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Laboratory

Visit a Product Testing Laboratory

Pretest products to ANSI/UL safety standards in a product testing laboratory to root out problem areas prior to NRTL submission. Our laboratory has been audited and accredited under CSA’s, ETL’s, and UL’s data acceptance programs such that test results are used to promulgate the safety approvals with no need for further NRTL testing and delays. It has also been assessed as competent by annual engineering audits in over 100 tests. We shoulder all regular NRTL audit costs to help you save hundreds of thousands from these recurring audits.

Team of Computer Engineers Lean on the Desk and Choose Printed Circuit Boards to Work with

Testing a product under a product safety program is fast, easy, and dependable in our accredited laboratory. We provide quick, reliable, and internationally accepted testing manned by a professional test laboratory team, seasoned and thorough in their work. They are not contract employees, but permanent, well-trained laboratory experts.

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Laboratory product safety testing is an area often seen as a problem, rather than a benefit. We know from experience that accurate, reproducible, and repeatable data is of paramount importance, but many still wonder why product safety testing is important.

We’ve seen the same scenario played out since 1980 in NRTL laboratories and in manufacturers’ own laboratories, where a test indicated a failure. Upon further investigation, it was found that the test method, data collection, or the technician was the cause of the failure. False failure test results can lead to delays, escalating costs, and/or tooling changes that could have been avoided.

The second scenario involves a test that passed the requirements in the applicable safety standard, but a critical quality control issue was missed. This resulted in a field failure, which is costly to remediate and damages business reputation. The lesson here is not to take unnecessary chances with data that compromises safety or quality.

When having product tests with a third-party laboratory, always ask for the laboratory accreditation certificate issued by A2LA or NVLAP, the only two ILAC-approved assessors. Sadly, some laboratories claim to have accreditation to provide international data when they don’t.

Laboratory Product Tests

Our environmental laboratory is qualified to conduct water spray, rain, sprinkler, and Immersion tests. The critical element in conducting water exposure testing is identifying the failure source for the manufacturers. Knowing that we can be part of the solution to the problem is comforting and ultimately is a significant factor in keeping test problems from derailing a project.

As is the case with most of the tests we conduct, duplicate rain chambers come up, along with duplicate humidity/oven/freezer chambers, allowing large programs to be truncated where various parts are being run simultaneously. Nevertheless, quick service results are a way of life at Wilger Testing, and we value your support by providing a well-equipped laboratory.

Thermal aging of thermoplastic or thermosetting materials is especially critical, as any failure of a polymeric part can be catastrophic to our manufacturers. With oven testing, we have helped many manufacturers meet the safety specification requirements while waiting for ovens or test protocols from an NRTL.

Having your product subjected to short- and long-term oven aging tests is always a tense period, but be assured that our experienced engineers and technicians are professionals at helping your product pass the test. Should a questionable result occur, we will provide feedback on what material should be used to meet the specification.

Our staff has over 176 years of combined experience conducting thermal tests. This unprecedented experience level in conducting thousands of temperature tests is a major contributor in ensuring the data recorded are irrefutable.

Why is irrefutable data important?

Imagine receiving passing laboratory data that said the data were acceptable, only to find out later that this was recorded under less than perfect conditions and thus rendered invalid. The NRTL will consequently withdraw your listing, and your product may potentially create a fire.

Thermal data is critical to the life of light sources and components, protecting the user from fires. It’s best to keep in mind not to easily fall for laboratory claims, especially those with limited experience in testing your product.

Stability tests carry major consequences should a freestanding product tip over during normal use. Every stability test performed in our laboratory is conducted in a rigorous manner to give you peace of mind that your product meets the current safety requirements.

Our staff includes highly trained and experienced electrical and mechanical engineers who assist laboratory technicians in determining whether a test setup delivers the required force or load. Mechanical tests include deflection, swivel joint torsion and tension, lead pull, bending and twisting motions, just to name a few. Using the wrong test value could fail to uncover a patent defect that can potentially injure a user.

Salt Fog testing to ASTM B117 is conducted in our chamber to ascertain the suitability of the painting (wet or powder) or plating system on ferrous metal, suitability of various stainless steel alloys, and suitability of aluminum parts. The tested parts can be formed or cast metal with test specimens up to four feet long. If you’re looking for corrosion tests, send us a description of your needs, and we will set things up.

We are qualified in portable lamps, ballast, LED drivers, lampholders, luminaires, low voltage landscape lighting, low voltage lighting, enclosures for electrical equipment, and all LED products. Please refer to our ANAB accreditation for all electrical tests conducted in our laboratory.

Our sphere is perfect for small luminaires and lamps to ascertain if your product can qualify for LM-79 clauses 9.1 and 12.0. We invite you to rent our laboratory for your R&D programs to conduct initial tests and make modifications on site.

Electrical cord sets and leads all have limits at which they could abrade and/or fail. We can test to various safety standards to qualify your construction.

These tests are conducted by dropping a metal ball from the required distance or by the pendulum method such that the required force is applied to the subject. The test samples may be at room ambient temperature or subjected to oven and/or conditioning. Care is required not to cause a failure by misapplying the force. Nevertheless, this should be applied in the direction or orientation most likely to stress the product.

Our technicians are highly experienced in conducting impact tests over a 35-year span of testing different products. In this regard, keep in mind not to subject your design to testing methods that are too extreme or, in some cases, not extreme enough.

Whether it’s a hardwood floor or another surface, we know how to conduct this simple yet complex test. For drop tests, don’t accept a failure as correct unless it is conducted in our laboratory under exacting conditions. We have been referred many drop tests from other laboratories with failure results using a test method that, when applied in our laboratory, yielded acceptable results.

Proficiency in drop testing can only be achieved after conducting several tests on many different products. Our staff has the experience to conduct the test properly.

Dielectric tests determine if an insulation system fails in a mode that does not allow dead metal or exposed parts to be energized, creating an electrical shock hazard. We also use dielectric tests to determine spacings on printed wiring boards and other terminations. The test is likewise conducted on lam holders and terminal blocks per the applicable standard.

In some dielectric tests, there are cases where the dielectric voltage level exceeded the limit and failed to provide feedback to clients as to what voltage level can be applied to an insulation system, forcing a breakdown. This gives our clients that extra peace of mind, knowing that their design exceeds that required by the safety specification.

Wilger Testing has tested and qualified a majority of the track lighting systems used in the US and Canada. Our experience in track lighting is surpassed by no other single laboratory, so if you need your track system tested, Wilger Testing can perform the entire program in record time and assist you with solutions that may occur with test failures.

Most manufacturers are concerned that their new technology, manufacturing process, or product does not create problems in the field or fail prematurely. Wilger Testing has demonstrated experience in helping manufacturers stay clear of these time-consuming, profit-robbing situations by stressing the components to simulate 5,10, or 20 years of service. Wilger Testing is at your service to develop a custom program for your products to simulate various failure modes.

Air infiltration can waste energy used for heat and air-conditioned spaces. Wilger Testing is qualified to conduct ASTM E283 on your product range.

If you were ever involved in a dispute with a user, component manufacturer, or an NRTL, an audit test conducted by our laboratory and reviewed by our engineering staff can prove to be invaluable in protecting your interests and possibly saving your reputation and the costs incurred for correcting the deficiencies that your product never caused.

Another reason for conducting referee testing in our laboratory is to refute claims made by a user, an electrical contractor, or a municipal inspector. A Wilger Testing accredited report can substantiate your position and reduce unwarranted field modifications.