Here is an article about the safety certification to electric fencing by our director Mr.George Eapen.
Mr. Eapen discusses the importance of safety guidelines and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification to electrical fencing. Commenting on farmer awareness about the importance of BIS certification, he says, “Farmers are consumers and ignorance of the law is no excuse, if the consumer is sued on account of fatality.
High voltage (8-10KV) DC pulsed electric fences can also be potentially dangerous if not regulated,” adding, “The farmer is the ultimate consumer and he alone is held accountable for the safety of his farm protection equipment, erected in the public domain or in wildlife areas.”
Guidelines on Safety of Electric fencing
Mr. Eapen explains, “Electric fence energizers are classified by the BIS under household and similar electrical appliances. The consumer does not need any local body permission to use any household electrical appliance which carries BIS markings (formerly ISI mark), as it assures the consumer of personal safety. Safety of electric fences erected on the perimeter extends beyond personal safety, involving safety of neighbors, domestic animals, and wildlife, and hence would be mandatory.”
Reasoning why the farmers buy uncertified systems, Mr. Eapen says, “Most companies exploit the farmers’ lack of knowledge and offer uncertified systems. Some companies sell electric fences on the basis of a test report issued by CPRI (Central Power Research Institute) or ETDC (Electronic Testing and Development Corporation).
However, these test reports state clearly that the report is valid only for the sample tested and cannot be used to sell a hundred such un-certified units,”
He adds, “The Central Government has to issue guidelines to regulate the display and sale of such potentially dangerous, high voltage equipment in the public domain, as uncertified equipment will eventually be deployed in remote areas of different states, by the unsuspecting farmers.”
BIS vs. ISO 9001 – 2008
Some companies con the farmers stating that they have ISO 9001-2008 certification, trying to confuse farmers with ISI / BIS safety standards.
Some other companies offer old permission letters from the Chief Electrical Inspectorate-TN (CEIG). The advisory from the CEIG to the Dean, TNAU and the CCF- TN Wildlife clearly states that it is mandatory for such articles to have BIS certification.
Explaining the difference between ISO 9001-2008 certification and BIS certification, Mr. Eapen says, “ISO 9001-2008 is only a certification that concerns the organization and its management systems, while BIS concerns the safety of the product. Some manufacturers seek to mislead farmers by equating ISO with ISI markings, which is familiar to a farmer/consumer.”
BIS 302-2-76 has endorsed standards laid down in the international standard IEC 335-2-76, referred to as IEC-60335 since 2008. EN-60335 is the standard followed to ensure conformity to European Norms (EN). CE marking assures complies to European (CE) norms.
“Fenzgard has EN and CE safety markings on each energizer, with printed or embossed serial numbers,” maintains Mr. Eapen.
Our Correspondent
For more information, contact :
Mr. George Eapen,
Fenzgard India Private Ltd.
1/329, Rangammal Colony, NGGO Colony Post, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu – 641 022
Tel: +91 94421 38380/+91-422-2646178
Fax: +91-422-2646179
georgeeapen@fenzgard.com
Website – Fenzgard - Home
Source : Agriculture & Industry Survey
Mr. Eapen discusses the importance of safety guidelines and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification to electrical fencing. Commenting on farmer awareness about the importance of BIS certification, he says, “Farmers are consumers and ignorance of the law is no excuse, if the consumer is sued on account of fatality.
High voltage (8-10KV) DC pulsed electric fences can also be potentially dangerous if not regulated,” adding, “The farmer is the ultimate consumer and he alone is held accountable for the safety of his farm protection equipment, erected in the public domain or in wildlife areas.”
Guidelines on Safety of Electric fencing
Mr. Eapen explains, “Electric fence energizers are classified by the BIS under household and similar electrical appliances. The consumer does not need any local body permission to use any household electrical appliance which carries BIS markings (formerly ISI mark), as it assures the consumer of personal safety. Safety of electric fences erected on the perimeter extends beyond personal safety, involving safety of neighbors, domestic animals, and wildlife, and hence would be mandatory.”
Reasoning why the farmers buy uncertified systems, Mr. Eapen says, “Most companies exploit the farmers’ lack of knowledge and offer uncertified systems. Some companies sell electric fences on the basis of a test report issued by CPRI (Central Power Research Institute) or ETDC (Electronic Testing and Development Corporation).
However, these test reports state clearly that the report is valid only for the sample tested and cannot be used to sell a hundred such un-certified units,”
He adds, “The Central Government has to issue guidelines to regulate the display and sale of such potentially dangerous, high voltage equipment in the public domain, as uncertified equipment will eventually be deployed in remote areas of different states, by the unsuspecting farmers.”
BIS vs. ISO 9001 – 2008
Some companies con the farmers stating that they have ISO 9001-2008 certification, trying to confuse farmers with ISI / BIS safety standards.
Some other companies offer old permission letters from the Chief Electrical Inspectorate-TN (CEIG). The advisory from the CEIG to the Dean, TNAU and the CCF- TN Wildlife clearly states that it is mandatory for such articles to have BIS certification.
Explaining the difference between ISO 9001-2008 certification and BIS certification, Mr. Eapen says, “ISO 9001-2008 is only a certification that concerns the organization and its management systems, while BIS concerns the safety of the product. Some manufacturers seek to mislead farmers by equating ISO with ISI markings, which is familiar to a farmer/consumer.”
BIS 302-2-76 has endorsed standards laid down in the international standard IEC 335-2-76, referred to as IEC-60335 since 2008. EN-60335 is the standard followed to ensure conformity to European Norms (EN). CE marking assures complies to European (CE) norms.
“Fenzgard has EN and CE safety markings on each energizer, with printed or embossed serial numbers,” maintains Mr. Eapen.
Our Correspondent
For more information, contact :
Mr. George Eapen,
Fenzgard India Private Ltd.
1/329, Rangammal Colony, NGGO Colony Post, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu – 641 022
Tel: +91 94421 38380/+91-422-2646178
Fax: +91-422-2646179
georgeeapen@fenzgard.com
Website – Fenzgard - Home
Source : Agriculture & Industry Survey