1. Model Code for the Field Evaluation of Electrical Equipment
SPE
Model Code for the Field Evaluation of Electrical Equipment 1

2. Outline Canadian Advisory Council Task Force on SPE-1000-09 Preface
Introduction
Application
Definitions
Referenced Standards
Compliance With Standards
Safety and Protection
Cathode Ray Tubes
Fire Hazard Investigation
Grounding and Bonding
Interconnections
Overcurrent Protection
Rechargeable Batteries
Lighting
Heaters and Heating Elements
Dielectric Testing
Determining Sample Size
Strain Relief Testing
Probe Diagram
New Field Evaluation Label 2

3. Presentation Format
Everything in this presentation is an addition to the model code unless it is indicated otherwise
Changes to the model code will be indicated in RED 3

4. The Canadian Advisory Council on Electrical Safety (CACES)
The Canadian Advisory Council on Electrical Safety (CACES) is a council of electrical regulatory and certification experts who volunteer their time and money to develop common solutions to electrical safety and regulatory issues in Canada. 4

5. The Canadian Advisory Council on Electrical Safety (CACES)
CACES is authorized by Accredited Canadian Certification Organizations to work with them in an advisory capacity on all matters concerning the certification and testing of electrical products and systems in Canada.
These matters include making recommendations concerning codes and standards. 5

6. The Canadian Advisory Council on Electrical Safety (CACES)
Input from CACES is new to the SPE and you will find the names of participants in the front of the latest addition 6

7. Task Force on SPE
Task Force consisted of 10 members representing a cross section of the electrical industry and is located at the front of the SPE
The following tribute to Rick Martin is located at the bottom of the page containing the Task Force names:
The Task Force would like to acknowledge the valuable contributions of R. (Rick) Martin, former Task Force Chair and Member, who passed away during the development of this Model Code. 7

8. Preface Changes Third edition of the SPE-1000 (was 2nd edition)
Guidelines have been in effect for over 30 years (was 20 years)
Updated terminology: “Special Inspection service label” changed to “Field evaluation label”
The authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) can deviate from the model code when necessary
The task force on SPE prepared the changes to the model code in response to requests for changes from various stake holders 8

9. Introduction Changes
Section 0.1
Field Evaluation in accordance with the SPE must only be undertaken by fully qualified and competent persons
Should be experienced in testing equipment to Canadian safety requirements or requirements acceptable to the AHJ
Equipment must meet essential construction, marking, and test requirements before it can be labeled
AHJ’s have accepted this model code 9

10. Application/Scope of the SPE-1000
Section
Model code applies to field evaluation of equipment that is impractical or inconvenient to certify
Field evaluated equipment that is in compliance is considered acceptable by the AHJ
Field evaluation is not intended to serve as a substitute for certification 10

11. Application/Scope of the SPE-1000
Section
The SPE-1000 cannot be used when:
More than 500 pieces of identical equipment are being sold in a year (or in lesser quantities as determined by the AHJ)
The complete system is not available for testing during the evaluation process
The equipment is rated at more than 46kV
The equipment is not permitted to be evaluated by the AHJ (ie. Air cleaning equipment that intentionally produces ozone) 11

12. Terminology Terminology: “Shall”  a requirement
Section 1.7
Terminology:
“Shall”  a requirement
“Should”  a recommendation
“May”  an option 12

13. Definitions
Section 2.1
Bonding — a low impedance path obtained by permanently joining all non-current-carrying metal parts to ensure electrical continuity and having the capacity to conduct safely any current likely to be imposed on it.
Bonding conductor — a conductor that connects the non-current-carrying parts of electrical equipment, raceways, or enclosures to the service equipment or system grounding conductor.
Canadian Advisory Council on Electrical Safety (CACES) — a body recognized by the Standards Council of Canada to fulfill the role of advisory body to accredited certification organizations and inspection bodies offering product safety certification/field evaluation. It consists of representatives of the various AHJs, SCC-accredited certification bodies, inspection bodies, standards development organizations, and other stakeholders. 13

