Green Electronics Council
Registry Services Department

P42Issue 1 Rev 0Verification Round Plan

Green Electronics Council
227 SW Pine Street, Suite 300 • Portland, OR 97204 • V: (503) 279-9382 • F: (503) 279-9381 • www.epeat.net

PLAN FOR VERIFICATION ROUND PC-2016-02
PCs and Displays
May 2016
I.

PURPOSE AND CONTENTS OF THIS DOCUMENT

This document outlines the plan for a Verification Round of Investigations to be performed inaccordance with the P15 Verification Procedure, this Verification Plan, and other governing documents.

II.

SELECTION OF CRITERIA AND PRODUCTS FOR VERIFICATION

Verification Round PC-2016-02 will investigate targeted criteria from IEEE 1680.1 and randomly chosen
products. Eighty-six (86) targeted Level 1 investigations are planned for this Round. In addition, thisround will contain thirteen (13) Level 2 / 3 investigations due to the fact that GEC could not obtain two
products in the marketplace in 2015. In Level 1 investigations, an Auditor assesses Conformance to acriterion by examining information submitted by a Participating Manufacturer. The Manufacturer isrequired to provide detailed and accurate information in a 60-day period. In Level 2 investigations, theProduct Registration Entity buys or borrows a product and has the product disassembled and inspected
to assess conformance with one or more criteria. In Level 3 investigations, the Product Registration
Entity obtains a product, and has the product analytically tested to assess conformance with one ormore criteria.
Level 1 Investigations - Targeted Criteria and Manufacturers:
This category includes those criteria for which, in a previous investigation, corrective actions did not fully
address other products potentially impacted by the issue causing the non-conformance for theinvestigated product. The category will target specific Manufacturers for Level 1 investigations of thefollowing reasons for verification and criteria:
 Criteria that have not been targeted in the last 12 months - 4.2.2.1, 4.2.2.2
 Criteria for which Non-Conformances are suspected - 4.3.1.9, 4.8.2.2
 Criteria where Corrective Actions didn’t address other affected products – 4.3.1.9, 4.8.5.1
The products and criteria will be selected as follows:
Selection Process:Step 1

Step 2Notes:

A list of all products will be pulled fromthe EPEAT Registry.
Sort the list of products on 4.8.2.2. From
this list, GEC will randomly select aproduct for each Manufacturer.

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All products that are currently active in
the Registry will be included.
All manufacturers claiming 4.8.2.2 will
be investigated for this criterion.

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Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7
Sort the remaining list of products oncriterion 4.3.1.9. From this list, GEC will
randomly select a product for each
Manufacturer claiming 4.3.1.9.

All products claiming 4.3.1.9 will beinvestigated for this criterion.

If any of the selected products also claim
4.2.2.1 AND have a value greater than 0,that criterion will also be selected forinvestigation.
Sort the original list of products on
criterion 4.2.2.2. From this list, GEC will
randomly select a product for each
Manufacturer claiming 4.2.2.2.
Sort the original list of products, on
criterion 4.2.2.1 with a value greater than0%. From this list, GEC will randomly
select a product for each Manufacturer
claiming 4.2.2.1 with a value greater than
0% but not yet selected for 4.2.2.1.
Sort list of products already chosen on
criterion 4.8.5.1. From this list, GEC will
target one of the products for each
Manufacturer with suspected NonConformance claiming 4.8.5.1.

All manufacturers claiming 4.2.2.2 will
be investigated for this criterion.

All manufacturers claiming 4.2.2.1 witha value greater than 0 = and notpreviously selected will be investigated
for this criterion.

All manufacturers with suspected NonConformance claiming 4.8.5.1 will beinvestigated for this criterion.

All products that are currently active in the Registry are eligible for inclusion, and will be chosen
first through a random selection process.

All geographies and Manufacturers are eligible for inclusion.

Exception is as follows: If a criterion is randomly selected for a product and that product has
been investigated against that criterion in the last six months, a new criterion will be randomly
selected for the product.

For targeted, Level 1 investigations, Manufacturers will not be subject to more than fiveinvestigations during this Round. This does not include Level 2/3 Investigations below.

Level 2/3 Investigations - Targeted Criteria and Manufacturers:
This category includes those products and manufacturers for which, in a previous investigation, products
were unavailable for purchase during the Level 2 / 3 Verification Round. These products will beinvestigated for all criteria listed in the table below which are currently being claimed. The CAB has 30
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days to obtain the products. Testing should be completed 60 days after the products have beenobtained.
Criterion

Description of Criterion

Level 2

Level 3X

4.1.8.1

Optional – Large parts free of PVC

X

4.3.1.3

Required – Easy disassembly of external enclosures

X

4.3.1.5

Required – Identification and removal of components
containing hazardous materials

X

4.3.1.7

Optional – Molded/glued in metal eliminated or removableX

4.3.2.2

Optional – Marking of plastics

X

4.8.2.1

Required – Separable packing materials

X

4.8.2.2

Optional – Packaging 90% recyclable and plastics labeled

X

III.

X

VERIFICATION PROCESS

Level 1 Investigations - Targeted Criteria and Manufacturers:
The Level 1 portion of the Verification Round will proceed in accordance with current procedures, asoutlined below.
1.

The Conformity Decision Panel will approve this Verification Round Plan.

2.

The Green Electronics Council will take a “snapshot” of the Registry. Products will be selected
as per this document.

3.

The Verification Round Plan will be published on epeat.net.

4.

The Green Electronics Council will instruct Conformity Assurance Bodies (if applicable – see
Section V) to proceed with the investigations.

