EPEAT CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROTOCOLS 1680.3: 4.4 Product longevity/life cycle extension 4.4.1 Upgradeable firmware 4.4.1.1 Required Upgradeable firmware Verification Guidance Product Verification Committee Clarifications None References and Details Verification Requirements Relevant definitions (from clause 3.2) None available. a) Declaration from manufacturer (see 4.0 Verification Requirement Declaration from manufacturer) b) Supporting documentation that firmware is upgradeable Note that the requirements of the criterion for connectivity of firmware are different for an institutional versus a consumer product. This is declared for each product as required in clause 1.3. The following definitions apply. Institutional product: Products declared as institutional product are: Only available through authorized dealers or resellers If sold directly, are marketed primarily as a product for business or enterprise or equivalent. Consumer product: All products that are not declared as institutional products. Note: Based on these definitions a product is by default a consumer product unless it meets one or both of the conditions in the institutional product definition. 4.4.1.1 Verification Requirement b) Supporting documentation that firmware is upgradeable Verification Protocols 4.4-1
1. Request for data submission to subscriber 2. Examples of potential evidence for conformance more than one item of evidence may be provided such that conformance is adequately demonstrated 1. Evidence that the firmware is upgradable via an external memory device or from a remote source using a network connection. 1. If product is institutional the connector shall be accessible as specified in criterion 2. If product is consumer, the connector shall be accessible without tools 2. Method of accessing, including list of tools needed, the port, slot or connector that is used for firmware upgrade. 3. Copy of owner s manual with location of the information on upgrading the product firmware indicated. 4. If the product is declared an "institutional" product, provide evidence that the product is: Only available through authorized dealers or resellers If sold directly, are marketed primarily as a product for business or enterprise or equivalent. Owner s manuals Firmware upgrade instructions Product drawings Labels on product indicating port slot or connector location List of tools 3. Questions to assess conformance Does the product contain a port or similar that is accessible (per the evaluation guidance) and usable for firmware upgrades? Is the information on upgrading the firmware in the product owner s manual? 4. Evaluation guidance For products that do not contain firmware, manufacturer may declare "Not Applicable" to this criterion. For institutional products, the port used for firmware upgrade must be accessible without tools or with the use of commonly available tools or with tools provided by or available from the manufacturer. All other product classes, the port must be accessible without the use of tools. 4.4-2
4.4.2 Service information 4.4.2.1 Required Service information readily available Verification Guidance Product Verification Committee Clarifications References and Details None None available. Verification Requirements a) Declaration from manufacturer (See 4.0 Verification Requirement Declaration from manufacturer) b) Documentation of required information in owner s manual or URL citation for manufacturer s website 4.4.2.1 Verification Requirement b) Documentation of required information in owner s manual or URL citation for manufacturer s website Verification Protocols 1. Request for data submission to subscriber 2. Examples of potential evidence for conformance more than one item of evidence may be provided such that conformance is adequately demonstrated 1. Sample documentation that indicates where and how the product can be serviced OR the in-region or toll-free number of manufacturer where service information can be received. 2. Evidence of communication of service information or phone number either by providing the owner s manual or the manufacturer s URL where the information resides. Owner s Manual with required information identified Manufacturer s URL with required information identified 3. Questions to assess conformance Has the manufacturer communicated how and where the product can be serviced or provided a phone number in the product user manual and/or manufacturer s website? 4.4-3
Is the information adequate to arrange service for the product? Were you able to verify that the method for arranging service is in place (i.e. calling the service number provided)? 4. Evaluation guidance This criterion is investigating the ready availability of the service information and not the quality of the service being offered. However, you do need to verify that the information provided regarding getting service is in place so you will need to follow the procedure/phone number provided by the subscriber to see that the service is in place. 4.4-4
4.4.3 Early failure 4.4.3.1 Required Early failure process Verification Guidance Product Verification Committee Clarifications References and Details None None available. Verification Requirements a) Declaration from manufacturer (See 4.0 Verification Requirement Declaration from manufacturer) b) Documentation of 1) Availability of warranty or service contract, or 2) Resolution process should the product fail within one year, and demonstration that this process is easily accessible to customers 4.4.3.1 Verification Requirement b) Documentation of 1) Availability of warranty or service contract, or 2) Resolution process should the product fail within one year, and demonstration that this process is easily accessible to customers Verification Protocols 1. Request for data submission to subscriber 1. Documentation of existence of early failure resolution process for products that fail within one year. The availability of a one-year warranty or service contract, or other resolution process, shall satisfy this. 2. Documentation that this process is communicated and easily accessible to customers on the manufacturer s website OR in the documentation that accompanies the product. 2. Examples of potential evidence for conformance more than one item of evidence may be provided such that Documentation of the availability of a warranty or service contract for at least one year 4.4-5
conformance is adequately demonstrated Documentation of other early failure resolution process Demonstration that the process is communicated and easily accessible to customers on the manufacturer s website or in documentation that accompanies the product. 3. Questions to assess conformance Will the process be likely to deliver customer satisfaction in the case of an early failure? Is the availability of a resolution process communicated to customers on the manufacturer s website OR in documentation that accompanies the product? 4. Evaluation guidance Note that a warranty or service contract need only be available for the customers, and may be available for purchase, and it need not be purchased by the customer. In other words, it must be available at time of purchase but not necessarily at time of product failure, if it was not purchased. Language may be a factor in making procedures easily accessible. Check that the procedures are communicated in the predominant language for the country(ies) in which the product is registered. 4.4-6