Screening to Identify Unsafe Electrical Products * * These comments are those of the CPSC staff, have not been reviewed or approved by, and may not necessarily reflect the views of, the Commission. March 2011

Overview U.S. Electrical Product Safety Standards U.S. Electrical Product Safety Standards Targeted Products Targeted Products –Extension Cords –Decorative Outfits/Light Strings Conclusions Conclusions

U.S. Electrical Product Safety Standards The safety of electrical products relies primarily on compliance with industry- consensus safety standards. The safety of electrical products relies primarily on compliance with industry- consensus safety standards. –Presently, the only electrical products covered under CPSC mandatory safety regulations are electric toys and citizen’s band (CB) base station antennas and supporting structures.

U.S. Electrical Product Safety Standards Nearly all of the electrical product safety standards are maintained by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Nearly all of the electrical product safety standards are maintained by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Third-party certification to the consensus standards helps to ensure that a product complies with appropriate requirements. Third-party certification to the consensus standards helps to ensure that a product complies with appropriate requirements.

Targeted Products for Screening Two categories of imported products that frequently have been recalled or stopped at ports due to substandard construction: Indoor Extension Cords Decorative Lights Products should comply with all standards requirements, but a spot-check of a few key features can reveal potential safety problems. U.S. Customs and CPSC field staffs work together to collect products for screening

Extension Cords (Indoor) An indoor extension cord is a parallel-conductor cord intended for indoor use to serve as a temporary extension of the branch circuit.

Extension Cords (Indoor)

Applicable industry-consensus standard for safety is ANSI/UL 817 – Cord Sets and Power Supply Cords. Applicable industry-consensus standard for safety is ANSI/UL 817 – Cord Sets and Power Supply Cords. Most common deficiency is undersized wire gauge; often results in inadequate strain relief. Most common deficiency is undersized wire gauge; often results in inadequate strain relief.

Extension Cords (Indoor) Features Verify Proper Wire Size Parallel, two-conductor Cord - 16 AWG or minimum 18 AWG with overcurrent protection

Extension Cords (Indoor) Features Verify Polarity Load Fitting -Maximum of three polarized receptacles -Small slot must withstand wide blade insertion with 35 pounds of force

Extension Cords (Indoor) Features Verify Strain Relief and Polarity Two-blade Attachment Plug - Adequate strain relief to withstand a 30 lb pull for 1 minute.

Extension Cords (Indoor) Features Check for presence of receptacle closure Load Fitting Closure - If more than one receptacle: contact openings of all, or all but one, of the outlets shall be reliably and effectively closed.

Decorative Lights Seasonal-use, decorative lighting products including series-connected light strings with miniature replaceable and non-replaceable lamps, parallel-connected light strings, and decorative outfits (a light string formed into or attached to a seasonally-themed structure).

Decorative Lights

Applicable industry-consensus standard for safety is ANSI/UL 588 – Seasonal and Holiday Decorative Products. Applicable industry-consensus standard for safety is ANSI/UL 588 – Seasonal and Holiday Decorative Products. Most common deficiencies are undersized wire gauge, inadequate strain relief and no overcurrent protection. Most common deficiencies are undersized wire gauge, inadequate strain relief and no overcurrent protection.

Decorative Lights (Features) Verify Proper Wire Series-connected product - minimum No. 22 AWG Type CXTW twisted conductor, with a minimum insulation temperature of 105°C Parallel-connected product (not pictured) - minimum No. 20 AWG, Type XTW, parallel conductor cord or a minimum No. 18 AWG Type SPT-1 or SPT-2

Decorative Lights (Features) Verify proper strain relief Wiring to lampholder strain relief - subjected to a pull of 20 lbs for a No. 18 or larger cord and 8 lbs for a No. 20 AWG or smaller cord Line and load fitting strain relief - cord or pair of wires shall be subjected to a pull of 30 lbs for No. 18 AWG or larger or 20 lbs for No. 20 AWG or smaller

Decorative Lights (Features) Check for Proper Overcurrent Protection Overcurrent protection shall be either an integral part of the attachment plug or current tap, or of a through-cord design (in-line fuseholder) within 6 inches of the plug. A series-connected product with non-polarized fittings, with or without a load fitting, shall have 3 A fuses in both the grounded and ungrounded conductors; a parallel-connected product with or without a load fitting shall have a 5 A fuse in the ungrounded conductor.

Conclusions Electrical products are not required by CPSC to be third- party certified, but certification to voluntary standards is a good practice to help avoid sale of unsafe products Select electrical products can be screened to prevent unsafe, substandard units at the point of importation, before they enter into commerce