Section 7 - Applying Standards

Standard wire constructions have been developed to meet guidelines of principal standard-setting bodies. These standards frequently are cited by insurance companies in agreements between contracting parties or in government regulations. Among important standards bodies in the high-temperature insulated wire industry are Underwriters Laboratories and Canadian Standards Association.

Underwriters Laboratories (UL)

UL operates laboratories for testing services, systems and materials to determine product safety. Original-equipment manufacturers look for the UL Listing as one of the essential factors in making buying decisions. In particular, manufacturers often must use UL-Listed components if they intend to have the finished product Listed by UL. This is particularly important for consumer appliances, where a UL Listing is widely recognized by consumers.

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA)

The CSA is the Canadian counterpart of UL. In some cases, CSA standards are more rigorous than UL standards. Radix recommends that CSA-certified products be specified only when necessary, as they tend to be more costly.

Military Specifications

Frequently called "Mil Specs," these specifications describe just about everything purchased by Department of Defense agencies - including high-temperature insulated wire. Radix Freedom-150 and 200 series lead wires, for example, can be supplied in accordance with MIL-16878/11, Type K, and MIL-16878/12, Type KK, for 150 C or 200 C, 600 V or 1000 V wire.

ICS [formerly known as American Gas Association (AGA)]

The ICS develops standards for materials and products used in manufacture of gas-fueled appliances. ICS standards certification is important for Radix gas igniter lead wire, SGI-250, for example.

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

ASTM standards are widely used to define test methods, recommended practices and materials standards for a variety of metallic and nonmetallic materials used in U.S. manufacturing. Conductor materials, for example, are comprehensively specified. Each is carefully defined in published ASTM standards, by properties and test methods, as are countless other material combinations.

ASTM test methods are widely used by other standards bodies to qualify materials commonly used by Radix.

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

NEMA is the largest U.S. trade group for manufacturers of electrical products, with some 500 members. The association develops standards for a wide range of product categories. NEMA standards are often cited in conjunction with, but usually not instead of, UL or CSA Listings.

National Fire-Protection Association (NFPA)

Although principally dedicated to fire prevention, NFPA publishes a series of electrical standards, the most noted being the National Electrical Code (NEC), which is widely cited by local governing bodies in establishing building codes.

Government Regulatory Bodies

Government agencies frequently use the work done by voluntary societies in establishing technical requirements. For example, provisions of the National Electrical Code (NEC) are incorporated into regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

In some cases, government bodies set standards. For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), through its Bureau of Radiological Health, sets performance standards for radiation producing products such as microwave ovens and x-ray medical equipment. The Radix Freedom Series 150, 200 and 250 FEP and PFA fluoropolymer products meet FDA 121.2555 requirements for appliances and machines used in food-contact applications.