Green Electronics Council
Registry Services Department

P42Issue 1 Rev 0

Verification 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-2016-03
PCs and Displays
August 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 VERIFICATIONVerification Round PC-2016-03 will investigate tablets / slates claiming criterion 4.4.2.2. Nine (9) Level 1
investigations are planned for this Round which may become Level 2 investigations in the event
Conformance to 4.4.2.2 cannot be demonstrated. In addition, this round will contain fourteen (14) Level
2 / 3 investigations for PC and Display products where the manufacturer has never undergone Level 2 /3 lab testing.
In Level 1 investigations, an Auditor assesses Conformance to a criterion by examining information
submitted by a Participating Manufacturer. The Manufacturer is required to provide detailed andaccurate information in a 60-day period. In Level 2 investigations, the Conformity Assurance Body (CAB)
obtains a product and has the product disassembled and inspected to assess conformance with one ormore criteria. In Level 3 investigations, the CAB obtains a product, and has the product analyticallytested to assess conformance with one or more criteria.
Level 1 Investigations: Targeted Criterion - 4.4.2.2:
Manufacturers with tablets / slates claiming criterion 4.4.2.2 will be investigated first with a Level 1investigation. In the event Conformance to 4.4.2.2 cannot be demonstrated, the Level 1 investigations
may then move to Level 2 investigations.
Due to the nature of Criterion 4.4.2.2, the EPEAT Scheme has determined that the scope of accreditedlabs typically does not include this type of disassembly and assembly. Based on the outcomes of theLevel 1 investigations, the EPEAT Scheme expects to know more about the types of service providers’best suited to do this type of disassembly and assembly. Therefore, for the Level 2 Investigations, theEPEAT Scheme may engage with authorized service centers or other expert bodies to perform necessary
disassembly and assembly.
The products and criteria will be selected as follows:

Step 1

Selection Process:Notes:

A list of all tablets / slates will be pulledfrom the EPEAT Registry.

All tablets / slates that are currently
active in the Registry will be included.

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
Select only tablets / slates claiming
4.4.2.2. From this list, GEC will randomly
select a product for each Manufacturer
claiming 4.4.2.2.

Step 2All manufacturers claiming 4.4.2.2 fortablets / slates will be investigated forthis criterion.

All geographies and Manufacturers with tablets / slates are eligible for inclusion.

Exception is as follows: If a product has been investigated for 4.4.2.2 in the last six months, a
new product will be randomly selected.

Only one Level 1 investigation will be chosen for each Manufacturers with tablets / slates
claiming 4.4.2.2. This number does not include the Level 2/3 Investigations below.

Level 2/3 Investigations - Targeted Criteria and Manufacturers:
Verification Round PC-2016-02 will contain up to fourteen (14) Level 2 / 3 lab tests on two products.
These products will be randomly chosen from a list of manufacturers that have not yet had products
Level 2 / 3 lab testing. Each product will be investigated for all criteria listed in the table below which
are currently being claimed, as applicable.
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

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X

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The products and criteria will be selected as follows:
Selection Process:Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Notes:

A list of products for manufacturers whoseproducts have never been Level 2 / 3tested will be pulled from the EPEAT
Registry.
Randomly select two manufacturers fromthe list.
For each of the two manufacturers,
randomly select one product for testing.

Only products that are currently active in
the Registry will be included.

Only manufacturers who have neverbeen Level 2 / 3 tested will be considered
for this criterion.
All active products from each of the twomanufacturers will be considered fortesting.

All geographies and Manufacturers who have not had products that have been Level 2 / 3 tested
are eligible for inclusion.

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

III.

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 EPEAT Scheme will take a “snapshot” of the Registry, from which products will be selected
for investigation.

2.

The EPEAT Scheme will instruct Conformity Assurance Bodies (if applicable – see Section V) toproceed with the investigations.

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

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 EPEAT Scheme. At the same time, Conformity Assurance Body will

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forward the draft Reports (without the final Conformity Decision Panel decision) to the subject
Manufacturers.
7.

The Conformity Decision Panel will review the reports and make a decision regardingconformity. 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.

8.

In the case of a finding of inconclusive or Non-Conformant, the EPEAT Scheme may launch aLevel 2 investigation. The Verification Process for Level 2 investigations can be seen below.

9.

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

10.

The EPEAT Scheme will publish a "Verification Round Outcomes Report" identifying thenonconforming products and Manufacturers, as well as the action taken to restore accuracy ofthe 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.

The EPEAT Scheme will take a “snapshot” of the Registry. Products will be selected as per thisdocument.

2.

The EPEAT Scheme will instruct Conformity Assurance Body (if applicable – see Section V) toproceed with product purchase and the Level 2/3 investigations.

3.

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

4.

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

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 the EPEAT Scheme. At the same time, Conformity Assurance Body will
forward the draft Reports (without the final Conformity Decision Panel’s decision) to thesubject Manufacturers.

6.

The Conformity Decision Panel will review the reports and make a decision regardingconformity. The products and Manufacturers will not be disclosed to the Conformity Decision
Panel, as the Panel must be blind to the specific product and Manufacturer for which they aremaking conformity decisions.

7.

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

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8.

IV.

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

CONFORMITY DECISION PANEL

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

Jack Geibig, President, Ecoform

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

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

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

Green Electronics Council Conformity Assurance BodyUL Environment

VERIFICATION ROUND PLAN APPROVALThe EPEAT Scheme approved this Verification Round Plan on August 3, 2016. On August 5, 2016, thisVerification Plan was updated to reflect actual number of investigations planned and the CABs
associated with the chosen products.

VII.

SUMMARY OF PC-2016-03 PLANNED INVESTIGATIONS

Criterion

Level of Investigations - Targeted Criteria and Manufacturers

4.1.8.1



4.3.1.3

4.3.1.5

4.3.1.7



4.3.2.2



Level 2 and 3 investigations.
Targeted investigation of products where the manufacturer has neverundergone Level 2 / 3 lab testing.
Level 2 and 3 investigations.
Targeted investigation of products where the manufacturer has neverundergone Level 2 / 3 lab testing.
Level 2 and 3 investigations.
Targeted investigation of products where the manufacturer has neverundergone Level 2 / 3 lab testing.
Level 2 investigation.
Targeted investigation of products where the manufacturer has neverundergone Level 2 / 3 lab testing.
Level 2 and 3 investigations.
Targeted investigation of products where the manufacturer has neverundergone Level 2 / 3 lab testing.

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2

2

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Criterion

Level of Investigations - Targeted Criteria and Manufacturers

4.8.2.1



4.8.2.2



4.4.2.2

# Planned
Investigations

Level 2 investigation.
Targeted investigation of products where the manufacturer has neverundergone Level 2 / 3 lab testing.
Level 2 investigation.
Targeted investigation of products where the manufacturer has neverundergone Level 2 / 3 lab testing.
Level 1 investigation which may become Level 2 investigations based on theoutcomes to the Level 1 investigation.
Targeted for tablets / slates.
Total

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