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Do Blade Outlets Have Formal Recognition by ESA?
Short answer: Yes. Because Docking Drawer Blade outlets are CSA certified, the ESA automatically recognizes them as approved for installation in Ontario. No additional ESA certification exists or is required.
The Long Answer: To understand how Docking Drawer Blade outlets are treated by the ESA, it helps to know the different roles of CSA and ESA in Canada’s electrical safety system:
CSA: The Standards and Certification Body
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is responsible for writing electrical safety standards, including the well-known CSA C22.2 series, and for testing and certifying products to these standards.
When a product is labeled “CSA certified to CSA C22.2 XX”, it means it has been tested by CSA or another accredited lab and proven to meet the specific safety standard referenced. Because CSA is a nationally recognized certification body, a device with a valid CSA mark is approved for use throughout Canada.
In short, the CSA establishes the rules for product safety and ensures that products comply with these rules.
ESA: The Provincial Electrical Regulator
The ESA (Electrical Safety Authority) operates only in Ontario and plays a very different role. ESA does not write safety standards and does not test or certify products. Instead, ESA is the regulator: it enforces the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, manages permits and inspections, and ensures that electrical work in Ontario is performed safely.
Put simply, ESA enforces the rules—but does not certify the products themselves.
How CSA Certification Leads to ESA Acceptance
Because ESA does not issue product certifications, it relies on SCC-accredited certification bodies—including CSA, UL, ETL, TUV, and others—to determine whether a product meets Canadian safety standards. If a product is certified by one of these bodies to the appropriate CSA standard, ESA automatically considers it approved electrical equipment.
That means a Docking Drawer Blade outlet that carries a valid CSA certification mark does not need any additional ESA approval. Installers in Ontario can use it just like any other certified electrical device.
In ESA’s terminology, the product is simply “electrically approved” because it already bears a recognized certification mark. No separate ESA certification is required, and none exists.
Note: The Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) has the final say on whether an installation meets the requirements of the Canadian Electrical Code.