|
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 June, 2001NEW ZEALAND MANUFACTURERS BENEFIT FROM PARKSIDE’S NEW ACCREDITATIONUnderwriters Laboratories has become the only laboratory outside Australia to be recognised as a test house for pattern approval testing for electricity meters. This gives all meter manufacturers the ability to have their products tested in New Zealand, rather than having to send them to Australia for pattern approval testing. With the deregulation of the power industry worldwide the National Standards Commission (NSC) was concerned that there were no regulations governing the accuracy of electricity meters. The NSC agreed that these meters must meet the requirements of ‘Pattern Approval’, a document covering electrical safety, environmental, EMC and accuracy requirements. Underwriters Laboratories General Manager Manuel Shimasaki says that all meter manufacturers currently selling in Australia had until May 2001 to have their single phase domestic meters approved to the ‘Pattern’ document, or they would have to remove their products from the market. The same regulation also applies to any meters removed from service and then reinstalled. “As a consumer you want to ensure that your electricity meter is consistently and accurately measuring the electricity you use, because that is what you pay for, and that is what this regulation is all about.” Mr Shimasaki said. “After many industry meetings Underwriters Laboratories sought to be able to test to the new requirements. Initially the National Standards Commission said that the recognised laboratories had to be in Australia so that they could police the results, but after much discussion they agreed to recognise our laboratory. “Our gaining NSC recognition means that we can test single phase domestic meters in New Zealand for manufacturers selling into the Australian market. Underwriters has a very strong business testing these products and with this new accreditation, we’re expecting strong growth in the use of our testing facilities in Christchurch,” Mr Shimasaki said. The NSC recognition complements Underwriters’s current services in the electrical safety testing, environmental testing, calibration and metrology fields. The laboratory is also a registered Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) for Singapore and Europe and New Zealand's only laboratory registered for both the EMC and LVD directives. Underwriters also performs EMC CE testing and C Tick testing for Australia and New Zealand. “We have the technical expertise and facilities to be the only one-stop test laboratory in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr Shimasaki said. More information is available at Underwriters Laboratories’ website www.parksidelabs.com
or by emailing enquiries@parksidelabs.com Contact: Manuel Shimasaki, General Manager, Underwriters Laboratories. Phone 03 339 1670
|
|
|
© Copyright 2001 Underwriters Laboratories Ltd | Tel: +64-3-339-1670 Fax: +64
3-339-1671
|
