Certification Introduction
The Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) announced on August
25, 2008 that the Korean National Standards Committee will
implement a new national unified logo, the "KC" logo, from July
2009 to December 2010. The "KC" logo means "Korea Certification".
KC certification is the safety certification system for electrical
and electronic appliances in South Korea. The mandatory safety
certification system implemented on January 1, 2009, all products
involved in the mandatory certification program must obtain KC Mark
before they can enter the Korean market. The long-term good
cooperative relationship between LCS and South Korea KETI can help
customers directly obtain KC certification and export to South
Korea smoothly.
In order to avoid duplication of certification, from July 1, 2012,
EMC and Safety have been separated and managed. All electrical and
electronic products that apply for Korean certification must obtain
KC certificate and KCC respectively for their safety (Safety) and
electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements. Certificate (new
MSIP).
In terms of safety standards, all products entering the Korean
market need to comply with the Korean safety standard K standard
(similar to the IEC standard). When using the IEC standard, it must
meet the requirements of South Korea. The national differences can
be found in the announcement in the CB system of IECEE. In terms of
EMC, the Korean EMI standard is similar to the CISPR standard, and
the EMS standard is similar to the EN standard.
Certification System Classification:
Korea KC certification is divided into "KC Safety", "KC EMC and RF"
and "MEPS"
(1) KC Safety
In order to prevent consumer safety accidents such as electric
shock and fire, a safety management system for electrical
appliances has been implemented, and only confirmed products are
allowed to leave the factory and sell. According to the
requirements of the latest "Electrical Appliances Safety Management
Law", KC Safety certification is divided into three categories
according to the different hazard levels of products:
• Mandatory Safety Certification
• Self-regulatory Safety Confirmation
• Supplier Self-Confirmation (SDoC)
(2) Electromagnetic Compatibility & RF RF Certification (KC EMC and
RF)
Ensure that the equipment should be able to work normally in a
certain electromagnetic environment, that is, the equipment should
have a certain electromagnetic immunity (EMS); secondly, the
electromagnetic disturbance generated by the equipment itself
cannot have an excessive impact on other electronic products, that
is, electromagnetic interference disturbance (EMI).
KC EMC and KC RF certification includes electromagnetic
compatibility testing, radio frequency and telecommunication
testing. According to the requirements of the latest "Radio Wave
Law", the certification system is divided into three categories
according to the different levels of products harmful to the radio
environment:
• Certification of Conformity
• Registration of Compatibility
• Interim of Conformity
(3) Energy Efficiency Rating (MEPS)
The energy efficiency grade label is an information label that
expresses the performance indicators such as the energy efficiency
of the product.
Applicable Product Range:
The product range of KC certification generally includes electrical
products above AC50 volts and below 1000 volts. In addition to
products that must obtain safety certification, self-discipline
safety confirmation must be applied.
(1) Safety certified electrical appliances (item 57)
• Cables and Cords: 1 item (wires, cables)
• Switches for Electrical Appliances: 1 Item (Electrical Switches,
Electrical Switches)
• Capacitors & Filters Capacitors & Filters: 1 item (Capacitors,
Power Filters)
• Electrical equipment parts and connection parts Installation
Accessories and Connection Devices: 1 item
• Electrical protection components Installation Protective
Equipment: 2 items (miniature fuses and fuse clips, circuit
breakers)
• Household insulating transformers Safety Transformer and Similar
Equipment: 2 items (small household transformers, voltage
stabilizers)
• Electrical Appliances for Household and Similar Equipment: Item
36 (vacuum cleaners, electric irons, etc.) with rated output power
below 10kW, excluding explosion-proof and medical machinery use
• Motor Tools: (1 item)
• Audio and video application equipment Audio, Video and Similar
Electronic Appliance: 4 items (power supply, copier, UPS,
plasticizer)
• IT and Office Appliances: 18 headings (Monitors, Printers,
Projectors, Scanners, etc.)
• Lighting equipment Lighting: 4 items
(2) Products subject to self-discipline safety confirmation (95
items)
• Electrical Switches Switches for Electrical Appliances :
Electrical control terminals
• Household Insulation Transformer Safety Transformer and Similar
Equipment : 2 items
• Electrical Appliances for Household and Similar Equipment: 35
items (rated output power below 10kW, excluding explosion-proof and
medical machinery)
• Audio and video application equipment: 34 items (TV, video
player, tuner, etc.)
• Information technology and office equipment: 18 headings
(monitors, printers, projectors, scanners, etc.)
• Lighting equipment Lighting: 5 items
Other:
The difference between Korea KC certification and KCC certification
KCC is a mandatory certification for IT information,
telecommunications and RF radio frequency products in the Korean
market, including electromagnetic compatibility testing,
telecommunication testing and radio frequency testing. The Korea
Broadcasting and Communications Commission authorized the Korea
Radio Research Institute (RRA) as the KCC issuing agency. Since
January 1, 2011, the original Korean KCC logo will be uniformly
converted to KC, so KCC certification and KC certification use the
same certification logo, the difference is that the KCC
certification logo will have a KCC ID number below it.
| 项目 Item | UL | cTUVus | ETL |
| 发证资格 Certification qualifications | 美国NRTL(国家认可实验室)和加拿大标准局SCC
US NRTL (Nationally Recognized Laboratory) and Canadian Standards
Bureau SCC |
| 认可机构 Accreditation body |
| 认证市场 Certification market | 北美(美国及加拿大) North America (United States and Canada) |
| 颁证及测试机构 | UL美华试验室检测并出具结案信 | LCS测试 LCS test | LCS测试 LCS test |
| Certification and testing agencies | UL Meihua Laboratory tests and issues a closing letter | TUV发证 TUV certification | ITS发证 ITS certification |
| 申请时间 Lead time | 5-12weeks | 3-4weeks | 3-4weeks |
| 参考 Reference |
| 申请费用 Application fee | 相比三者比较贵 More expensive than the three | 费用比较优惠 The cost is relatively favorable | 费用比较优惠 The cost is relatively favorable |
| 优势 Advantage | 美国本土机构,认可度最高 美加地区老牌认证机构 | 国际认证机构,权威而不昂贵 | 美国本土机构,认可度高
Native American institutions with high recognition |
| A local institution in the United States with the highest degree of
recognition. | International certification body, authoritative and not expensive |
| A long-established certification agency in the United States and
Canada. | 同样得到美国NRTL的认可
Also recognized by the US NRTL |
| 劣势 Disadvantages | 因为是老牌机构,测试,厂检及档案费最高,周期较长. | 北美市场品牌知名度 稍低于UL | 北美市场品牌知名度 稍低于UL |
| Because it is an old institution, testing, factory inspection and
filing fees are the highest and the cycle is longer. | Brand awareness in the North American market is slightly lower than
UL | Brand awareness in the North American market is slightly lower than
UL |
