User:Winnhardin/Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League - PEARL

Introduction
The Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League or PEARL is an international professional organization and standards group based in Denver, Colorado. PEARL is focused on developing ethical business practices and technical standards related to inspecting, testing, and reconditioning circuit breakers, transformer, motor controls, switchgear, disconnect switches, protective relays, bus duct, motor starters and other electrical equipment and apparatus used in the electrical distribution systems of commercial, industrial, and utility facilities.

History
PEARL’s original corporate members first came together in Denver, CO, in 1996 to discuss emerging issues surrounding new electronic data interchange (EDI) systems for the ordering and purchase of electric apparatus and equipment for commercial and industrial markets. As a group, these independent suppliers of new, surplus, and used electrical apparatus and equipment for commercial and industrial electrical applications typically were neither members of horizontal electrical industry associations and standards organizations, such as the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), who develops general electrical enclosure and interconnect standards for electrical original equipment manufacturers (OEM); nor vertical trade associations such as the Electrical Apparatus Service Association Inc. (EASA), which develops standards for servicing electrical motors, nor the International Electrical Testing Association (NETA), which develops standards for electrical field testing and field equipment maintenance. EASA and NETA would go on to become standards development groups for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Although OEMs of electrical equipment did develop maintenance and repair documents for their individual company products and offer for-fee remanufacturing services, neither OEM’s nor their trade associations collected these repair documents, standardized the processes from different companies, validated the processes through third party engineering review, or offered them as a group of standards to the electrical industry at large. EASA had developed standards for rewinding electric motors, excluding motor control circuits, NETA had developed the standards to calibrate electrical test equipment used in both EASA and eventually PEARL standards, but in 1996, PEARL’s founding members saw that the industry did not have the technical standards necessary to ensure the safety of reconditioned electrical equipment used by industrial and commercial industries, ranging from circuit breakers and transformer to conduit and bus duct.

As a result of these conditions within the electrical industry, In 1997, 20 charter members formed PEARL to collect, create, and disseminate information, policies, procedures, and standards to ensure the proper recycling and reuse of electrical power equipment, as well as to prevent fraudulent electrical apparatus labeling and misrepresentation of electrical equipment. As of May 25, 2009, PEARL’s 51 corporate voting members and 30 affiliate members, representing more than $500 million in annual sales revenues from companies in the U.S. and Canada, have contributed to the development of 137 electrical Reconditioning Standards for Electrical Equipment ranging from circuit breakers and transformers to conduit and bus duct.

Reconditioning Standards for Electrical Equipment:
The most recent version of the PEARL’s Reconditioning Standards for Electrical Equipment, Revision 5, was posted to the association’s website for free download in April of 2009. Revision 5 includes the following standards which describe the inspection, test and reconditioning of electrical equipment:

Section 1000 General Information
• Forward • Important Notice • Credits • Acknowledgments5 • Standard Terms & Warranties • 1010 PEARL Calibration Standard

Section 1100 Low Voltage Disconnect Switches
• 1110 Low Voltage Disconnect Switches Manually Operated Air Non-Fusible • 1114 Low Voltage Disconnect Switches Manually Operated Air Fusible • 1130 Low Voltage Disconnect Switches Manual Trip Power Non-Fusible • 1134 Low Voltage Disconnect Switches Manual Trip Power Fusible • 1140 Low Voltage Disconnect Switches Electric Trip Power Non-Fusible • 1144 Low Voltage Disconnect Switches Electric Trip Power Fusible • 1150 Low Voltage Safety Switches Single Throw Non-Fusible - PROPOSED • 1154 Low Voltage Safety Switches Single Throw Fusible - PROPOSED • 1170 Low Voltage Disconnect Switches Panelboard Non-Fusible • 1174 Low Voltage Disconnect Switches Panelboard Fusible • 1180 Low Voltage Safety Switches Double Throw Non-Fusible - PROPOSED • 1184 Low Voltage Safety Switches Double Throw Fusible - PROPOSED

Section 1200 Low Voltage Circuit Breakers
• 1211 Low Voltage Molded Case Circuit Breaker with Thermal Magnetic Trip Unit • 1212 Low Voltage Molded Case Circuit Breaker with Solid State Trip Unit • 1214 Low Voltage Molded Case Switches (Non-Automatic Circuit Interrupters) • 1215 Low Voltage Molded Case Motor Circuit Protectors • 1221 Low Voltage Insulated Case Circuit Breakers with Solid State Trip Unit • 1231 Low Voltage Power Circuit Breakers with Series Trip Unit • 1236 Low Voltage Power Circuit Breakers with Solid State Trip Unit

