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North America (US & Canada)

This section details the regulatory requirements and certification strategy for the United States and Canada.

United States (FCC & UL)

Radio & EMC (FCC)

The EverTag system falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for both unintentional and intentional electromagnetic emissions.

  • Unintentional Radiator (FCC Part 15 Subpart B): Applies to the Power Base Module and the general digital circuitry of the Connectivity Module. The Power Base Module is a Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) and therefore an unintentional radiator. It must comply with FCC Part 15B conducted and radiated emission limits via the Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) procedure. Under SDoC, testing does not legally require an external FCC-accredited lab; the manufacturer/supplier can perform the testing in-house, provided they have the proper calibrated equipment (e.g., LISN, EMI receiver, anechoic chamber) to execute the ANSI C63.4 measurement standard.
  • Intentional Radiator (FCC Part 15 Subpart C): Applies to the wireless transmitters (BLE, WiFi, LTE) on the Connectivity Module.
  • Intentional Radiator (FCC Part 15.255): Specifically applies to the 60 GHz radar module.

(Note: Evaluation of the LTE modem and 60 GHz radar is deferred to Phase 2 of the certification strategy.)

Safety (NRTL)

The high-voltage Power Base Module requires certification by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). CargoBeacon AB is the product owner for the ETL certification. The device is a custom NEMA 5-15 outlet product with an integrated USB power supply for use in private homes in the United States.

  • UL 498: Standard for Attachment Plugs and Receptacles (NEMA 5-15 receptacle).
  • UL 1310: Standard for Class 2 Power Units (USB Class 2 power unit). This is critical because it limits the power output to the Connectivity Module, keeping it outside the high-voltage safety domain.
  • UL/IEC 62368-1: Standard for Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment. This is the modern standard for overall system safety.

Environmental

  • California Proposition 65: Requires warnings if the product contains certain chemicals.
  • TSCA: Toxic Substances Control Act compliance.

Canada (ISED & CSA)

Radio & EMC (ISED)

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) regulates radio and EMC. Testing is typically performed concurrently with FCC testing as the standards are highly harmonized.

  • ICES-003: Information Technology Equipment (including Digital Apparatus). Equivalent to FCC Part 15B.
  • RSS-210 / RSS-247: Radio Standards Specifications for licence-exempt radio apparatus. Equivalent to FCC Part 15C.

Safety

Safety requirements in Canada are harmonized with the US. An NRTL mark with a "c" indicator (e.g., cULus, cETLus) demonstrates compliance with Canadian national standards (CSA).

Certification Strategy

  1. Concurrent Testing: FCC and ISED testing will be conducted simultaneously at an accredited test lab to minimize costs and time.
  2. Modular Approvals: We will leverage the FCC/ISED modular approvals of our pre-certified RF modules (nRF54L15, ESP32-C5, SIM7672E, Acconeer A121) to avoid full intentional radiator testing where possible. See Modular Integration for details.
  3. NRTL Certification: We will engage an NRTL early in the design process for the Power Base Module to ensure compliance with UL 498, UL 1310, and UL/IEC 62368-1.