CSA Special Inspection in China
— Test Locally, Sell Across North America —
Your Solution for Small Batch, Custom, and Large Equipment
You're a North American importer, distributor, or end user, and the equipment you're sourcing from China is a one-off build, a small production run, or a custom machine that will never be mass-produced. Yet before it can be installed and energized in Canada or the United States, it must carry recognized safety certification — and you need it to be CSA approved. The problem: full CSA certification is built for ongoing production, and it comes with periodic factory inspections and recurring annual fees. That's more program than your equipment needs — and more cost than your project should bear.
CSA Special Inspection is CSA Group's answer: the same safety evaluation against CSA/UL standards, completed once for your specific batch — with no ongoing inspections and no annual fees. And ATJC handles the entire process in China.
What Is CSA Special Inspection (CSA-SI)?
CSA Special Inspection (SI) is a field-evaluation service from CSA Group for products that don't fit the regular certification process. Instead of certifying an entire product line with ongoing follow-up inspections, Special Inspection is a one-time, batch-specific evaluation.
Your equipment is evaluated against the applicable CSA/UL safety standards — under SPE-1000, the Model Code for the Field Evaluation of Electrical Equipment — and when it passes, each unit receives a serialized CSA SI label, and you receive a Special Inspection Report as documented proof of compliance.
Characteristics of CSA special inspection：
- Applies to specific batch only
- No annual inspections required
- One-time fee, no ongoing costs
- Compliance is batch-specific
- Best for small batch, custom, or large equipment
What Products Qualify for CSA-SI?
CSA Special Inspection covers a wide range of products — particularly anything custom, specialized, built in small quantities, or too large to ship for standard lab testing:
| Category | Typical Products | Why SI Fits |
| Industrial Control Panels | Control panels, motor control centers, PLC cabinets | Built per project; low volume per design |
| Custom Industrial Machinery | Automated production lines, packaging equipment, robotic cells | Built to buyer specs; rarely mass-produced |
| Energy Storage Systems | Battery packs, BESS units, UPS systems, battery cabinets | Rapid design changes outpace full certification |
| Large HVAC & Mechanical Equipment | Rooftop units, chillers, custom air-handling systems | Oversized; impractical to certify as a full line |
| Power Distribution Equipment | Switchgear, power distribution units, custom busways | Configurations vary by site and specification |
| One-Off & Pre-Installed Equipment | Prototypes, pilot units, equipment already at the job site | Needs verification without a full certification program |
How CSA-SI Works — 4 Simple Steps
Unlike the long, multi-phase path of full certification, Special Inspection is direct（For a detailed guide, please refer to this article：How to Get CSA Certification for Products Made in China?）:
- Send us your product details — specifications, electrical schematics, nameplate data, and the exact quantity you need inspected.
- Receive a fixed quote — we evaluate your equipment and return a clear, all-in price. No hidden fees, no annual charges.
- Inspection & testing in China — your equipment is evaluated at our lab (or on-site for oversized units) against the applicable CSA/UL standards. No overseas shipping for most equipment.
- Get your CSA SI labels & report — once the inspection passes, each unit receives its serialized CSA SI label, and you receive the Special Inspection Report to show your customer or the local authority.
Why Get CSA-SI Through ATJC?
CSA-authorized laboratory — we work directly with CSA Group; no middlemen, no markup.
Test in China, where your equipment is built — most equipment never leaves the factory, saving weeks and freight costs.
One point of contact — from evaluation to label, we coordinate everything with CSA Group on your behalf.
One-time, all-in pricing — a single fixed quote with no ongoing inspection fees.
Ready to get your CSA-SI quote?
Send us your equipment details — images, manuals, schematics, and quantity. We'll return a fixed quote within days.