Section 1300 Low Voltage Panelboards, Switchboards & Switchgear
• 1310 Low Voltage Circuit Breaker Panelboards • 1320 Low Voltage Switchboards and Switchgear • 1330 Low Voltage Motor Control Centers

Section 1400 Low Voltage Transformers
• 1410 Low Voltage Transformers Dry-Type (600V AC Max. Primary) • 1420 Low Voltage Transformers Control Power • 1430 Low Voltage Transformers Instrumentation Voltage • 1440 Low Voltage Transformers Instrumentation Current

Section 1500 Low Voltage Motor Control Center Buckets & Enclosed Assemblies
• 1510 Low Voltage Motor Control Center Bucket • 1520 Low Voltage Magnetic Starters Enclosed • 1530 Low Voltage Magnetic Starters Combination

Section 1600 Low Voltage Motor Starters
• 1620 Low Voltage Magnetic Starters Open - NEW 2008

Section 1700 Protection Relays
• 1710 Instantaneous Overcurrent Relay Electromagnetic Attraction - PROPOSED • 1715 Instantaneous Overcurrent Relay Solid State - PROPOSED • 1720 Time Overcurrent Relay Electromagnetic Induction Disk - PROPOSED • 1730 Instantaneous Voltage Electromagnetic Attraction - PROPOSED • 1735 Instantaneous Voltage Solid State - PROPOSED • 1740 Overvoltage Electromagnetic Relay - PROPOSED • 1750 Low Voltage Thermal Overload Relay - NEW 2008 • 1760 Low Voltage Solid State Overload Relay - NEW 2008 • 1765 Low Voltage Solid State Overload Relay Multi Function - NEW 2008

Section 1800 Low Voltage Contactors and Relays
• 1810 Low Voltage AC Contactor - PROPOSED • 1820 Low Voltage AC Control Relay No Time Delay - PROPOSED • 1825 Low Voltage AC Control Relay Time Delay - PROPOSED • 1830 Low Voltage DC Contactor - PROPOSED • 1840 Low Voltage DC Control Relay No Time Delay - PROPOSED • 1845 Low Voltage DC Control Relay Time Delay - PROPOSED

Section 1900 Apparatus Accessories
• 1930 Low Voltage Surge Arrestors - PROPOSED

Section 2000 Low Voltage Bus Duct
• 2010 Low Voltage Bus Duct Plug-In Type • 2020 Low Voltage Bus Duct Feeder Type • 2030 Low Voltage Disconnect Switches Bus Duct Plug-in Non-Fusible • 2035 Low Voltage Disconnect Switches Bus Duct Plug-in Fusible • 2040 Low Voltage Molded Case Circuit Breaker Bus Duct Plug-in • 2050 Low Voltage Molded Case Switch Bus Duct Plug-In - PROPOSED

Section 2100 Medium Voltage Disconnect Switches
• 2110 Medium Voltage Air Disconnect Switches Enclosed Manually Operated Non-Fusible • 2111 Medium Voltage Air Disconnect Switches Enclosed Manually Operated Fusible • 2120 Medium Voltage Air Disconnect Switches Enclosed Electrically Operated Non-Fusible • 2121 Medium Voltage Air Disconnect Switches Enclosed Electrically Operated Fusible • 2130 Medium Voltage Vacuum Disconnect Switches Manually Operated Non-Fusible - PROPOSED • 2131 Medium Voltage Vacuum Disconnect Switches Manually Operated Fusible - PROPOSED • 2140 Medium Voltage Vacuum Disconnect Switches Electrically Operated Non-Fusible - PROPOSED • 2141 Medium Voltage Vacuum Disconnect Switches Electrically Operated Fusible - PROPOSED

Section 2200 Medium Voltage Circuit Breakers & Starters
• 2210 Medium Voltage Circuit Breakers Air • 2220 Medium Voltage Circuit Breakers Vacuum • 2230 SF6 Circuit Breaker – Stored Energy-Spring - PROPOSED • 2250 Medium Voltage Contactors Air • 2260 Medium Voltage Contactors Vacuum

