Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League (PEARL) Board Expected to Approve 23 New Electrical Reconditioning Standards at Annual Conference

AURORA, CO – To keep the electrical industry informed of breaking news on technical standards, products, and safety procedures, the Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League (PEARL) is launching PEARL $AFE, the trade association’s new monthly electronic newsletter.

In addition to bringing you the latest news on electrical products, standards, and testing from around the electrical industry, PEARL $AFE’s inaugural issue also marks the 5th update to PEARL’s more than 100 technical standards on the reconditioning of electrical devices from circuit breakers to transformers, including 23 newly proposed standards for low- and medium-voltage devices. PEARL’s Executive Board is expected to formally review the proposed standards at its 12th Electrical Safety and Reliability Conference to be held April 18-20 in Atlanta, GA. As always, the latest standards will be available for free to the public on PEARL’s website www.pearl1.org shortly after the conference.

PEARL Adds Electrical Standards, Seeks Input

In addition to minor ‘housecleaning’ changes to PEARL’s 137 electrical apparatus reconditioning standards, Revision 5 includes 23 proposed standards on a variety of devices, including disconnect and safety switches, relays, circuit breakers and electrical accessories. PEARL’s Technical Committee expects to address the association’s more than 100 Inspect & Test Standards for electrical devices during future revisions. Both sets of standards are available to the public for free at PEARL’s website; however, the 23 newly proposed standards contained in Revision 5 will not be formally adopted until the following PEARL Board meeting this fall. All PEARL standards are based on the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) operating and repair manuals and reviewed by third party independent engineers.

“The standards proposed for Revision 5 are important additions. Various relays, for instance, are used in my electrical systems. Rather than attempt to write standards for every electrical system, we’ve opted to address the most important components for the vast majority of electrical apparatus,” explained PEARL Technical Committee co-chair and President of Coastal Switchgear & Controls Inc. (Angleton, TX), Malcom Frederick.

New standards for medium-voltage switchgear and transformers are expected to be the highlights of Revision 6 of PEARL’s electrical reconditioning standards, according to PEARL Technical Committee co-chair and President of Oregon Breakers Inc. (Portland, OR), Stephen Reames. "Revision 6 should fill in some of the few remaining blanks in the PEARL Reconditioning Standards,” Reames said. “We could really use some expertise in transformers. Anyone interested should email us or call PEARL at 1-877-287-3275."

Following the conference later this month, PEARL’s Technical Committee will begin revision 6 with the intention to deliver recommendations to the full Board by next Spring’s conference.

About PEARL:
Founded in 1997, the Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League (PEARL) creates, collects, and disseminates information, policies, procedures, and standards to ensure the proper recycling and reuse of electrical power equipment. Its 70+ corporate members must meet strict technical, safety, and operational requirements.

Editorial Contact Winn Hardin Marketing Director Tel: 904-246-8958 winnhardin@pearl1.org

Association Manager Mark Stone Tel: 877-AT-PEARL Fax: 888-996-3296 pearl@pearl1.org