Environmental Testing
The WEEE Directive
Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of January 27, 2003 on waste, electrical and electronic equipment (the “WEEE Directive”) imposes on producers and distributors “take-back” and recycling obligations.
In addition this includes obligations for information to users, treatment facilities and reporting to authorities.
The REACH Regulation
REACH, the European Community Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical Substances, is one of the Community’s most complex environmental regulations.
This regulation covers all chemical substances in the EU. The pre-study for the REACH regulation shows that there were over 103,000 different chemical substances within the community.
The key aim behind REACH is to get control of the use of these substances including end of life treatment and recyclability. The regulation states that, in principle, companies must manage the risks of all chemical substances and preparations that they produce in quantities greater than 1 ton and/or import, process, use or distribute these substances and preparations in the EU.
The ErP Directive (Eco-Design)
The Directive 2009/125/EC for ErP (Energy-related-Products), also known as Eco-Design (It is a recast of Directive 2005/32/EC Previously called Energy Using Products, EuP), establishes a framework directive for the setting of eco-design requirements for all energy using products except in the transport sector. It also covers products outside the electrical area.
PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)
PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) are chemical compounds found on a large scale in oil and coal arising from the chemical conversion of natural molecules to aromatic hydrocarbons.
The RoHS Directive
The European Union has adopted Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), also known as the RoHS Directive.
Ecology
Ecology is the study of life and the interaction between organisms and their environment. Today the term ecological is often used in the same way as environmentally friendly. In our industry we often find requirements that are related to office equipment.
This is reflected by the many different ECO labeling schemes, customer requirements and growing number of environmental legislation both nationally and regionally.
SAR
SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) is the measurement of the energy rate absorbed by the body when exposed to (RF) electromagnetic fields in the frequency 100kHz to 10GHz.
The health effects of cell phone usage has received much attention in the media during recent years. The RF energy from mobile phones is known to generate heat in the body. Studies have not reached conclusive results as to whether this has consequences to people’s health.
Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic fields (EMF)
The EU Recommendation (1999/519/EC) was introduced in 1999. It provides basic restrictions to protect the general public from EMF exposure.
The EMF at Work Directive (2004/40/EC) protects workers from the risks arising from the exposure to EMF in the workplace. It is not a directive required for CE marking; rather it is part of the EU Occupational Health and Safety regulations.
Acoustic Noise
Nemko has the capability to test most types of acoustic noise on-site, indoors as well as outdoors.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the design guideline or requirements for performance specifications. This is aimed at ensuring effective and comfortable working conditions for users with normal, worse or even adjustable operation activities. The test methods and metrology are based on the human conditions in order to decide the measurements and criteria for product design evaluation.
TCO Certified
TCO Certified is designed to ensure that IT and office equipment has a high degree of usability for the end user, but still keeps environmental impact to a minimum. With the TCO labeling system, the development of products is influenced in this direction.
Climatic Testing
There are several extreme climatic scenarios that are quite relevant for many products, whether they occur during operation, transport or storage. In industrial, marine, oil or train/subway environments products are constantly subject to harsh environments and extreme climatic conditions.
The Nemko reliability laboratory has a series of climatic/temperature rooms and chambers for testing products and material behavior sunder different extreme climatic conditions. Fully accredited testing is available for most standards.
Shock Testing
Nemko provides testing for mechanical shock on products according to IEC 60068-2-27.
Mechanical shock is one of the most common causes of nonstructural failure in mechanical and electrical systems.
Ingress Protection (IP)
Nemko has a large laboratory for testing various types of water ingress. This can include condensation via dripping, spraying, splashing and hosing to submerging in water tanks. It can also include dust ingress in dust circulation chambers and ingress tests with different foreign objects and different standardized access probes.
Mechanical Stress
Vibrations, drops and careless handling are examples of a product's worst enemies. Some of these mechanical stress situations are prone to occur in many product lifecycles.
These mechanical conditions either make instant damage to the product or they insert potential damages that may only be visible after continual use. They may be devastating to the products performance and/or safety of the user. It may also cause malfunctions, reduced efficiency or total failure.
Vibration Testing
Vibration testing can help ensure that your new design will survive its intended environment. Submitting your product for vibration analysis pays for itself by reducing field return costs through improved product reliability.
Our vibration testing facilities contains 3 electrodynamic shakers to provide over 22000N in the most used vibration testing events – sine and random vibration analysis.
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Protection
There is an increasing awareness concerning the damages ESD may cause during production and service of different types of electronic components and equipment.
EU ECO Label
With experience from environmental labelling schemes and from development and verification of environmental declarations, Nemko may assist manufacturers with testing and consulting when applying for the ECO label.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficient products are constantly evolving, and the consumers and authorities are requiring more economic electrical products.
After decades of focus on power consumption during operation, focus is turning to efficiency also in standby and electronic OFF modes.
The Nemko Direct Program for more challenging international approvals – they truly are a fast and competitive alternative