One technical file for three markets

A battery charging cabinet exists because things can go wrong. If a cell fails, the fire must remain contained within the cabinet. Those who sell such products primarily sell the proof that they hold up. Powershelter supplied the EU, the UK, and the United States simultaneously. Each of these markets requires different markings, different standards, and a different way to substantiate your claims.

We prepared the risk assessment and had the cabinet tested, including fire behavior. The initial report contained points that failed. These were rectified before the file proceeded. There is a test for that. The alternative is discovering it at a customer’s site.

For the United States, the inevitable question arose: can we say we have UL? Being tested according to a UL standard is different from being listed in the UL register. The former is substantiated with a report, while the latter involves a process with UL itself that only makes sense for large production series. We established what may be claimed and what must not appear on the nameplate.

There is now a technical file in which the European and British requirements are listed side by side, along with the corresponding declarations and a nameplate for each version. Each cabinet is accompanied by a signed declaration plus the manual or a reference to it. If a component changes later, it is clear which part of the file needs to be updated.