14. Definitions
Section 2.1
Certification body — an organization accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) to certify electrical equipment or electrical installations in accordance with its scope of accreditation, and that is recognized by the AHJ.
Dead front — without live parts exposed to a person on the operating side of the equipment. (reworded definition)
Field evaluation — a process synonymous to the Special Inspection process, whereby electrical equipment or a product is tested/evaluated for the purpose of determining conformance to the requirements of this Model Code. The test/evaluation may be at any location specified by the user of the service and includes the location of equipment installation.
Inspection body — an organization accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to conduct field evaluation of electrical equipment and products to the requirements of this Model Code, and that is recognized by the AHJ.
Special inspection — see definition for field evaluation. 14

15. Referenced Standards
Section 2.2
When references are made to other standards, they shall be considered to refer to the most recent versions.
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards referenced are:
B  Mechanical refrigeration code
C  Canadian Electrical Code, Part I
CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 0-M91 (R2006)  General Requirements — Canadian Electrical Code, Part ll
C22.2 No. 0.1-M1985 (R2008)  General requirements for double insulated equipment
C22.2 No (R2009)  Bonding of electrical equipment
C22.2 No (R2008)  Threaded conduit entries
C22.2 No M1985 (R2007)  Wiring space and wire bending space in enclosures for equipment rated V or less 15

16. Referenced Standards The CSA standards referenced (cont.):
Section 2.2
The CSA standards referenced (cont.):
C22.2 No (R2009)  Audio, video and similar electronic equipment
CAN/CSA-C22.2 No  Enclosures for Electrical Equipment, Environmental Considerations
C22.2 No  Refrigerant-containing components for use in electrical equipment
CAN/CSA-E (R2008)  Mechanical safety of cathode ray tubes
The United States Department of Defense (U.S. DoD) standards referenced are:
MIL-STD-105E  Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection by Attributes 16

17. General Requirements
Section 3.1.1
In order to ensure safety from potential hazards, the requirements of this Model Code shall be supplemented by other requirements as follows:
The installation requirements of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, as applicable;
The requirements of the relevant equipment standard(s) to address any potential hazards as defined in this Code, as applicable; and
Other requirements deemed necessary by the AHJ. 17

18. Compliance with Standards
Section & Annex B
Specific test and construction requirements are being developed and incorporated into the next edition of the SPE-1000 for equipment such as:
NOTE: Annex B is not a mandatory part of this code
Audio/Video equipment
Inverters
High-voltage equipment
Power supplies
Hot Tubs
Residential heat-generating equipment
Hydromassage tubs
Spas
Industrial air-handling equipment
Used/refurbished equipment
Industrial control equipment
Welding equipment
Industrial heat-generating equipment
Wind turbines 18

19. Labeling
Section
All push buttons, lights, and switches on a control panel shall have their functions clearly and permanently marked. 19

20. Safety and Protection
Section & 3.2.4
3.2.1 (c) now states: limit leakage current to the equipment body such that no shock hazard exists. (Providing high-integrity protective grounding is no longer an acceptable method of eliminating a shock hazard to the user)
“Electrical equipment must be constructed to provide ventilation to dissipate heat” has been added under section (e) 20

21. Cathode Ray Tubes
Section 4.1.5
The requirements for cathode ray tubes are now contained in CAN/CSA-E61965 21

22. Fire Hazard Investigation
Section & 6.2.4
Abnormal testing as outlined in Clause may be used when inspecting an enclosure with a flammability classification rating of HB (Horizontal Burn) or less.
This testing includes:
short-circuiting or overloading the secondary windings of line transformer, one at a time;
locking the rotor of a motor;
bypassing a noncertified supplementary overcurrent or overload protector;
selecting the wrong line voltage;
blocking air passage of an electric fan; and
short-circuiting of solid state components 22

23. Grounding and Bonding
Section
A bonding terminal may consist of an approved connector, grounding lug (or equivalent construction), or a screw assembled with a metal part of equipment to provide a bonding terminal means, where the screw is at least:
a) size No. 6 for conductors smaller than No. 12 AWG; and
b) size No. 10 for conductors No.12 or 10 AWG.
For all conductors No. 8 AWG and larger, an approved connector or grounding lug, or equivalent construction, shall be provided. 23

