Electrical Safety (KC)
· KC
KC certification is the compulsory product safety control system in Korea. It is supervised by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea which formulates related laws, enforcement decrees and rules on product safety.
More than 730 types of products are now being regulated under the KC certification umbrella, with consumer goods and especially electronic products being a major contributing factor.
However, electric appliances are the most important product category for the KC certification, and most electronic products that use the Korean voltage of 220V AC have to be KC certified according to the Electrical Appliances and Consumer Goods Safety Management Act. In general, electronic devices with more than 30V (AC) or 42V (DC) usually require a KC certification.
KC Certification for electrical appliance safety is a mandatory product certification scheme which requires KC marking before they can be sold in the Korean market to prevent risks regarding safety accidents caused by fire, electric shock and other hazards or interferences from electrical appliances. This scheme can be grouped into the following three categories:
1. Safety Certification
2. Safety Confirmation
3. Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity
· Safety Certification(KC)
Electrical products that pose a potential danger for users have to obtain a KC Safety Certification. This certification scheme requires testing in an accredited lab as well as a factory audit.
In order to uphold the validity of the certificate, regular follow-up inspections and product tests are necessary.
| Global Electrical Safety Certification Scheme | |
|---|---|
| Korea, South | KC Safety Certification |
| US | NRTL(UL,CTIA,CSA,MET) |
| Europe | CE, ROHS |
| China | CCC |
| Japan | PSE |
| Germany | GS |
| Others | SNI, NOM, SEC, RCM, INMETRO, S-MARK, BIS, ISC, PSB, etc. |
· Electrical Safety Scheme
| 구분 | 마크 | 절차 |
| Safety Certification |  | Product Testing + Factory Inspection → Certification → Sales |
| Safety Confirmation |  | Product Testing → Registration → Sales |
| Supplier's Declaration of Conformity |  | Product Testing → Sales |
· Safety Certification(KC) Flow Chart
Documents Required |
Application Form |
Business License or Factory Registration Certificate |
Questionnaires (when applying for initial certification) |
Circuit Diagrams |
User's Manual (in Korean) |
KC or CB Certificates of Critical Components and Insulation Materials |
Transformer Specification |
KC-Mark Design |
Delegation Letter of Attorney (if agent applies) |
Product Samples |
· Safety Confirmation(KC) and Flow Chart
Electrical equipment that is classified as less dangerous for users usually falls under the KC Safety Confirmation. This scheme requires tests in a designated accredited test lab and an official registration with the authority. The manufacturer does not have to go through factory audits and the KC certificate is valid for 5 years.
Documents Required |
Application Form |
Business License or Factory Registration Certificate |
Questionnaires (when applying for initial certification) |
Circuit Diagrams |
User's Manual (in Korean) |
KC or CB Certificates of Critical Components and Insulation Materials |
Transformer Specification |
KC-Mark Design |
Delegation Letter of Attorney (if agent applies) |
Product Samples |
· Supplier's Declaration of Conformity(KC) and Flow Chart
This certification mode is only applicable for electronic products which are classified as not dangerous for users as determined by the certification authority. Under the KC Supplier Confirmation, the applicant’s own test results or those from a third-party test lab can be used to show compliance. However, the applicant has to ensure that the tests are conducted according to Korean standards and test methods. No official registration or audit is required, but the manufacturer has to ensure that the labeling requirements are fulfilled.
| Documents Required |
User's Manual |
SDoC Test Results (including sample photographs) |
CB Test Report |
· Summary
Item | Safety Certification | Safety Confirmation | SDoC | |
Product Testing | Safety Testing | O | O | Self Safety Test |
Factory Inspection | Facility Inspections | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | |
Raw Material & Process | ||||
Calibration of Inspection Facilities | ||||
Certification or Registration | Certification | Registration | ||
Routine Inspection | Product Testing | O | No Inspection/ 5 Years of Validity | |
Routine Factory Inspection | ||||
※ Marking Lebel
KC Certification Number:
KC Confirmation Number: