In educational settings that feature electrical equipment, it is important for professionals to have a full understanding of the dangers posed by counterfeit electrical products.

By definition, a counterfeit is a product, service or package for a product that uses — without authorization — the trademark, service mark or copyright of another, intended to make customer believe the product or service is genuine.

Counterfeit electrical products, many of which are intended to serve as protective devices, are unsafe lookalikes. Such counterfeit products — including circuit breakers, extension cords and surge protectors — are often made without regard for electrical safety or fail to meet minimal performance specifications.

These cosmetic copies can overheat or cause short circuits, leading to fires, shocks or explosions that can cause injury or considerable property damage. According to a report from the United States Fire Administration (USFA), an estimated 25 percent of all non-confined school building fires occur because of an electrical malfunction.

Counterfeiters rely on deception and prices that are below market level to find their way into educational institutions. This makes detecting the difference between a counterfeit and an authentic product extremely difficult, especially as counterfeiters become more sophisticated.

To help maintain a safe environment, professionals need to know what to look for and what actions to take to protect property, students and staff from serious health and safety risks posed by counterfeit electrical products. The following checklist is intended to assist professionals in detecting suspect products and to provide resources to authenticate products and report counterfeits.

1. Buy authentic

When buying new equipment for an educational facility, the best way to avoid purchasing a counterfeit product is to buy directly from the manufacturer or an authorized distributor. There is a higher risk of counterfeits if one cannot trace the path of commerce to the original manufacturer.

2. Examine products of interest

When purchasing an electrical product, check for certification marks from organizations that certify the quality and performance of electrical products. Be leery of additional markings or labeling not applied by the original manufacturers with missing or poor-quality labels, out-of-date product codes and non-genuine packaging. As counterfeiters become more sophisticated, counterfeit products become even more difficult to detect, increasing the need for additional scrutiny.

3. Avoid “bargains”

Avoid bargains that seem too good to be true. Prices that are substantially lower than the manufacturer’s price should make any buyer suspicious. Saving a few dollars is not worth exposure to the safety risks that accompany faulty products.

4. Evaluate new products upon delivery

It is also important to evaluate the condition of any new product and its packaging immediately upon delivery. Any product that appears to have been tampered with, is missing information or is poorly made should raise a red flag.

Some manufacturers have online product registries that can confirm whether or not a product is authentic. For example, Eaton’s Circuit Breaker Authentication (CBA) tool gives customers the ability to verify the authenticity of Eaton molded-case circuit breakers (MCCBs), up to 400 amperes.

5. Report counterfeits

If questions arise about the authenticity of a product, customers should reach out to the manufacturer. This will allow for authentication and ensure that potentially unsafe products removed from the marketplace.

If brand contact information is not available, contact the IPR Center that will disseminate the information for appropriate response. Contact the IPR Center at IPRCenter@dhs.gov or 1-866-IPR-2060.

For additional information about the dangers counterfeit electrical products, visit www.eaton.com/counterfeit.

As brand protection manager for Eaton’s Electrical Sector, Tom Grace oversees counterfeit awareness, training and prevention.

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