[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 96 (Tuesday, May 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27598-27600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13260]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. NRTL-2-90]
SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc., Applications for Renewal and
Expansion of Recognition
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice of request for renewal and expansion of recognition as a
Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), and preliminary
finding.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces: (1) the application of SGS U.S. Testing
Company Inc. (formerly U.S. Testing Company, Inc., California Division)
for renewal of its recognition as an NRTL under 29 CFR 1910.7, and (2)
the applications of SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc. for expansion of its
recognition as an NRTL under 29 CFR 1910.7, for a new site and to use
additional programs and procedures, and presents the Agency's
preliminary finding. In addition, this notice formally reflects the
name change to SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc.
DATES: The last date for interested parties to submit comments is July
20, 1998.
ADDRESS: Send comments concerning this notice to: NRTL Program, Office
of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, Occupational Safety
and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Room N3653, Washington, DC 20210.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernard Pasquet, NRTL Recognition
Program at the above address, or phone (202) 219-7056.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Notice of Application
Notice is hereby given that SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc. (SGS) has
applied to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.7, for renewal and for an expansion of its
current recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory
(NRTL). When first recognized as an NRTL, the organization's name was
U.S. Testing Company, Inc., California Division. SGS informed OSHA of
the change in name (see Exhibit 7B), and this notice reflects that
change. In regards to the renewal, SGS received its recognition as an
NRTL on March 23, 1993 (see 58 FR 15509), for a period of five years
ending March 23, 1998. Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7 stipulates that the
period of recognition of an NRTL is five years and that an 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.
SGS applied for a renewal of its recognition on March 23, 1997 (see
Exhibit 7C), within the time allotted, and retains its recognition
pending OSHA's final decision in this renewal process. In regards to
the expansions, SGS requests recognition to use additional programs and
procedures. However, that use will be subject to certain conditions.
SGS also requests recognition for another testing facility (site) in
Fairfield, New Jersey, which will become the headquarters of its NRTL
operations. The application for this facility is for recognition for
testing and certification to the test standards listed below in the
section titled ``Expansion of Recognition--Additional Facility.'' The
application incorporates the use of the additional programs and
procedures, also listed below. The previous application of SGS,
pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.7, covered its recognition as an NRTL (56 FR
10045, 3/23/92), which OSHA granted on the date noted above.
[[Page 27599]]
The address of the SGS testing facilities covered by this
application are:
SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc., 291 Fairfield Avenue, Fairfield, New
Jersey 07004.
SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc., 555 Telegraph Road, Los Angeles,
California 90040.
Background
This Federal Register notice announces the application of SGS U.S.
Testing Company Inc. (formerly U.S. Testing Company, Inc., California
Division), dated March 23, 1997 (See Exhibit 7C), for renewal of its
recognition as an NRTL. This notice also covers the application of SGS,
dated April 21, 1997 (see Exhibit 7D), for recognition of its
Fairfield, New Jersey testing facility as an NRTL. In letters dated
July 27, 1997 and February 4, 1998 (see Exhibits 7E and 7F), SGS also
requested recognition to use the additional programs and procedures
listed below.
SGS according to the applicant is incorporated in the State of New
York, and is 100% owned by SGS North America Inc., which in turn is
owned by SGS Societe General de Surveillance S.A., based in Geneva,
Switzerland. This same ownership relationship existed at the time SGS
was first recognized as an NRTL in March 1993.
