1. ACB ISED Canada Radio Certification
4/15/2018
ACB ISED Canada Radio Certification
Michael Derby
ACB Europe LPRA 18 May 2017

2. Introduction Presenter Michael Derby, ACB
American Certification Body – offices in USA, EU, Asia
FCB for ISED Canada Certifications
TCB for USA FCC Certifications
RCB for Japan MIC Certifications
CB for Hong Kong OFCA Certifications
EU RE Directive Notified Body
EU R&TTE Directive Notified Body
EU EMC Directive Notified Body
Compliance training

3. Introduction Michael Derby, ACB
Manufacturer (product development and EMC research)
Test Lab (EMC, Radio, RF Exposure, Consultancy)
Certification Body (product approvals)
TCB Council; Chair, Vice-Chair
EMCTLA; Secretary
ETSI; Contributor
Compliance Associations; Active member

4. Agenda Who is ISED Canada? Overview of ISED Canada certifications
Administrative changes in recent years
Test labs and accreditations
Changes to Radio Standards Specifications
Some frequency band alignment plans
Similarities and comparisons with FCC

5. Canada It’s not called “IC” anymore
“Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada” (ISED Canada)
Some think of “North American” certification; but the USA and Canada are different countries
They accept the same test procedures and in many cases the technical requirements are the same
However, that is not within any kind of ‘rule’
There is no formal harmonisation

6. Canada
ISED Canada
To sell into Canada, a product must be authorised for use in Canada
For radio transmitters, this is most commonly a certification authorisation
Testing must be performed to the most recent applicable Radio Standard Specification and certification completed by a Certification Body
RSSs are freely available online

7. Canada Certifications
ISED Canada Certifications
Canada does not have a big book of rules like the FCC; nor a Directive like the EU
Canada has Radio Specification Standards and radios are certified to those standards
RSS-GEN described the general requirements
RSS-1xx for licensed transmitters
RSS-2xx for license exempt transmitters
RSP-100 for Certification instructions
RSS-102 for RF Exposure

8. Canada Certifications
ISED Canada Certifications
Test to the standard
Such as RSS-1xx or RSS-2xx
Include the common requirements
As per RSS-GEN
Apply for Certification
As per RSP-100
Labelled with ISED certification number
Presently still “IC: “

9. Canada Certifications
FCC
TCB completes the certification, on FCC website, and issues the final Grant as a ‘screen shot’
It is an FCC Grant, generated and sent by the TCB
Product is certified immediately when TCB clicks ‘accept’
MIC
CB completes the review and issues a certificate to the manufacturer
It is a certificate generated by the CB
Product is certified when the certificate is issued

10. Canada Certifications
ISED Canada Certification process
ISED
CB completes the review and issues a certificate to the manufacturer; while at the same time submitting a certification application to ISED
Manufacturer gets a certificate generated by the CB
ISED performs their own review
The product is only certified when ISED lists the product on their website (Radio Equipment List – REL)
It could be several days before the product is finally listed by ISED and it is not certified until that time

11. Canada Labelling Recent Administrative Changes
“Recent” means the last year or two
In the past, “Model: “ was needed on product
Now the ‘model’ has been renamed to HVIN
HVIN (Hardware Version Identification Number)
More like a model number, than a hardware version
Must be on the product, such as on the label
It’s the manufacturer’s name for that product
Manufacturer cannot have multiple certifications (certification numbers) that use the same HVIN
You cannot re-use that HVIN
As with old “model number”

12. Canada Labelling PMN (Product Marketing Name)
The name it is advertised and ‘commonly known as’
Must be somewhere, such as the product, marketing material, user manual, company website, etc.
FVIN (Firmware Version Identification Number)
Applicable if it is relevant to compliance
‘Optional’ during certification process
If applicable; it must accessible on the product

13. Canada Test Labs Testing to RSS-1xx or RSS-2xx
Testing for product certification
Must be done on a test site listed with ISED
Since 31st December 2016, accreditation is mandatory for listing or re-listing a lab
e.g. Lab listed in November 2016 will require re-listing in November 2017 and will need accreditation then
Right now; accreditation is basic, to ANSI C63.4
Right now; accreditation for SAR test not required

