Consumer Products

Principia regularly tests a wide range of consumer products for both design performance and regulatory compliance. We have the facilities for performing custom tests to assist manufacturers in assessing the performance of their products, and to help them improve the design or manufacturing process. We also perform many standardized tests such as those required by regulatory agencies or certification laboratories. Often, clients choose to have us asses the performance of their products prior to submitting to a certification lab for approval.

Example: Edge Sharpness Testing to UL1439

The picture on the left shows our edge sharpness tester in use on the edge of a filing cabinet drawer.

Principia conducts edge sharpness testing of consumer products per Underwriters Laboratories, UL Standard for Safety for Tests for Sharpness of Edges on Equipment, UL 1439. Except for products that must be sharp in order to perform properly, the edges and surfaces of a product should not cause a cut-type injury when contacted during normal use or user maintenance. The requirements of the standard include a test procedure to be used to determine the potential personal injury related to the sharpness of edges that are part of or associated with appliances and equipment. The test procedure prescribes the use of a sharp edge tester as seen in Figure A. The general specifications of the tester are that it applies a constant 1 ½ pound force to the subject edge as the tester is moved two inches along its length and back, and that it apply this force through three layers of special tape wrapped around a ½ inch diameter mandrel. The edge fails the test if both of the two outer layers of special tape are cut through.