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Why Should You Insist On Safety and
Quality Certification?
Before making a significant investment in controlled environment
equipment, purchasers and users need to know that the products they
are purchasing are safe and of high quality. While most suppliers
claim to produce products of a high quality, customers cannot have
confidence in knowing that their equipment truly meets that standard
without some independent and objective measurement. Conviron's commitment
to safety and quality is evidenced by our substantial investment
of expertise and other resources into ensuring that our products
and organization meet universally recognized standards, including
CSA (NRTL/C) and ISO9001.
Understand the Risks
As well as safety and reliability risks associated with non-certified
products, there are other uncertainties. Licensed electricians will
confirm that before they can connect electrical power to non-certified
equipment, that equipment must be inspected by an accredited body.
This puts the purchaser at considerable risk, as the results of
that inspection may lead to significant delays, additional costs,
and ultimately substantial modifications or a rejection of the equipment
altogether. The failure to inspect non-certified products presents
further concerns.
When purchasing new equipment, researchers should also insist that
the product as a whole be certified, not just individual components.
While approved components may be used by manufacturers, those components
are certified for specific applications. Far more important are
the requirements relating to the design of the product itself and
the manner in which the approved components are applied. Components
not correctly incorporated into equipment may result in premature
failure and present safety hazards. This is particularly important
with controlled environment systems, which involve a combination
of lighting, refrigeration and often humidity. An overall equipment
certification assures that all components and the product as a whole
have been reviewed, tested and accepted by an independent body.
Conviron Products: CSA Approved and Certified
The CSA certification on Conviron's standard products provides purchasers
with the confidence that these products are safe and manufactured
with high quality components. It also serves as confirmation to
electrical personnel that power can be connected to the equipment,
thus removing the risk and expense associated with the inspection
of equipment on-site.
CSA International is one of the leading standards development, certification
and registration organizations in the world, with offices and partners
in 25 countries. It has created and published more than 1,500 standards
in nine major program fields including electrical, mechanical and
quality. CSA is recognized as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory
(NRTL) by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and can test and
certify products for Canadian, U.S. and international markets. The
certification mark is recognized around the world as a symbol of
safety and integrity.
Our Organization: An ISO9001 Company
What does Conviron have in common with the likes of IBM, Hewlett-Packard,
3M, General Motors and Motorola? All are ISO companies.
A company achieving ISO Certification has met the quality assurance
standards set by the International Organization for Standardization,
a worldwide federation of national standards bodies. ISO certification
is accepted and recognized throughout the world. The ISO9000 series
of standards addresses every area of a company's operation that
can affect quality, with ISO9001 being the most rigorous of the
levels as it details stringent requirements from design, development
and production through to delivery, installation and servicing.
Conviron's staff, led by its full-time quality manager, sees that
all procedures are complied with, as confirmed by annual ISO audits.
ISO certification has become a prerequisite for doing business with
major customers worldwide as it assures them that their suppliers
meet the highest standards of quality and reliability.
Can You Afford Not to Insist on Certification?
For all of these reasons, we strongly recommend that purchasers
of controlled environment systems require that their products carry
a recognized quality and safety designation. Although there may
be additional costs associated with certification, these are small
compared with probable savings in future operating and maintenance
expenses, and insignificant in relation to personal safety and the
value of a scientist's work. Our commitment to these standards,
in combination with our factory testing, final on-site testing performed
by our professional and experienced installation crews, and comprehensive
warranty, will give you confidence that Conviron products are safe
and reliable.
Products supplied to Europe carry the necessary CE mark, indicating
their safety and compliance with European requirements.
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