Product Requalification Needed When Related Standard Revs?

General Discussion
#1

Our facilities use a specific make/model of soldering iron and have for many years. The original PQ was done against S13.1-2000. Today, our external auditor has indicated a minor finding is on the way because these irons are not qualified against S13.1-2019. Is it required to requalify control items when the associated standard or STM is revised?

#2

Good afternoon,

S13.1 is currently going through the initial stages of its 5 year review. the document dates you have listed do not make sense as the 2019 version is the current version.

That being said however, you still should have documentation with measurements verifying that you have your solder irons on a compliance verification schedule (S20.20 requirement) and are using S13 or TR53 Soldering Iron test section as your test methods. If you have that, there should be no finding or observation.

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#3

Thank you Matt - that makes sense. Much appreciated.

#4

J.D.

I agree with Matt and you shouldn’t have to requalify your soldering irons although you may want to review the qualification data to see if it meets the limits in ANSI/ESD S20.20, namely:

Tip to Ground or Groundable Point < 2.0 ohms
Tip Voltage < 20 millivolts
Tip Leakage < 10 milliamps

I doubt these limits changed but I don’t have the 2000 version of ANSI/ESD S13.1 to see what was in there. If your qualification data doesn’t have evidence that these tests passed, you may consider getting them tested, although I don’t think it is required.

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#5

Yes the values in the current version have not changed
7.0 PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Resistance Less than 2.0 ohms
Voltage Less than 20 millivolts
Current Less than 10 milliamps
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#6

When standards get updated, there are no requirements to requalify ESD control items. However, if a new ESD control item is considered, fo rexample a different soldering iron make, modle or manufacturer, then a product qualifiaiton must be done.
In this particular case, the requirements have not changed so the previous data is still valid.

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#7

Thanks everyone for the advice!