[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59114-59115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29629]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
[Docket No. NRTL-1-88]


MET Laboratories, Inc.

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department of 
Labor.

ACTIONS: Notice of: (1) Renewal of Recognition as a Nationally 
Recognized Testing Laboratory; and (2) Expansion of Recognition as a 
Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the Agency's final decision on MET 
Laboratories, Inc. for: (1) renewal of its recognition as a Nationally 
Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) under 29 CFR 1910.7; and (2) 
expansion as a NRTL under 29 CFR 1910.7.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Variance Determination, NRTL 
Recognition Program, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N3653, 
Washington, D.C. 20210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Notice of Final Decision

    MET Laboratories, Inc. (MET) previously made application pursuant 
to section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (84 
Stat. 1593, 29 U.S.C. 655), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-90 (55 FR 
9033), and 29 CFR 1910.7, for recognition as a Nationally Recognized 
Testing Laboratory (see 53 FR 49258 12/6/88), and was so recognized 
(see 54 FR 21136, 5/16/89). MET applied for: (1) renewal; and (2) 
expansion of its current recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing 
Laboratory for the programs and procedures, and equipment or materials, 
pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.7, which was published in the Federal Register 
on August 6, 1996 (61 FR 41661). No comments were received concerning 
these requests.
    Notice is hereby given that MET's recognition as a Nationally 
Recognized Testing Laboratory has been: (1) renewed; and (2) expanded 
to include the programs and procedures and the 12 test standards 
(equipment and material) listed below.
    Copies of all pertinent documents (Docket No. NRTL-1-88) are 
available for inspection and duplication at the Docket Office, Room N-
2634, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.
    The address of the laboratory covered by this application is: MET 
Laboratories, Inc., 914 West Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 
21230.

Final Decision and Order.

    Based upon the facts found in the complete application file, 
including details of necessary test equipment, procedures, and special 
apparatus or facilities needed, adequacy of the staff,

[[Page 59115]]

the application, amendments, and documentation submitted by the 
applicant, the OSHA staff finding including the original On-Site Review 
Report, previous audits, and the evaluation of the current requests, 
OSHA finds that MET Laboratories, Inc., has met the requirements of 29 
CFR 1910.7 for: (1) Renewal of its recognition; and (2) expansion of 
its present recognition to test and certify certain equipment or 
materials as well as to utilize specific programs and procedures.
    Pursuant to the authority in 29 CFR 1910.7, WL's recognition is 
hereby: (1) renewed; and (2) expanded to include (a) the 12 additional 
test standards (product categories) and (b) the eight programs and 
procedures cited below, subject to the conditions listed below. This 
recognition is limited to equipment or materials which, under 29 CFR 
Part 1910, require testing, listing, labeling, approval, acceptance, or 
certification by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory. This 
recognition is limited to the use of the following 12 additional test 
standards for the testing and certification of equipment or materials 
included within the scope of these standards.

Renewal of NRTL Recognition

    Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7 stipulates that the initial period of 
recognition of a NRTL is five years and that a NRTL may renew its 
recognition by applying not less than nine months, nor more than one 
year, before the expiration date of its current recognition. MET was 
recognized as a NRTL on May 16, 1989, and applied for a renewal of its 
recognition on August 17, 1993, within the time allotted, and has 
complied with all of the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for renewal of 
its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory.

Expansion of Recognition--Test Standards

    MET has stated that these standards are used to test equipment or 
materials which can be used in environments under OSHA's jurisdiction, 
and OSHA has determined that they are appropriate within the meaning of 
29 CFR 1910.7(c).

UL 416--Refrigerated Medical Equipment
ANSI/UL 469--Musical Instruments and Accessories
ANSI/UL 751--Vending Machines
ANSI/UL 923--Microwave Cooking Appliances
UL 1492--Audio-Video Products and Accessories
UL 1604--Electrical Equipment for Use In Class I and II, Division 2, 
and Class III Hazardous (Classified) Locations
ANSI/UL 1638--Visual Signaling Appliances--Private Mode Emergency and 
General Utility Signaling
UL 1950--Safety of Information Technology Equipment, Including 
Electrical Business Equipment
UL 1995--Heating and Cooling Equipment
UL 2601-1--Medical Electrical Equipment, Part 1: General Requirements 
for Safety
UL 3101-1--Electrical Equipment for Laboratory Use; Part 1: General 
Requirements
UL 3111-1--Electrical Measuring and Test Equipment; Part 1: General 
Requirements

Expansion of Recognition--Programs and Procedures

    1. Acceptance of testing data from independent organizations, other 
than NRTLs.
    2. Acceptance of product evaluations from independent 
organizations, other than NRTLs.
    3. Acceptance of witnessed testing data.
    4. Acceptance of testing data from non-independent organizations.
    5. Acceptance of evaluation data from non-independent organizations 
(requiring NRTL review prior to marketing).
    6. Acceptance of continued certification following minor 
modifications by the client.
    7. Acceptance of product evaluations from organizations that 
function as part of the International Electronical Commission 
Certification Body (IEC-CB) Scheme.
    8. Acceptance of services other than testing or evaluation 
performed by subcontractors or agents.
    MET Laboratories, Inc. must also abide by the following conditions 
of the expansion of its recognition, in addition to these already 
required by 29 CFR 1910.7:
    This recognition does not apply to any aspect of any MET 
Laboratories, Inc. program which is available only to qualified 
manufacturers and is based upon the NRTL's evaluation and accreditation 
of the manufacturer's quality assurance program;
    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration shall be allowed 
access to MET's facility and records for purposes of ascertaining 
continuing compliance with the terms of its recognition and to 
investigate as OSHA deems necessary;
    If MET has reason to doubt the efficacy of any test standard it is 
using under this program, it shall promptly inform the test standard 
developing organization of this fact and provide that organization with 
appropriate relevant information upon which its concerns are based;
    MET shall not engage in or permit others to engage in any 
misrepresentation of the scope or conditions of its recognition. As 
part of this condition, MET agrees that it will allow no representation 
that it is either a recognized or an accredited Nationally Recognized 
Testing Laboratory (NRTL) without clearly indicating the specific 
equipment or material to which this recognition is tied, or that its 
recognition is limited to certain products;
    MET shall inform OSHA as soon as possible, in writing, of any 
change of ownership or key personnel, including details;
    MET will continue to meet the requirements for recognition in all 
areas where it has been recognized; and
    MET will always cooperate with OSHA to assure compliance with the 
spirit as well as the letter of its recognition and 29 CFR 1910.7.

Effective Date: This renewal and recognition will become effective on 
November 20, 1996 and will be valid until November 22, 2001 (a period 
of five years from the date of the renewal of this recognition), unless 
terminated prior to that date, in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.7.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 12th day of November, 1996.
Joseph A. Dear,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-29629 Filed 11-19-96; 8:45 am]
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