Sauna – Rules and Regulations

Sauna – Construction

General information on standards

The construction of an infrared sauna involves a number of risks if it does not comply with current regulations. The safety of these saunas is guaranteed by ETL certification. Safety officials are issuing a serious warning to designers and users of infrared saunas. They urge buyers to read their warning report before purchasing this type of sauna, particularly if the offer seems too good to be true.

There are industrial safety certification standards which every user must ensure are met when purchasing an infrared sauna. One of these certification standards is required for the approval, registration and labelling of a product. A complete sauna and all corresponding models cannot be sold without approval. The buyer must ensure that their sauna does indeed have the appropriate safety certification.

Types of standards

Intertek’s ETL Semko standard

ETL is a certification body authorised to certify infrared saunas in the United States and Canada. Its authority in the sauna sector has been recognised worldwide for over a century. ETL has around thirty offices and laboratories across six continents, making it a global leader in this field.

ETL ensures the quality of saunas intended for sale. It issues the certification marks that manufacturers affix to each product. These marks serve as proof that the product complies with the specifications required by the market. Any product that does not bear the ETL mark has no valid guarantee.

Canadian Standards Association (CSA) The Canadian Standards Association is an organisation that issues certification for infrared saunas, recognised in both the United States and Canada. The CSA mark is awarded to a product that has been inspected by the organisation and found to comply with current safety and/or performance standards.

CSA approval also covers standards drawn up and approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), administered by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and recognised by the National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF), as well as by several other regulatory bodies. The sauna is governed by these standards.

Underwriters Laboratories Inc

Underwriters Laboratories Inc (UL) is the body that issues the original and reliable certification for saunas. Any product bearing its mark is considered to comply with current standards and is guaranteed worldwide. It has been operating in this field for over a century.

Underwriters Laboratories Inc is one of the certifying bodies for infrared saunas in the United States and Canada. It carries out product assessments to ensure public safety. This benefits a wide range of customers, from sauna manufacturers to end-users.

CE or FSC certification

The CE marking applies to products circulating within the European Union. It is mandatory for certain categories of products, such as saunas. European Directives have laid down safety standards that are applicable and valid throughout the European Union.

CE marking refers to these standards for all relevant products, such as saunas. A product bearing this marking is considered to comply with the key health and safety requirements. The use of the CE marking is authorised following the preparation of a report certifying that the product meets the specified conditions. FSC certification guarantees the origin of the timber used in the construction of the sauna. It ensures that the timber is harvested in accordance with sustainable development principles.

Sauna – Marketing

Price

In France, prices are not regulated. However, regulations require the price of the sauna to be displayed. The price of saunas varies depending on the type chosen, its specific features and characteristics. The prices listed below are for guidance only, as there are many factors that can affect the price. The price of a traditional Finnish indoor sauna cabin ranges from 2,000 to 3,000 euros. The cost of fittings and accessories makes the difference. Indoor infrared saunas cost between 1,000 and 4,000 euros. They are generally sized to accommodate two or more people. Angular-shaped cabins cost slightly more than others and can accommodate three people. Control accessories are suitable for virtually all types of saunas. You can find the simplest ones, such as silicone cables, for around 20 to 25 euros, and the more sophisticated ones, such as sauna thermo-hygrometers, for between 60 and 90 euros.

Retailers and suppliers make it easy to purchase these products, sometimes offering several payment methods. Payment options include credit/debit card (order confirmed upon authorisation by the customer’s bank), personal cheque (order accepted upon receipt and clearance of the cheque), postal order or cash order, on credit, or via ‘receive and pay’. However, some retailers offer promotional prices for a specific period. Consequently, the prices quoted are for guidance only. Nevertheless, in addition to promotional prices, Habitat et Jardin always offers you a very competitive price for your sauna.

Warranty

With regard to the regulations governing the sale of saunas, the key point is compliance with manufacturing standards. Generally, products are sold as turnkey solutions and are covered by a warranty from the manufacturer or the sauna retailer. The warranties offered by manufacturers vary depending on the model and, above all, on the materials and fittings used in the saunas. Nevertheless, they have a fairly long lifespan. In the event of a fault, a diagnosis will be carried out first to determine the causes of any defects before the warranty is applied. The customer will receive a return reference number, which must be written on the packaging of the faulty parcel and returned to the relevant supplier. A copy of the invoice must be included with the returned parcel.

You have a wide choice of saunas and are sure to find the one that suits you best. With the assistance and advice of our specialists, you’ll be spoilt for choice amongst the wide range of sauna models, accessories and high-quality equipment offered by HABITATETJARDIN. Readers wishing to find out more about saunas are invited to consult the other articles on this subject available on this website.

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