Umair Gaines
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed the Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) program to ensure that certain types of equipment, including electrical appliances and devices, are tested and certified for safe workplace use. For electrical equipment to be considered approved by OSHA, it must be accepted, certified, listed, labelled, or otherwise determined to be safe by a recognized NRTL. This means that the installation and use of electrical equipment must adhere to the instructions, markings, and labelling requirements specified by the NRTL. Employers should be mindful of other requirements applicable to electrical equipment depending on the specific circumstances of its use or installation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) is a private-sector organization that tests and certifies certain kinds of equipment, including electrical appliances and devices, for safe workplace use. |
| Requirements | The capability to test and evaluate equipment for conformance with appropriate test standards within their scope; adequate controls for the identification of certified products; conducting follow-up inspections of actual production; complete independence from users, manufacturers, or vendors of the certified products; effective procedures for producing findings and for handling complaints and disputes. |
| Approval | All electrical equipment must be approved by a NRTL, except those kinds that no NRTL accepts, certifies, lists, labels, or otherwise determines to be safe. Equipment is "listed" if it is mentioned in a list published by a NRTL and is considered safe for use. Equipment is "labeled" if there is an attached label, symbol, or other identifying mark of a NRTL, indicating compliance with nationally recognized standards or tests for safe use. |
| Installation and Use | The installation and use of electrical equipment must be consistent with the NRTL instructions for that equipment. Employers may be in violation if the installation or use of equipment is not consistent with NRTL-required markings, labeling, or instructions. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Electrical equipment must be approved by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL)
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that electrical equipment be approved by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). This approval process ensures that electrical appliances and devices are safe for workplace use. OSHA established its NRTL program in 1988, and the following year, it recognized the first organization as an NRTL.
To be considered a NRTL, an organization must meet the legal requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.7. This includes having the capabilities to test and evaluate equipment, as well as conducting follow-up inspections of actual production. Manufacturers can choose any NRTL listed on OSHA's website to perform their testing and certification. It is important to note that even if a piece of equipment does not require approval, it still may not be used if it poses a hazard to employees. For example, if it presents an ignition risk, it cannot be used.
Once a piece of equipment is approved by an NRTL, it is considered "listed." This means that it is mentioned in a list published by the NRTL and has been found to meet nationally recognized standards or has been tested and deemed safe for use in a specified manner. Equipment that is "labeled" bears an attached label, symbol, or other identifying mark of an NRTL, indicating compliance with nationally recognized standards or tests for safe use.
It is crucial for employers to adhere to OSHA requirements regarding electrical equipment. Installation and use of electrical equipment must be consistent with the instructions provided by the NRTL. Deviating from these instructions, including markings and labeling, can result in a violation of 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2). OSHA's interpretation letters explain these requirements and their specific applications, but they do not create additional employer obligations.
Cooling Electric Blankets: Do They Exist?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
NRTL-required markings and labelling
The NRTL mark is a certification of electrical products being sold in the U.S. and Canada. It is a designation by the OSHA Nationally Recognized Test Lab. The NRTL mark is an indication that a product has been certified and meets the relevant standard requirements.
Electrical equipment that has been approved by an NRTL is acceptable to OSHA. The NRTL mark is a sign that a product has been accepted, certified, listed, labelled, or otherwise determined to be safe by an NRTL. The mark is usually placed on the product itself, and indicates that the product has been approved for use.
Equipment is listed if it is mentioned in a list published by an NRTL, and/or if it meets nationally recognized standards or has been tested and found safe for use in a specified manner. "Labelling" refers to an attached label, symbol, or other identifying mark of an NRTL, which indicates compliance with nationally recognized standards or tests to determine safe use.
To obtain NRTL product labelling, the manufacturer will need to comply with the applicable testing standard of the NRTL. The testing standard will specify how the product is to be marked or labelled, and what instructions for installation and use must be provided.
NRTL marks are additive to other certification marks, and are required in addition to any other marks. For example, if selling into the pool and spa industry, the appropriate pool and spa certification marks must also be present, such as the NSF/ANSI Standard 50.
The Norelco Electric Razor: Shaving Made Easy
You may want to see also
Explore related products
NRTL-required installation and use instructions
The installation and use of electrical equipment must be consistent with the instructions provided by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). NRTLs are accredited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as approved certifiers of specific industry standards.
To obtain NRTL approval, manufacturers must submit technical documentation for review, including critical component lists, technical data sheets, and component certification details. Once this documentation is approved, the NRTL conducts performance testing to verify that the product meets the required standards. Each manufacturing location must also undergo an educational audit to confirm their ability to manufacture products that conform to the standards.
