A new conformance marking called the UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking was established in the UK in January 2021 due to Brexit. For some items marketed in England, Scotland, and Wales, the UKCA marking replaces the EU’s CE marking as a certification for products to access the British market.
Because of their vital significance in both the consumer and industrial sectors, electrical items are among the most affected categories.
This page explains what UKCA Marking for Electrical Products entails, the process, compliance, safety regulations, and what manufacturers need to do to comply.
How Does UKCA Marking Work?
Following Brexit, the UK replaced the CE marking with the UKCA marking, which certifies that goods adhere to national safety, health, and environmental regulations. Goods entering the British market must bear the UKCA marking, however, Northern Ireland, which is subject to a different set of regulations under the Northern Ireland Protocol, does not.
Electrical equipment is among the many goods covered by the UKCA mark, which also covers the performance and safety standards required to sell in the UK market.
What are the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations?
In the UK, electrical equipment must adhere to a set of product safety standards known as the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations. They contain safety and health precautions and are related to equipment operated within specific voltage limitations.
The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations make sure that all electrical equipment sold in the UK is safe and does not endanger users or their surroundings by requiring that it meet important safety goals like protecting against electric shock, mechanical risks, and fire hazards.
Who Enforces the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations?
Two organizations in the UK are responsible for enforcing the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations.
When appropriate equipment is utilized in the workplace and other non-domestic locations, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces the regulations.
The National Trading Standards police the rules when the items and equipment are utilized at home.
Which are Covered by the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations?
Health and safety hazards related to electrical equipment input or output in the following voltage ranges are covered under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations:
- For Alternating Current, 50–1000 V
- For Direct Current, 75–1500 V
Most types of electrical products in these voltage bands are subject to the restrictions, including:
- Adapter
- Video and audio equipment
- Cable
- Methods for managing cables
- Fuses
- Domestic appliances
- Laser equipments
- Lighting products
- Outlets and plugs for industrial usage
- Detectors of pole voltage
- Units for power supplies
- Switches
The following categories of electrical products are exempt from the regulations:
- Electrical devices utilized for radiography, medicine, or explosive environments
- Electrical machinery for railroads, airplanes, and ships
- Lift electrical components
- Meters for electricity
- Outlets and plugs for household usage
Important Responsibilities for Manufacturers
The manufacturer is in charge of making sure that equipment conforms with the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations, regardless of whether they are headquartered in the UK or not.
The manufacturer is required to make sure that electrical equipment is made and designed in compliance with the main components of safety objectives.
This entails making certain that equipment:
- Is risk-free, with little chance of endangering people, animals, or property.
- Follows solid engineering safety practices in its construction.
- Is made to use protective earthing to guard against electric shock.
- Complies with the main safety goal components listed in Schedule 1 of the rules.
Additionally, the maker is in charge of creating a Declaration of Conformity and applying the UKCA Marking Certification.
Preparing Your Equipment for Assessments and Testing
Your equipment’s compliance with the UK Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations may be verified by a Compliance Testing service like IES.
Prior to exams and testing, we require that clients prepare as follows:
- The equipment ought to be configured for optimal performance.
- During testing, the equipment’s high power, direct current, or radio frequency power supply will need to be recharged.
- Complex equipment should be prepared for regular operation and have previously been commissioned by vendor engineers for site work.
- Simple systems, such as tabletop metrology equipment, need to be powered and positioned.
- For the gadget to power up and function, all other necessary services connected to it should be prepared.
UKCA for Electrical Products Compliance Process
For electrical devices, manufacturers must follow a multi-step procedure to achieve UKCA Marking for Electrical Products. An overview of the procedures to guarantee that electrical items fulfill the relevant UKCA criteria may be found below:
- Determine Relevant Laws and Standards: Regulations governing various electrical items differ. The 2016 Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations and the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations are common rules for electrical products. Learn about the particular laws that apply to your product category.
- Perform Conformity Assessment: To make sure their goods fulfill relevant safety and performance requirements, manufacturers are required to conduct a conformity assessment. Depending on the product type, intended usage, and amount of risk involved, the evaluation type may change. A third-party conformance examination by a UK Approved Body is usually required for electrical equipment that poses a greater risk.
- Compile Technical Documentation: Manufacturers must have a technical file with comprehensive product information, including design and production specifications, risk analyses, and test data, to prove compliance. Following the product’s release onto the market, this documentation needs to be retained for at least 10 years.
- Apply the UKCA Mark: The manufacturer is permitted to apply the UKCA mark if the product passes the conformance test. The goods must have visible, readable, and permanent UKCA branding. Until January 1, 2025, the mark may be applied to the package or related paperwork if the product’s size or nature precludes this.
- Draft and Sign the Declaration of Conformity: This official document certifies that the product satisfies all relevant requirements made by the manufacturer. It must contain the manufacturer’s signature, the product description, pertinent standards, and, if necessary, information on the UK Approved Body conducting the conformance assessment.
- Monitoring the Market and Post-Market Duties: Once their products are on the market, manufacturers need to monitor them to ensure they always adhere to safety regulations. Action must be taken quickly to address any safety concerns or defects, including, if necessary, product recalls.
Penalties for Non-Compliances
Businesses may suffer serious repercussions if they do not comply with UKCA Marking for Electrical Products regulations. Fines, product removal from the market, and in severe circumstances, criminal charges, may result from noncompliance.
A company’s reputation, supply chains, and business continuity in the UK market can all be negatively impacted by noncompliance with UKCA rules, in addition to regulatory fines.
UKCA Marking Past 2024: Prospects for the Future
The requirements that electrical items must fulfill may change as UK rules do. Manufacturers should keep abreast of any modifications to current requirements that the UK may make. Dual conformity assessments, for instance, would become more complicated and call for separate testing procedures for each region if the UK deviates greatly from EU regulations.
In addition, rather than depending on packaging or paperwork as a stopgap solution, manufacturers should make sure they can apply the UKCA marking directly to the product when the 2025 deadline draws near.
The Key Takeaways!!
An important change for companies in the electrical sector is the use of UKCA marking. Comprehending and complying with UKCA Regulations is crucial for enterprises hoping to enter the UK market.
Although UKCA branding originally reflects CE criteria, it may alter over time, so firms must keep an eye on any changes to the law.
Manufacturers may guarantee their electrical goods satisfy UKCA requirements and access new markets in the UK by being educated and putting in place a systematic strategy for compliance.
