1. Scope and Purpose of CSA C22.2 No. 243-17

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1. Scope and Purpose of CSA C22.2 No. 243-17

CSA C22.2 No. 243-17, formally titled “Safety of Information Technology Equipment, Including Electrical Business Equipment,” is the national standard of Canada for the safety of information technology equipment (ITE). It is technically identical and harmonized with the international IEC 60950-1 (2nd Edition) and US UL 60950-1. This standard establishes comprehensive requirements to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, injury to personnel, and property damage for a broad range of equipment.

The scope of this standard covers devices designed for operation in a business, home, or data center environment, including but not limited to:

• Personal computers, servers, and workstations.
• Networking infrastructure equipment (routers, switches, hubs).
• Data storage systems and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
• Point-of-sale terminals, calculators, and cash registers.
• Printers, scanners, and fax machines.
• Telecommunications equipment connected to telecom networks.

2. Core Technical Requirements

CSA C22.2 No. 243-17 employs a hazard-based and performance-oriented approach to safety. The standard analyzes four primary energy hazards: electrical, fire, mechanical, and thermal. Compliance is verified through a combination of design assessments and specific type tests. Key technical benchmarks include:

2.1 Protection Against Electric Shock

Protection against electric shock is achieved through a layered approach. Equipment is classified by construction type, and the standard mandates strict adherence to insulation coordination:

• Protective Earthing (Class I): Reliable grounding of all accessible conductive parts.
• Double or Reinforced Insulation (Class II): No reliance on protective earthing, relying solely on robust insulation systems.
• Limited Current Circuits (LCC): Circuits designed to be safe to touch under normal and single-fault conditions.

2.2 Fire Prevention and Enclosure Integrity

To prevent the spread of fire from internal sources, the standard specifies strict requirements for enclosures and internal materials.

3. Implementation and Testing Highlights

Implementing CSA C22.2 No. 243-17 requires a systematic engineering approach. Certification is generally obtained through an accredited NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory), such as CSA Group, UL, or Intertek. Key testing phases include:

• Dielectric Voltage Withstand Test (Hi-Pot): Verifying insulation integrity between primary circuits and accessible parts.
• Abnormal Operations and Fault Conditions: Simulating component failures (e.g., a shorted semiconductor) to ensure fire or shock hazards do not result.
• Temperature Measurement: Confirming that all components operate within their rated temperature limits under normal and abnormal load conditions.
• Touch Current Measurement: Ensuring touch current on accessible metal parts is below the prescribed limits (e.g., 0.5 mA for portable equipment).

The standard places a strong emphasis on the evaluation of single fault conditions to guarantee fail-safe operation. For example, a short-circuit across a primary-side capacitor must be evaluated to ensure it does not create an open flame or expose hazardous live parts.

4. Compliance, Certification, and Market Access

For products intended for the Canadian market, compliance with CSA C22.2 No. 243-17 has historically been a key benchmark. The standard is referenced by provincial and territorial electrical codes as the safety benchmark for IT equipment under the Canadian Electrical Code (CE Code, Part I).

Certification Marks: To demonstrate compliance, products must bear a recognized certification mark from an accredited body, such as the CSA Mark (issued by CSA Group) or the cUL Mark (issued by UL).

4.1 Transition to IEC 62368-1 (Hazard-Based Standard)

While CSA C22.2 No. 243-17 remains relevant for legacy product service and field evaluations, the industry has largely transitioned to the next-generation hazard-based standard, CSA C22.2 No. 62368-1 (Audio/Video, Information and Communication Technology Equipment). Manufacturers developing new products should design directly to CSA C22.2 No. 62368-1 to ensure continued market access and compliance with the most current safety requirements. AHJs may require up-to-date certification to the 62368 series for new installations.

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