After a product is approved, the NRTL will publicly register the product as certified, and the manufacturer is authorized to apply the unique NRTL mark. This mark indicates that the product has been tested and found safe for use in a specified manner.
It is important to note that the installation and use of electrical equipment must align with the NRTL-required markings, labeling, and installation and use instructions. Deviating from these instructions may result in a violation of OSHA standards, as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2).
To ensure compliance, employers should refer to the specific instructions provided by the NRTL for the particular electrical equipment they are using. These instructions will detail the safe installation and use of the equipment, including any relevant markings or labels that must be adhered to. By following these NRTL-required instructions, employers can help ensure the safety of their workers and avoid potential violations of OSHA standards.
Understanding Polarity: The Basics of Electrical Circuitry
You may want to see also
Explore related products
NRTL listing
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) developed the Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) program to ensure that certain types of equipment, including electrical appliances and devices, are tested and certified for safe workplace use. OSHA established its NRTL regulations in 1988 and recognised the first organisation as an NRTL in 1989.
According to OSHA, an NRTL is a private-sector organisation that meets the legal requirements in 29 CFR 1910.7 to perform testing and certification of products using consensus-based test standards. To earn OSHA recognition as an NRTL, an organisation must have the required capabilities as both a product safety testing laboratory and a product certification body.
Electrical equipment approved by an NRTL is acceptable to OSHA. However, employers may also be subject to other requirements applicable to electrical equipment depending on the specific circumstances of its use or installation. For example, if a piece of equipment is not required to be approved, it still may not be used if it poses a hazard to employees.
Equipment is "listed" if it is mentioned in a list published by an NRTL, which makes periodic inspections of the production of such equipment, and/or if the equipment meets nationally recognised standards or has been tested and found safe for use in a specified manner. To obtain product listing by a particular NRTL, it is usually necessary to contact the manufacturer to comply with the applicable testing standard of that NRTL.
Installation and use of electrical equipment must be consistent with NRTL instructions for that equipment. An employer would be in violation of 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2) if its installation or use of equipment is not consistent with the NRTL-required markings and labelling or the installation and use instructions required for that equipment.
Understanding MOSFET Signal Amplification: A Technical Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
NRTL labelling
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that all electrical equipment be "approved". This means that a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) must accept, certify, label, list, or otherwise determine that the equipment is safe. Electrical equipment approved by an NRTL is acceptable to OSHA.
An NRTL is an independent laboratory recognized by OSHA to certify products for the North American market. The NRTL certificate provides clear evidence that electrical and electronic products comply with the required standards of the North American market. All NRTLs must follow the same rules in support of common acceptance. Under OSHA's NRTL program, TÜV SÜD certification includes the same testing, listing, labelling, and follow-up inspection services as competing certification marks (such as UL, ETL, CSA, and others).
Equipment is "listed" if it is mentioned in a list published by an NRTL, which makes periodic inspections of the production of such equipment, and/or if the equipment meets nationally recognized standards or has been tested and found safe for use in a specified manner. Equipment is "labelled" if there is an attached label, symbol, or other identifying mark of an NRTL, indicating compliance with nationally recognized standards or tests to determine safe use in a specified manner. To obtain product labelling or listing by a particular NRTL, it is usually necessary to contact the manufacturer to comply with the applicable testing standard of that NRTL. The testing standard will typically specify how the product is to be marked or labelled and what instructions for installation and use must be provided.
Installation and use of electrical equipment must be consistent with NRTL instructions for that equipment. An employer would be in violation of 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2) if its installation or use of equipment is not consistent with the NRTL-required markings and labelling or the installation and use instructions required for that equipment.
Canceling Electric Service: A Step-by-Step Guide for Customers
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
NRTL stands for Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory. These are private-sector organisations recognised by the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to test and certify certain kinds of equipment, including electrical appliances, for safe workplace use.
Equipment is ''listed' if it is mentioned in a list published by a NRTL. This means the equipment has been inspected and/or meets nationally recognised standards or has been tested and found safe for use in a specified manner.
Equipment is 'labelled' if there is an attached label, symbol, or other identifying mark of a NRTL, indicating that the equipment complies with nationally recognised standards or tests to determine safe use in a specified manner.
Electrical equipment that has been approved by a NRTL is acceptable to OSHA. This means the equipment has been accepted, certified, labelled, listed, or otherwise determined to be safe by a NRTL.