14. Canada Test Labs Accreditation for certification testing
ISED is closely watching the FCC!
From 13th July 2017, all certification and DoC testing for FCC must be done at a recognised accredited test lab; with specific scope details
All FCC certification applications with unaccredited testing must be complete by 13th October 2017
ISED is considering adopting the same approach
No timeline suggested yet
Would include RF/EMC and SAR

15. RSS updates Transition periods
New version issued effective immediately
This has always been the way
Can be problematic with big changes
Recent examples saw transition periods
A new idea, a little confusing at times
Dates were not always clear

16. RSS updates Transition periods
Standards will now include transition periods
Each standard will clarify transition dates, certification dates, grand-fathering, etc.
Typically expected to be 6 months
During the transition period, either old or new version can be used
But not a combination of the two

17. RSS updates Transition periods
One time certification like FCC, or ‘real time’ up to date re-assessment like the EU?
We are used to ‘one time certification’ in Canada
Actually Canada law requires compliance to the latest standard, even for existing products!
ISED risk assessment that avoids re-assessment
Sometimes we do see re-assessments, e.g. RF Exposure
The 5 GHz WLAN issue proves that the FCC is also not immune to this ‘mandatory re-assessment’ idea
May allow important changes and flexible implementation of new rules

18. RSS updates Some common RSS updates RSS-247 issue 2 - DTS and FHSS
WLAN/Bluetooth/ZigBee, etc., from RSS-210
RSS-247 issue 2 was published February 2017
We are in the transition period, use issue 1 or 2
RSS-GEN issue General Requirements
Revision is in progress
Will include home kits and demonstration units
Will include details of transition periods
Will include labelling and test method details

19. RSS updates Some common RSS updates
RSS-220 issue Ultra-Wideband Devices
Issue 2 is under review
RSS-210 issue License Exempt SRD
Plan to align with FCC for GHz equipment
RSS-216 issue Wireless Power Transfer
Being updated for limits and test standards
Will refer to the future ANSI C63.30

20. RSS updates
Some standards in revision, with a view to harmonise requirements with the FCC
RSS-119 issue 13
Land Mobile and Fixed
758 MHz to 763 MHz, 788 MHz to 793 MHz, MHz to 768 MHz, 793 MHz to 798 MHz
RSS-191 issue 4
27.5 GHz to GHz, 37 GHz to 40 GHz
RSS-181 issue 2
1.705 to 50.0 MHz

21. RSS updates
Some standards in revision, with a view to harmonise requirements with the FCC
RSS-251 issue 2
Field Disturbance Sensors (76-77 GHz)
77 GHz to 81 GHz under review for harmonization
46.7 GHz to 46.9 GHz (vehicular) may be removed
RSS-252 issue 1
Intelligent Transport Systems
Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) for on-board unit may harmonise with FCC

22. RSS updates RSS-102 and RF Exposure Supplementary Procedure; SPR-002
Nerve Stimulation Exposure Limits
Testing applies to all transmitters in the range 3 kHz to 10 MHz
Has been mandatory since 1st March 2017
Caused problems for many manufacturers
Very difficult to find a test lab that can do it!

23. Comparisons to the FCC Comparisons to the FCC
In recent years, radio standards were not aligned for license exempt transmitters
ANSI C63.10 and C63.4 version number
Now these are aligned
At this time, licensed transmitters not aligned
FCC uses ANSI/TIA-603-D
ISED uses ANSI C63.26

24. Comparisons to the FCC Comparisons to the FCC
Still differences in test requirements for some
5 GHz WLAN devices
Boosters
RF Exposure assessment thresholds
Threshold for determining if a test is needed
Nerve Simulation RF Exposure tests
3 kHz to 10 MHz

25. Comparisons to the FCC Comparisons to the FCC
Module discussions for FCC and a more ‘holistic’ approach to compliance
FCC emphasis on assessment of final product; in cases where a certified module is used
FCC may amend modular KDB to clarify that testing on final system may be necessary
ISED recognises and follows the FCC modular KDB and therefore this could affect products with modules installed for Canada too

26. Comparisons to the FCC Comparisons to the FCC
Module discussions for FCC and a more ‘holistic’ approach to compliance
It’s a reminder that “modular approval” was intended as a solution to save the installer from the requirement to certify the final end product; but it was not intended to avoid any future testing
Save on authorisation process, but still have responsibility for final product compliance

27. Questions?
Contact: