CSA, ETL and CE: What is the difference? These are all stamps of approval. Marra Forni products with these logos meet rigorous standards for electrical safety and electromagnetic emissions. The acronyms are spelled out below.
CSA: Canadian Standards Association
ETL: Originally a mark of ETL Testing Laboratories, now a mark of Intertek Testing Services.
CE: Conformance European
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is a non-profit association serving business, industry, government and consumers in Canada and the global marketplace. Among many other activities, CSA develops standards that enhance public safety. A Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, CSA is very familiar with U.S. requirements. According to OSHA regulations, the CSA-US mark qualifies as an alternative to the UL mark. The ETL listed mark is an alternative to the CSA and UL marks.
ETL Testing Laboratories has been conducting electrical performance and reliability tests since 1896. Intertek Testing Services (ITS) acquired ETL from Inchscape in 1996. ITS is recognized by OSHA as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), just as UL, CSA, and several other independent organizations are. ITS tests products according to nearly 200 safety and performance standards. The ETL listed mark and C-ETL listed mark are accepted throughout the U.S. and Canada when denoting compliance with nationally recognized standards such as ANSI, IEC, UL and CSA. This certification mark indicates that the product has been tested to and has met the minimum requirements of a widely recognized (consensus) U.S. product safety standard, that the manufacturing site has been audited, and that the applicant has agreed to a program of periodic factory follow-up inspections to verify continued conformance. If the mark includes a small U.S. and/or C, it follows product safety standards of the U.S. and/or Canada, respectively.
The European Commission describes the Conformance European mark as a “passport” that allows manufacturers to circulate industrial products freely within the market of the E.U. The CE mark certifies that the products have met EU health, safety and environmental standards that ensure consumer and workplace safety. All manufactur- ers in the EU and abroad must a x the CE mark to those products covered by the “New Approach” directives in order to market their products in Europe. Once a product receives the CE mark, it can be marketed throughout the EU without undergoing further product modi cation. An important document related to CE is the Declara- tion of Conformity. It is a document which a company authority must sign to say that their device meets the requirements of the Directive. The D.O.C. must include a list of any standards used to justify the claim of compli- ance with the Directive.
If a Marra Forni product is stamped CE, the product does not emit excessive radiation (microwave or RF), and is not overly sensitive to picking up radiation. In summary, the certification marks on Marra Forni products are your assurance that the product meets rigorous standards for electrical safety and electromagnetic emissions. It poses no shock hazard (except as noted on the product or it’s manual), and it will not cause electromagnetic interference with other devices beyond a certain distance. You can use the product with confidence.