5.

Conformity Assurance Bodies will assign investigations to (an) Auditor(s), and will notify thesubject Manufacturers that their products are being investigated.

6.

The Auditors will perform the investigations as assigned within 60 calendar days, and prepare
an Investigation Report for each investigation, recommending conformance ornonconformance.

7.

Conformity Assurance Bodies will review all Investigation Reports to ensure they are clear andcomplete and the evidence supports the recommendation, and will forward the Report andsupporting evidence to the Green Electronics Council.

8.

The Conformity Decision Panel will review the reports and make a decision regarding
conformity. The identity of the products and Manufacturers will not be disclosed to theConformity Decision Panel. The Conformity Decision Panel will be blind to the specificproducts and Manufacturers for which they are making conformity decisions.

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9.

Conformity Assurance Bodies will inform the subject Manufacturers of the Conformity
Decision Panel’s conformity decision. For decisions of Non-Conformance, Manufacturers willbe required to take corrective action within 14 calendar days to restore the accuracy of thedeclaration in the EPEAT Registry.

10.

The Green Electronics Council will publish a "Verification Round Outcomes Report" identifying
the nonconforming products and Manufacturers, as well as the action taken to restore
accuracy of the declarations in the Registry.

Level 2/3 Investigations - Targeted Criteria and Manufacturers:
The Level 2/3 portion of the Verification Round will proceed in accordance with the current procedures,
as outlined below.
1.

EPEAT will take a “snapshot” of the Registry. Products will be selected as per this document.

2.

EPEAT will publish the Verification Round Plan on epeat.net.

3.

EPEAT will instruct Conformity Assurance Body (if applicable – see Section V) to proceed withproduct purchase and the Level 2/3 investigations. Due to the difficulty in obtaining theproducts in 2015, the Conformity Assurance Body may work directly with the Manufacturer toprocure the product.

4.

After obtaining the products, the Conformity Assurance Body will notify their subject
Manufacturers that their products are being investigated, if applicable.

5.

Conformity Assurance Body will review all Investigation Reports to ensure they are clear,complete and the evidence supports the recommendation, and will forward the Reports andsupporting evidence to EPEAT. At the same time, Conformity Assurance Body will forward theReports (without the final Product Verification Committee’s decision) to the subject
Manufacturers.

6.

The Product Verification Committee will review the reports and make a decision regarding
conformity. The products and Manufacturers will not be disclosed to the Product Verification
Committee, as the Committee must be blind to the specific product and Manufacturer forwhich they are making conformity decisions.

7.

Conformity Assurance Body will inform the subject Manufacturers of the Product Verification
Committee’s conformity decision. For decisions of Non-Conformance, Manufacturers are
required to take corrective action within 14 calendar days to restore the accuracy of theEPEAT Registry.

8.

EPEAT will publish a "Verification Round Outcomes Report" identifying the nonconforming
products and Manufacturers, as well as the action taken to restore accuracy of the Registry.

IV.

CONFORMITY DECISION PANEL

The following individuals are the members of the Conformity Decision Panel:
Libby Chaplin, CEO, Arcadian Solutions

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

Patty Dillon, Dillon Environmental AssociatesJack Geibig, President, Ecoform

Robert Pfahl, Ph.D., Pfahl Consulting LLC

Annette Roesler, Ph.D., Independent Professional Chemist

V.

CONFORMITY DECISION BODIES AND AUDITORSAll investigations will be conducted through Conformity Assurance Bodies approved by the GreenElectronics Council. The following Conformity Assurance Bodies may be involved in Investigations forthis Verification Round:VI.

DekraGreen Electronics Council Conformity Assurance BodyUL Environment

VERIFICATION ROUND PLAN APPROVALThe Conformity Decision Panel approved this Verification Round Plan by discussion and/or email on
April 15, 2016.

VII.

SUMMARY OF PC-2016-02 PLANNED INVESTIGATIONS

Criterion
4.2.2.1

4.2.2.2
4.3.1.9

4.8.2.2

4.1.8.1
4.3.1.3
4.3.1.5
4.3.1.7
4.3.2.2

Verification Selection and Process for Level 1 Investigations - Targeted Criteria
and Manufacturers
 Level 1 investigation.
 Investigate each manufacturer with a product having a value greater thanzero.
 Level 1 investigation.
 Investigate each manufacturer selecting this criterion.
 Level 1 investigation.
 High number of non-conformances in past rounds.
 Investigate each manufacturer selecting this criterion.
 Level 1 investigation.
 High number of suspected non-conformances.
 Investigate each manufacturer selecting this criterion.
 Level 2 and 3 investigations.
 Targeted investigation of products unable to acquire in 2015.
 Level 2 investigation.
 Targeted investigation of products unable to acquire in 2015.
 Level 2 investigation.
 Targeted investigation of products unable to acquire in 2015.
 Level 2 investigation.
 Targeted investigation of products unable to acquire in 2015.
 Level 2 and 3 investigations.
 Targeted investigation of products unable to acquire in 2015.

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p. 5# Planned
Investigations
Up to 4

1
Up to 42

Up to 38

Up to 2Up to 2Up to 2Up to 2Up to 2

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Criterion
4.8.2.1
4.8.2.2

Verification Selection and Process for Level 1 Investigations - Targeted Criteriaand Manufacturers
 Level 2 investigation.
 Targeted investigation of products unable to acquire in 2015.
 Level 2 investigation.
 Targeted investigation of products unable to acquire in 2015.
Total

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p. 6# Planned
Investigations
Up to 2Up to 2Up to 99

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