24. Interconnections
Section
White and Grey insulated current carrying conductors can only be used for neutral unless it is an identified conductor.
Note that “blue” has been removed as only qualifying for neutral….. 24

25. Overcurrent Protection
Section
Supplementary protectors can not be used where branch circuit protection is required by the Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1 25

26. Rechargeable Batteries
Section
Enclosures containing rechargeable batteries must be adequately ventilated, vented, or louvered to allow for free flow of air around vented batteries and easy escape of any gasses that could be given off by the batteries. 26

27. Lighting
Section
Each fluorescent luminaire installed on branch circuits with voltages exceeding 150 volts-to-ground shall be:
provided with a disconnecting means integral with the luminaire that simultaneously opens all circuit conductors between the branch circuit conductors and the conductors supplying the ballast(s); and
marked in a conspicuous, legible, and permanent manner adjacent to the disconnecting means, identifying the specific purpose.
A temperature test must be conducted when extreme temperature might be present as a result of the construction of a light fixture. 27

28. Heaters & Heating Elements
Section
A temperature test shall be conducted to verify that no extreme temperatures are present that could result in fire hazard or insulation breakdown. 28

29. Heaters & Heating Elements
Section
400 Degrees Celsius in 10 minutes 29

30. Testing Section 6.1 from the SPE-1000-99 was removed. It stated:
Where testing is required, the field representative of the certification organization or inspector of the inspection agency performing the safety evaluation of the equipment may accept reports or other evidence of testing from a certification organization, a testing organization, a professional engineer, or another responsible qualified person. 30

31. Dielectric Testing
Section
For equipment rated 30 V or less, the test voltage shall be 500 V ac. The dielectric strength test may be made by applying a dc voltage instead of an ac voltage, provided that the voltage used is times the values specified. 31

32. Dielectric Testing
Section
For equipment rated above 600 V, the dielectric voltage withstand test of a particular equipment Standard used in the electrical equipment or product evaluation shall apply. 32

33. Dielectric Testing
Section
The dielectric strength testing may be performed on a sampling basis provided that the electrical equipment or products are of consistent quality with respect to factors such as routing of conductors, dressing of wiring, neatness, etc. (see FEPPM) 33

34. Determining Sample Size For Dielectric Strength Testing
Section
Criteria for selecting a sampling basis is as follows:
The samples shall be selected at random by the special inspection representative.
If any of the samples fail the dielectric strength test, 100% of the lot or batch shall be subjected to the dielectric strength tests.
The sample sizes outlined in Table 1 are minimums and may be increased up to 100% of the lot or batch size where the construction and quality of work are not uniform or are not adequate, or as otherwise instructed by the AHJ.
The sample size tested shall be recorded. 34

35. Determining Sample Size For Dielectric Strength Testing
The general inspection levels are classified as follows:
General inspection level I applies to electrical equipment or products that are manufactured using an automated or controlled process where consistent quality is always expected. Electrical equipment and products in this category contain little or no hand wiring.
General inspection level II applies to electrical equipment or products that contain a moderate amount of hand wiring.
General inspection level III applies to electrical equipment or products that contain a large amount of hand wiring. Electrical equipment and products such as industrial control panels are considered here.
Note: The general inspection levels are extracted from Table I of MIL-STD-105E, and the sample size is selected from Table II-A of MIL-STD-105E.
Section 35

36. Determining Sample Size For Dielectric Strength Testing36

37. Strain Relief Testing
Section
Strain Relief testing of power supply or interconnecting cords is not required provided that the strain relief mechanism meets the following criteria:
It is certified for the particular cord type; and
It is suitable for the shape of opening and application in that its dimensions correspond to the size of the opening in which it is fitted, in accordance with certification conditions. 37

38. Probe Diagram
Figure 2: Probe — Hand-held machines, hand-held portions of machines, home appliances, and equipment other than commercial or industrial (See Clause )
Note: Dimensions given are in millimeters.
Clause Summary: The probe above cannot enter an opening on an enclosure by more than 3.2mm and must not touch any bare live parts within the enclosure. 38

39. New Field Evaluation Label39

40. Summary
This presentation covered the changes in the SPE-1000 from the 1999 edition to the 2009 edition. Please consult the SPE to review the changes outlined in this presentation. 40