1. Who we are
ELOT Electric Cables Laboratory, was established in 1984, to facilitate the development of Greek laboratories infrastructure in safety requirements of Electric Cables, acc. to the 73/23 EEC Low Voltage Directive requirements (currently 2006/95/EU) , as it was incorporated in the Greek legislation with MD 470/04-04-85.
Electric Cables Laboratory, was assessed to the requirements of CENELEC HAR scheme and since 1988, is accepted as the one and only Greek Laboratory in the HAR Certification scheme, that is entitled to issue test reports for the Harmonized certification mark <HAR>. Currently, it is also holding the secretariat of the annual OSM HAR meeting.
The laboratory is located in Athens, Greece, in the same building with the Low Voltage Laboratory and Toys – Playgrounds Laboratory. It is incorporating processes for: sample preparation and conditioning, mechanical and electrical tests, construction requirements and characteristics and flame propagation tests. It is equipped with modern and high class testing equipment, calibrated systematically to documented procedures. Test equipment is continuously upgraded, to the updated standards requirements.
The Ministry of Development is using the services of the Electric Cables Laboratory, for the local market surveillance, according to the requirements of 2006/95/EU Directive.
The laboratory has been accredited to ELOT EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 by ESYD (Cert. No. 218). The accreditation certificate, provides a formal recognition that the laboratory is in position to carry out specific tasks, with impartiality and competence, providing trusted and reliable services.
2. Provided services
1. Conducts tests, according to ELOT (national) or European standards (CENELEC EN’s or HD’s).
2. Provides Test Reports that prove the safety of Electric Cables, to the requirements of EUor National legislation.
3. Type or Surveillance test reports and results, required for the maintenance or award of ELOT HAR ( harmonized European mark) or ELOT ( national) mark and license.
4. Testing of market surveillance samples, for the ministry of Development.
5. Technical help and information in :
• The preparation of the CE technical file
• The conformity of produced cables to the current harmonized standards
• Quality control of the produced lots
• The requirements of the standards for suitable testing equipment
• The conformity assessment of procured quantities of electric cables.
• The expected changes of the standards, through the participation of our staff in the international and European bodies of standardization, certification and testing.
3. Testing
Our laboratory is currently testing:
1. Thermoplastic insulated cables (PVC) to the following standards:
HD 21 series / ELOT 563, ELOT EN 50363, ELOT EN 50395, ELOT EN 50396
2. Cross linked insulated cables ( rubber) to the following standards:
HD 22 series / ELOT 623, ELOT EN 50363, ELOT EN 50395, ELOT EN 50396.
Test methods currently used, are:
ELOT EN 60811 series, ELOT EN 50265, ELOT EN 50266, ELOT EN 50267, ELOT EN 50268, ELOT EN 60228, ELOT EN 60332.
Furthermore, the laboratory can test other products or materials ( i.e. data cables, copper tubes, installation material), to testing methods that incorporate the currently available equipment and/or measurement range.
4. Legal framework
The regulatory framework, related to the electrotechnical products operated in defined Voltage limits (75V to 1000Vac and 75V to 1500Vdc), is referred in the Directive 2006/95/EC (December 2006). According to the Directive, manufacturers producing electrotechnical products are obliged to put on the marking plate of the product the CE marking under their responsibility.
For affixing the CE marking, the manufacturer has to prepare a technical file with all necessary documents regarding the safety of the product. In particular the file must contain:
a) Detailed technical prescription of the product, referring the technical data of the components and composition of insulating parts.
b) Constructional drawings of the product, photos, electric diagram and complete list of components.
c) Test reports for safety and for electromagnetic compatibility (if applicable), according to relevant European standards.
d) Declaration of Conformity signed and stamped by the manufacturer.
e) One instruction manual, a marking plate and certificates of components shall be included in the file.
The technical file is kept by the manufacturer at the manufacturing location and it must be presented on request to the Authorities.
5. Advantages in your cooperation with Electric Cables Laboratory
1. Cooperation with a laboratory continuously assessed by European HAR Assessors and accredited by ESYD.
2. Experience in cables testing
3. Scientific work, trained testers and technical stuff.
4. Cooperation with internationally accepted bodies and participations in inter laboratory comparison schemes.
5. Objectivity, impartiality and advanced communication for any development in the sectors of standards and tests, as well as for certification and safety requirements.
6. Test Reports are also available in English language, facilitating their use abroad.
7. Possibility to lower the testing cost, by subscribing your company as a member of ELOT.
Procedure for submitting an Application for Testing
When an application form is to be submitted, the following procedure has to be applied:
a) Submit one sample of 50 – 100 m for each different type of cable to be tested.
b) Please note that the sample has to be packed according to the usual practice of your company having in mind that any visual defect caused by transportation will lead us not to accept the sample.
c) Duly fill our test application form (name and address of the client, requested test(s), sample description, and relevant standard(s)). Our application form is available in our premises, by our web site (www.elot.gr), by fax or by e-mail.
d) The request form, completed by our personnel with the cost calculation, has to be duly signed by the requesting company and our laboratory.
e) The cost of the tests is subjected to (+) 19% V.A.T.
f) Our price list is available upon request.
f) Our Test Report form, referring to the requested tests, will be mailed to the applicant or delivered in the agreed way) within approximately 60 days from the receipt of payment, depending on the work load of the laboratory and the number of time consuming tests requested.