(openPR) - From January 1st 2008, all new equipment that receives radio transmissions from telecare devices must comply with new European ‘Class 1’ standards to maintain legality of CE-marking.

04 February 2008 – Leading industry body the Telecare Services Association is helping to promote a new Class 1 standard that came into effect from 1st January 2008. The organisation is informing Telecare and Social Alarm equipment providers that from January 2008, all new equipment delivered must incorporate Class 1 radio receivers in order to comply with new European legislation.

The Telecare Services Association provided the clear information within the latest edition of ‘theLink’ Telecare industry magazine. It states that the ‘standard becomes normative this year. This means that, throughout Europe, new equipment sold in 2008 must meet this standard’.

The article then highlights the significance of the new safety standard to Telecare providers saying that ‘Equipment needs to carry CE marking to be legally sold in the EU, and that social alarm receiver product can not be CE-marked without conforming to this mandatory standard’.

The use of Class 1 receivers within Telecare/Social Alarms will significantly enhance reassurance for users as the receivers are specifically designed to ensure that signals from personal radio triggers carried by service users and telecare sensors within their homes are picked up reliably by the telecare/social alarm and are not blocked by other transmissions therefore ensuring the safety of service users.

Tunstall confirms that independent laboratory testing has shown that its social alarm radio receiving equipment (including Lifeline home units and Communicall grouped housing systems) is compliant with the new EN300-220-2 Class 1 standard, and thereby maintains CE-marking. This will assure purchasers and users of Tunstall products that they are designed to the highest and latest applicable safety standards. Independent test lab certification can be made available on request.

Mike Hodges, Research & Development Director at Tunstall said: “Tunstall gives priority to compliance with current and emergent safety standards. We have been complying with EN300-220 and manufacturing Class 1 receivers in our social alarm equipment for a number of years. Therefore, we have seen the latest move to the mandatory and higher specification Class 1 standard as a logical step forward.

We will continue to pursue the highest levels of safety and reliability to ensure that users are not put at unnecessary risk, and to ensure that buyers are provided with legal equipment that is compliant with all necessary technical standards”.

Whilst Tunstall does provide service and support for other suppliers’ equipment, the company cannot provide reassurance on Class 1 compliance for those products not manufactured by Tunstall. It is recommended that purchasers of Telecare and Social Alarm systems seek written clarification from their supplier/manufacturer to ensure that all new social alarm equipment being delivered conforms to the new standard.

Background

The upgraded EN300 220-2 V2.1.2 safety standard, which came into effect on 1st January 2008 following a 1 year manufacturer grace period, classifies radio receivers into three categories Class 1, 2 and 3. It states that Class 2 and 3 receivers should be used only for ‘devices where failure to operate does not constitute a safety hazard’. Class 1 receivers are for use within ‘devices servicing systems where failure may result in a physical risk to a person’.

It is for this reason that EN 300 220-2 mandates Class 1 for social/telecare alarms as follows: ‘Social alarm receivers shall meet the following requirements for Class 1 receivers’ and goes on to list the specific Class 1 requirements for Social Alarms.

Class 1 receivers significantly enhance reassurance for users and are specifically designed to ensure radio transmissions from related devices are picked up reliably and are not interfered with by transmissions from other radio devices. This means that signals from personal radio triggers carried by service users and telecare sensors within their homes are picked up reliably by the telecare/social alarm and are not blocked by other transmissions therefore ensuring the safety of service users.

For more information on the new European standard or Tunstall’s range of telecare solutions, contact 01977 660479 or visit www.tunstall.co.uk/class1.

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Tunstall Contact
Stephen Aryan
01977 661234
stephen.aryan@tunstall.co.uk

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Context
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About Tunstall
Tunstall is the market leading provider of telecare and telehealth solutions, with over 2.5 million users globally. Tunstall’s solutions support older people and those with long-term needs, to live independently, by effectively managing their health and well-being. Tunstall provides technology, expertise and advice to millions of people enabling them to lead independent more fulfilling lives. For more information on how telecare and telehealth can improve quality of life, visit www.tunstall.co.uk