Section 2300 Medium Voltage Switchgear
• 2310 Medium Voltage Switchgear

Section 2400 Medium Voltage Transformers
• 2410 Medium Voltage Transformers Dry Type • 2420 Medium Voltage Transformers Pad Mount Oil-Filled • 2430 Medium Voltage Transformers Pad Mount Gas-Filled • 2440 Medium Voltage Transformers Power Oil-Filled

Section 3100 Low Voltage & Medium Voltage Fuses
• 3110 Low Voltage & Medium Voltage Fuses – Non-Refill Style - NEW 2008 • 3120 Low Voltage & Medium Voltage Fuses – Refill Style - NEW 2008

Section 4100 Low Voltage Wire & Cable
• 4110 Low Voltage Wire and Cable Unshielded – Single Conductor • 4115 Low Voltage Wire and Cable Unshielded – Multiple Conductors • 4120 Low Voltage Wire and Cable Shielded – Single Conductor • 4125 Low Voltage Wire and Cable Shielded – Multiple Conductors

Section 4200 Medium Voltage Wire & Cable
• 4210 Medium Voltage Wire and Cable Unshielded – Single Conductor • 4215 Medium Voltage Wire and Cable Unshielded – Multiple Conductors • 4220 Medium Voltage Wire and Cable Shielded – Single Conductor • 4225 Medium Voltage Wire and Cable Shielded – Multiple Conductors

Section 5100 Metal Conduit, Fittings & Accessories
• 5105 Metal Conduit • 5110 Metal Conduit Fittings Nipples-Threaded Couplings-Elbows • 5120 Metal Conduit Fittings Conduit Outlet Bodies • 5130 Metal Conduit Fittings Connectors and Couplings • 5140 Metal Conduit Fittings Wire and Cable Connectors • 5150 Metal Conduit Fittings Liquid Tight Conduit Connectors • 5160 Metal Conduit Fittings Deflection and Expansion • 5170 Metal Conduit Junction Boxes and Pull Boxes • 5180 Metal Conduit Fittings Miscellaneous

Section 5200 Non-Metallic Conduit, Fittings & Accessories
• 5205 Non-Metallic Conduit • 5210 Non-Metallic Conduit Fittings Nipples-Couplings-Elbows • 5220 Non-Metallic Conduit Fittings Conduit Outlet Bodies • 5230 Non-Metallic Conduit Fittings Connectors and Adapters • 5240 Non-Metallic Conduit Fittings Wire and Cable Connectors • 5250 Non-Metallic Conduit Fittings Liquid Tight Conduit Connectors • 5260 Non-Metallic Conduit Fittings Expansion • 5270 Non-Metallic Conduit Junctions Boxes and Pull Boxes • 5280 Non-Metallic Conduit Fittings Assemblies and Parts • 5290 Non-Metallic Conduit PVC Cement

Section 5300 Explosion Proof Conduit Fittings & Accessories
• 5310 Explosion Proof Conduit Fittings Unions and Elbows • 5315 Explosion Proof Conduit Fittings Reducers • 5320 Explosion Proof Conduit Fittings Conduit Outlet Bodies • 5330 Explosion Proof Conduit Fittings Hubs • 5335 Explosion Proof Conduit Fittings Sealing • 5340 Explosion Proof Conduit Fittings Wire and Cable Connectors • 5350 Explosion Proof Conduit Fittings Flexible Conduit Couplings • 5351 Explosion Proof Conduit Fittings Flexible Conduit Fixture Hangers • 5370 Explosion Proof Conduit Junction Boxes and Pull Boxes • 5380 Explosion Proof Conduit Fittings Miscellaneous • 5390 Explosion Proof Conduit Sealing Cement and Fiber

Section 5400 PVC Coated Metal Conduit, Fittings & Accessories
• 5405 PVC Coated Metal Conduit • 5410 PVC Coated Metal Conduit Fittings Nipples-Threaded Couplings-Elbows • 5420 PVC Coated Metal Conduit Fittings Outlet Bodies • 5430 PVC Coated Metal Conduit Fittings Connectors-Hubs-Couplings • 5440 PVC Coated Metal Conduit Fittings Wire and Cable Connectors • 5450 PVC Coated Metal Conduit Fittings Liquid Tight Conduit Connectors • 5460 PVC Coated Metal Conduit Fittings Deflection and Expansion • 5470 PVC Coated Metal Conduit Junction Boxes and Pull Boxes • 5480 PVC Coated Metal Conduit Fittings Miscellaneous • 5490 PVC Coated Metal Conduit Cement and Patch Compound

