Difference between CSA and FM approval
FM: FACTORY MUTUAL
The Factory Mutual Approvals Division determines the safety and reliability of equipment, materials or services utilized in hazardous locations in the United States and elsewhere. For a product to receive FM approval, it must meet two criteria. Initially, it must perform satisfactorily, reliably and repeatedly as applicable for a reasonable life expectancy. Secondly, it must be produced under high quality control conditions. Factory Mutual also has interlaboratory agreements and can certify to Canadian and European standards.
What is a FM certification?
FM Approvals certifies products and services with a unique focus on: Objectively testing property loss prevention products and services and certifying those that meet rigorous loss prevention standards]
FM Approvals is a world leader in the testing and certification of electrical equipment for use in explosive atmospheres and can help manufacturers seeking global certification develop comprehensive testing and certification programs that address the specific requirements for their products around the world.
FM Approvals is recognized as a Nationally Recognized Test Lab (NRTL) by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the US, a Certifying Body by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) in Canada, an ATEX Notified Body in Europe, and a Certification Body under the IECEx Scheme by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Report, FM APPROVED Mark and Listing
Once testing has been completed successfully, a report is prepared and reviewed for technical accuracy and quality. Samples are retained and archived as necessary, returned to the customer or disposed of per the customer’s instructions. FM Approvals sends the final report to the manufacturer. Approval is effective as of the date of report. The manufacturer may then label the product as FM Approved, and the product is listed in the Approval Guide, an online resource of FM Approvals. FM Approved roofing assemblies are entered into RoofNav, our web-based software.
CSA : CANADIAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) includes Canadian consumers, manufacturers, labour, government, and other regulatory agencies among its actively participating influences. There various groups work together to generate standard requirements (CSA standards) that demonstrate product quality, enhance market acceptability and improve quality and safety control procedures in manufacturing and construction for the Canadian marketplace. The standards generated by CSA are the cornerstone for determining a product’s eligibility for certification in hazardous locations in Canada. CSA also performs product evaluation, testing and ongoing inspection to these standards and also to American and European standards through new interlaboratory agreements.
CERTIFYING AGENCIES
Safety is of utmost importance when utilizing industrial instrumentation especially the use of transmitters or other electrical equipment. Some of the more common concerns are: contamination due to faulty equipment, protection from electromagnetic interference and meeting strict safety requirements in potentially explosive environments. customers rely on certifying agencies such as Factory Mutual, Canadian Standards Association and Underwriters Laboratories to ensure that these products are safe In North America, traditionally, FM (Factory Mutual) and UL (Underwriters Laboratories) provide standards, testing and certification in the United States while CSA (the Canadian Standard Association) does the same for Canada.
. These agencies examine, test and certify that each product has been designed to meet specific standards for certain applications, hazardous locations or specific electrical situations.
What is CSA certified?
The CSA logo, found on many products, indicates that the product, process and service have been tested according to Canadian or U.S. standards and that they comply with the requirements of this standard
What Does it Mean to Be CSA Listed?
The CSA acronym once stood for the Canadian Standards Association but is not a private testing body. As the name implies, this is a Canada-based group that offers certification for mechanical and electrical products, as well as any general product that carries a high amount of user risk. In 1992, OSHA officials accredited the CSA, deeming it an NRTL alongside the UL.
Unlike the UL Mark, a CSA-Listed designation holds value all around the world, not only in its country of origin. For a product to receive this prestigious label, it must also pass extensive tests that align with standards from the following certifying bodies:
- The Difference Lies in the Testing Protocol Definition
FM relies on a static procedure and CSA A123.21, on the other hand, is using a dynamic protocol.
- 2. The Nature of These Organizations Differs in Itself
FM, on the other hand, is an insurance company that has elaborated test protocols to verify products in its coverage range. FM is testing all kinds of things ranging from fire to hail resistance. Wind is only one component of the testing program.
CSA A123.21 is a standard developed to evaluate the wind uplift resistance of a roofing system.
- The Length of the Test Is Totally Different
The FM protocol takes 5 minutes per systems, while CSA A123.21 takes 5 hours per systems.
- The Safety Factor (SF) Is Also Part of That Difference
FM safety factor is 2. CSA A123.21 is 1.5.
What is the ?
The major difference between the two types of equipment is that nonincendive circuits are evaluated for ignition capability under normal operating conditions, while intrinsically safe circuits are evaluated under fault conditions.
Intrinsically Safe and Nonincendive Systems
