APRIL 12, 2013
CPSC staff participates as a non-voting member on Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standards Technical Panel (STP) for UL 2201 Portable Engine-Generator Assemblies, which UL issued as a standard in March 2009. Staff’s primary interest is to reduce the carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning hazard associated with this product. As of June 2010, the CPSC databases contain records of at least 542 deaths from CO poisoning associated with consumers’ use of generators in the period from 1999 through 2009.
Staff recommends that requirements be developed to address consumer exposure to unsafe CO emissions. Staff also advocates the establishment of requirements for safe outdoor use of generators in rain or other wet conditions, to reduce the potential risk of shock or electrocution and to help reduce the incidence of consumers improperly using generators in indoor locations. UL 2201 currently has requirements for rainproof enclosures, weather-resistant and weather-protected receptacles, and ground-fault circuit-interrupters on 125-volt AC output circuits.
Related Regulation
Letters and Comments
- September 16, 2016
PGMA Letter to Chairman Kaye - March 6, 2015
CPSC Staff Comments on PGMA's Revised Draft Standard - January 5, 2015
CPSC Staff Comments to PGMA Concerning Draft Safety Standard For Portable Generators - August 19, 2014
PGMA Seeks Canvass Members for Draft Safety Standard for Portable Generators - February 11, 2014
UL Requests Volunteers for Task Group for Portable Generators - January 14, 2014
CPSC staff request for UL working group and staff recommendations to address CO hazard posed by portable generators - January 12, 2016
CPSC Staff’s comments for the UL 2201 “Standard for Portable Engine-Generator Assemblies” CO Task Group, Subgroup for Emissions Test Method Development, concerning referenced PGMA correspondence - October 7, 2015
CPSC Staff Proposal for Determining Carbon Monoxide Emissions from Portable Generators in a Reduced Oxygen Environment Using the Dilution Chamber Method - February 17, 2015
Draft Test Method for UL 2201 Task Group for Determining CO Emission Rate of Portable Generators - July 2, 2014
CPSC Staff Presentation: Recommendations to UL 2201 for Shutoff System Requirements and Investigations of Various Shutoff Concepts - May 13, 2014
CPSC Staff Presentation: Recommendations on Revisions to UL 2201 - March 7, 2014
Portable Generator Manufacturers’ Association Response to CPSC Staff Letter to UL - June 12, 2013
Public Comments to CPSC on NIST Technical Note 1781 - January 23, 2013
Public Comments on CPSC staff report Technology Demonstration of a Prototype Low Carbon Monoxide Emission Portable Generator - December 17, 2007
CPSC Staff Comments on Request for Comments and Ballot on Subject 2201 - July 16, 2007
CPSC Staff Comments on Proposal for UL 2201 Edition 1 - March 15, 2006
CPSC Staff Comments on UL’s Draft Outline of Investigation - February 13, 2006
CPSC Staff Comments on UL’s Draft Outline of Investigation - January 31, 2005
Request for Comments on UL correspondence dated December 10, 2004 pertaining to Subject 2201 Portable Engine Generator Assemblies - September 14, 2004
Request for Comments on UL correspondence dated May 21, 2004 pertaining to Subject 2201 Portable Engine Generator Assemblies - October 22, 2003
Request for Comments on the Proposed 1st Edition of the Standard for Portable Engine-Generator Assemblies - May 8, 2003
Request for Comments on the Proposed 1st Edition of the Standard for Portable Engine-Generator Assemblies
Meetings
- November 18, 2010
Introductory meeting with Portable Generator Manufacturers Association - September 17, 2007
Portable Generator Meeting with Aratari Enterprises