Section 6000 Tables
• 6001 Table 1 - U.S. Standard Bus Connection Bolt Torque Values • 6002 Table 2 - Insulation Resistance Test Values for Electrical Apparatus • 6003 Table 3 - Molded Case Circuit Breaker Inverse Time Trip Test Values • 6004 Table 4 - Adjustable Trip Circuit Breaker Instantaneous Trip Setting Tolerances • 6005 Table 5 - Overpotential Test Voltages for Non-Inductive Electrical Apparatus • 6006 Table 6 - Transformer Insulation Resistance Test Values • 6007 Table 7 - Power Factor/Dissipation Factor Recommended Test Voltage Values • 6008 Table 8 - Maximum Allowable Vibration Amplitude Test Values • 6009 Table 9 - Wire and Cable Insulation Resistance Test Values • 6010 Table 10 - Medium Voltage Wire and Cable Maximum Test Voltage Values • 6011 Table 11 - Insulation Resistance Test Temperature Conversion to 20° C Values

PEARL and the Environment
Because the remanufacturing process only consumes about 15% of the energy used to create a new product, remanufacturing in the U.S. saves 400 trillion BTU’s annually, the equivalent of 16 million barrels of crude oil, or enough gasoline to run 6 million cars for a year. Based on a weighted average of 140 pounds of CO2 gas pollution for every 1 million BTUs of energy consumed, remanufacturing reduces CO2 generation by 28 million tons each year, which is equal to the CO2 output of 10, 500-megawatt coal-burning electrical plants. Remanufacturing also saves the U.S. enough raw materials to fill 155,000 railway cars each year.

Boston University’s Prof. Robert Lund estimated the U.S. remanufacturing industry at $53 billion in sales in 1996, employing approximately 480,000 people. This figure only includes a portion of the electrical equipment market related to electrical motors, and doesn’t include remanufacturing of other electrical products such as circuit breakers, transformers, etc. Remanufacturing electrical equipment keeps thousands of tons of waste from U.S. landfills every year, based on the inventory turnarounds shown just by PEARL member companies. Also, unlike recycling which only reclaims part of the materials within a waste stream, reconditioning reclaims more material savings, as well as most of the energy and labor energy used to manufacturer the original product, making reconditioning a more environmentally sustainable practice than recycling. In 2003, the OEM Product-Services Institute (OPI) said U.S. electrical generation facilities alone spent $3.1 billion on remanufacturing, overhaul, and rebuilding.

Between 1980 and 1992, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health estimated that on average 411 workers died in the U.S. each year from electrocution. Safety of remanufactured electrical equipment is a prime focus of PEARL.

Although numbers on energy savings and pollution reduction thanks solely to electrical reconditioning do not exist, PEARL has recently been recognized by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) through its Waste Reduction Award Program (WRAP). as an organization that has help the state meet its waste reduction goals.

PEARL and Anti-Counterfeit Measures for Electrical Equipment
Counterfeit electrical apparatus pose a growing threat to all sectors of the electrical marketplace, from the OEMs who lose revenue and brand prestige, to distributors and suppliers that risk liability, to electrical contractors end users who can face financial or physical liabilities as a result of potentially dangerous counterfeit electrical devices. Independent suppliers of electrical product are particularly susceptible to fraudulent counterfeit goods because most OEMs will not sell their ‘new’ product at wholesale prices directly to non-licensed distributors, forcing independent electrical supply houses to alternate sources.

In September of 2007, PEARL held a special board meeting to discuss counterfeit electrical power equipment. Among other actions, PEARL’s Standards and Practices Committee issued a policy directive to all members to pro-actively assist OEMs and other organizations with identifying, reporting, and policing counterfeit electrical product and the companies and individuals that sell it. Since 2007, PEARL members have helped OEMs and other industry associations locate several shipments of counterfeit product.

Sponsored Events
PEARL sponsors an annual Electrical Safety and Reliability Conference & Exhibition

Conference topics include but are not limited to:
 * Electrical safety
 * Electrical failure diagnosis
 * Reconditioning, inspecition and testing standards & techniques
 * Counterfeiting issues
 * Government regulations update
 * Hands-on training
 * Panel discussions