CSA Approval Process for Food Equipment

Designing food equipment that is safe, reliable, and functional is a challenging feat, and most manufacturers want their customers to have confidence that their equipment meets all applicable regulatory standards. CSA, otherwise known as the Canadian Standards Association, is a group that tests and awards all types of equipment with the certifications they need to show that all standards are met.

Because CSA is a global provider of all things certification, inspection, and testing with a presence in over 14 countries, the group provides different levels of certifications that can be tailor-made to fit the regulations of the region as well as the product. Today, we’ll discuss the CSA approval and certification process for its North American market, which consists of the United States and Canada.

Screenshot via CSA Group

Let’s take a look at the necessary steps that must be taken to obtain a CSA certification for food equipment:

1. Contact the CSA Group
2. Provide proof of relevant product information
3. Consult a CSA representative about certification type
4. Attach the CSA mark

Keep reading to find out what’s involved in each of these steps in the approval process.

1. Contact the CSA Group

Your very first step in getting your food equipment product CSA-certified is to get in touch with the CSA Group. There are three ways you can do this:

• Call +1(866) 797-4272
• Email an inquiry to [email protected]
• Complete a quote request. If you choose this communication method, be prepared to provide detailed info and descriptions of the product.

To speed up the process, contact the CSA Group when your product is ready for inspection, not before. If you have any questions about certification while you’re in the design process, review the CSA Codes and Standards.

2. Provide Relevant Product Information

Now that you’ve initiated contact with the CSA Group, it’s time to provide the organization with all of the product information they need to certify the food equipment. Here are the basics that you’ll need to supply to the group:

• Contact and company information, including the addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of the company headquarters, as well as the facility where the food equipment will be used.
• General information about the product, such as a formal product description, the scope of use, and how the product will be used and maintained in the facility.
• All states, countries, and territories where the product will be sold and/or used.
• All standards that the product has been designed to meet, as well as any others that it should be tested against.
• Clear, unaltered photographs of the product or prototype.
• Proposed models and catalog numbers (include all variations, even if the product design is the same).
• The name, address, and phone number of the manufacturing facility where the product was made, as well as all info relating to the primary point of contact.

Here are the additional materials that you might need to supply to CSA, provided they correspond to your product:

• A detailed list of the granted and/or pending certification approvals that have been already made on the product.
• Any and all marketing brochures and data sheets for the product.
• A detailed list of all parts and components used in the making of the product. If these are already existing components that hold certifications, include the agency listing numbers. Each component should include the name of the manufacturer, the model or catalog designations, electrical ratings, and CSA file numbers (if applicable).
• Relevant schematics and/or wiring diagrams.

Once all of the above product information has been submitted, you will receive a quote from the CSA group, which includes the estimated time frame for the certification project’s completion date.

3. Consult with a CSA Representative about Certification Type

When all of the above information is received, a representative from the CSA Group will contact you regarding your next steps. This is the point where you will learn more about the framework that your food equipment product will be tested against, including the relevant standards. It’s also when you will learn more about the exact type of CSA certification you need as well as the specific CSA mark that comes with it.

As mentioned, the CSA Group awards several types of certifications depending on the product, manufacturers, use, and location. These include model certifications, witnessed manufacturer’s testing for certification, field certification, and many others.

4. Attach the CSA Mark

Screenshot via CSA Group, depicting examples of North American certification marks

Once you have undergone the entire CSA certification process and you have the final product listing number in-hand, it’s time to attach the CSA mark. Luckily, this is the easiest step in the CSA-certification process, but you will want to make sure that your mark is attached using a quality label that’s durable enough to withstand the equipment’s typical operating environment.

Metalphoto of Cincinnati offers a range of durable custom labels and tags designed for a variety of applications, including machinery and equipment labels, inspection and compliance tags, equipment tags, and more. Metalphoto® Labels and Tags, our most durable and popular material (and a CSA-approved material), are the ideal choice for applications that demand extreme durability, while our Anodized Aluminum Labels and Tags are an economical choice for higher-volume applications and are suitable for applications requiring exceptional abrasion resistance, as well as resistance to chemicals, solvents, and corrosion. Browse our full range of custom labels and tags to find the ideal solution for your company’s needs.