The CB Scheme

As national economies become global, it's increasingly important that countries work together to facilitate international trade. The CB Scheme, established by the International Electrotechnical Committee for Conformity Testing to Standards for Electrical Equipment (IECEE), provides a means for the mutual acceptance of test reports among participating safety certification organizations in certain product categories. The CB Scheme is an international network made up of product certification organizations in more than 50 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.

Each participating country has one or more organizations accepted by the IECEE as National Certification Bodies (NCBs). As an NCB for the United States, UL can test your products to any of the following standards, with or without National Differences:

• IEC 60065 for Household Audio/Video Equipment
• IEC 60335 series of standards for Household and similar electrical appliances
• IEC 60384-14 for Fixed capacitors for use in electronic equipment
• IEC 60601 for Medical Electrical Equipment
• IEC 60691 for Thermal Links
• IEC 60730 for Automatic Electrical Controls
• IEC 60745 for Hand-held Electric Tools
• IEC 60825 for Safety of laser products
• IEC 60950 for Information Technology Equipment
• IEC 61010 for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control and Laboratory Use
• IEC 61058 for Switches for Appliances
• IEC 61215 and IEC 61646 for Photovoltaic (PV) Modules
• IEC 61965 for Cathode Ray Tubes
• IEC 62040 for Uninterruptible power systems (UPS)
• IEC 62321 for Determination of levels of six regulated substances
• IEC 62471 for Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems
• IEC and CISPR standards for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)

Receive international product recognition and national product safety certifications

Because you work through only one NCB, the CB Scheme offers you an efficient way of having your products investigated according to IEC standards and National Differences of participating countries in which you intend to market your products.

UL will test your product to all harmonized standards and to any National Differences required for the countries in which you want to market your product. UL will then issue a CB Test Certificate and a CB Test Report that your can use to obtain national certifications in participating countries. You must still apply to the NCBs in your target countries for national certifications. Please note that NCBs have the right to request product samples or ask manufacturers to develop additional data. The CB Test Certificate and associated CB Test Report you receive from UL will minimize the need for additional testing.

National Differences are special requirements that the IECEE CB Scheme permits each country to adopt in order to address local safety concerns. UL keeps up to date with the National Differences of CB Scheme member countries so your products are evaluated to the most current requirements of the countries you target. Additional information can be found on the CB Scheme Web site at http://www.cbscheme.org/ and also in a publication titled the "CB Bulletin," issued by the IECEE. To order, contact Global Engineering Documents or directly to the IEC Webstore.

Applying for CB Scheme evaluation

Initiating the process is simple. You'll need to provide UL with three basic pieces of information.

• A description of your product -- including illustrations, schematics, wiring diagrams, a copy of the marking plate, and any appropriate product information, and
• A list of countries where you want to market your product, and
• The name and address of the company responsible for the product as well as the list of manufacturing locations.

If the company or manufacturing locations have not done business with UL in the past, please note --

• If it is a US-based location, please also provide a W-9 (Request for Taxpayer ID and Certification).
• If it is a China-based location, please also provide a copy of the Business Registration License.
• If it is a Canada-based location, please also provide a Goods and Sales Tax Number (GST).

Please send this information to UL's Customer Service Group at your nearest UL office. UL staff will then provide you with the necessary application forms and a price estimate. Once we receive the signed application forms and samples, your product will be evaluated to the applicable IEC standard and the National Differences of the countries you choose. If your product complies, UL will issue a CB Test Certificate and CB Test Report.

Please refer to the following document for the CB Scheme Services Requirements Overview.