There are many other important safety standards that may apply to electronic equipment used in various industries and environments. Some of the other notable standards include:
- UL 508A: A standard for industrial control panels, which covers the safety of the panel itself and its components, as well as the testing and certification process.
- NEMA 250: A standard for enclosures for electrical equipment, which covers the environmental and mechanical protection of the equipment.
- IP (Ingress Protection) rating system: An international standard that rates the level of protection provided by enclosures of electronic equipment against solid objects, dust and water.
- IEC 62133: A standard that covers the safety of lithium ion batteries.
- IEC 62368: A standard for audio, video and multimedia equipment safety, that covers the safety of the equipment and its components, as well as the testing and certification process.
- NEBS (Network Equipment-Building Systems): A set of standards for telecommunications equipment to ensure the equipment can survive in environments that have extreme temperatures, humidity, shock, vibration and electromagnetic interference.
All these standards are intended to ensure the safety of electronic equipment and to prevent electrical shock, fire and other hazards in different environments and industries, they are widely recognized and accepted by industry standards, regulations and by the relevant authorities in many countries around the world.
Industry-Specific Safety Certified Products from BVM
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