Renewal of NRTL Recognition
SGS requests renewal of the recognition of its Los Angeles testing
facility for the following standards for which it was previously
recognized:
ANSI/UL 1 Flexible Metal Conduit
ANSI/UL 3 Flexible Nonmetallic Tubing for Electric Wiring
ANSI/UL 250 Household Refrigerators and Freezers
ANSI/UL 514A Metallic Outlet Boxes, Electrical
UL 544 Electric Medical and Dental Equipment
ANSI/UL 632 Electrically Actuated Transmitters
ANSI/UL 751 Vending Machines
ANSI/UL 913 Intrinsically Safe Apparatus and Associated Apparatus
for Use in Class I, II, and III, Division I, Hazardous (Classified)
Locations
ANSI/UL 1012 Power Supplies
UL 1236 Electric Battery Chargers
UL 1270 Radio Receivers, Audio Systems, and Accessories
ANSI/UL 1418 Implosion-Protected Cathode-Ray Tubes for Television-
Type Appliances
UL 1459 Telephone Equipment
ANSI/UL 1484 Residential Gas Detectors
ANSI/UL 1571 Incandescent Lighting Fixtures
UL 1604 Electrical Equipment for Use in Class I and II, Division 2
and Class III Hazardous (Classified) Locations
Expansion of Recognition--Additional Facility
SGS requests recognition of its Fairfield, New Jersey testing
facility for the following standards when applicable to equipment or
materials that will be used in environments under OSHA's jurisdiction.
SGS desires recognition for testing and certification of products
tested for compliance with these test standards, and OSHA has
determined they are appropriate within the meaning of 29 CFR 1910.7(c):
ANSI/UL 94 Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in
Devices and Appliances
ANSI/UL 1950 Information Technology Equipment Including Electrical
Business 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
The recognition of this additional testing facility also
incorporates the use of the additional programs and procedures listed
below.
Expansion of Recognition--Programs and Procedures
SGS requests expansion of its recognition to use the following
additional programs and procedures, based upon the requirements as
detailed in the Federal Register document titled ``Nationally
Recognized Testing Laboratories; Clarification of the Types of Programs
and Procedures,'' (60 FR 12980, 3/9/95). This notice describes nine
programs or procedures which an NRTL may use in certifying a product,
all of which require that the NRTL retain primary control of or
responsibility for all aspects of product certification. Each NRTL is
automatically approved to use the program called the ``Basic
Procedure,'' when it is first recognized.
1. Acceptance of testing data from independent organizations, other
than NRTLs.
2. Acceptance of witnessed testing data.
Conditions--Use of Programs and Procedures
The following conditions apply to the recognition to use the
additional programs and procedures, and are in addition to the
requirements detailed in the previously cited March 9, 1995 Federal
Register (60 FR 12980):
a. SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc., Fairfield, New Jersey, will
review and approve the qualifications of all external organizations
prior to SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc. accepting test data from these
organizations.
b. SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc., Fairfield, New Jersey, will
review and approve the qualifications of all external organizations
prior to SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc. using a site of any of these
organizations for witnessed test data.
Preliminary Finding
SGS addressed the criteria that have to be met for renewal and for
expansion of its recognition as an NRTL. In connection with the renewal
and the use of the programs, OSHA carried out an on-site review
(evaluation) of the Los Angeles, California, on August 4-5, 1997. OSHA
also carried out an on-site review (evaluation) of the Fairfield, New
Jersey facility, on June 2-3, 1997. Discrepancies noted by the review
team during the on-site review were responded to following its
completion and are included as an integral part of the on-site review
report (see Exhibits 8). With the preparation of the final review
report, the NRTL Program staff was satisfied that SGS had addressed
concerns arising from the review. In the cover memo for the report, the
staff recommended that the recognition of SGS be renewed, and be
expanded to allow the use of the additional programs and procedures,
subject to the above conditions. The staff also recommended the
recognition of the SGS Fairfield, New Jersey testing facility, which
will become the headquarters of its NRTL operations.
Following a review of the application file and the on-site review
report, the NRTL Program staff concluded that the applicant appeared to
have met the requirements for renewal of its recognition as a
Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory for the Los Angeles,
California facility, and for the expansion of recognition to include
the Fairfield, New Jersey facility, and for use of the additional
programs and procedures, subject to the above conditions. The staff
therefore recommended to the Assistant Secretary that the applications
be preliminarily approved.
Based upon a review of the complete application, and the
recommendations of the staff, including the recommendation in the on-
site review report, dated February 27, 1998, the Assistant Secretary
has made a preliminary finding that SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc. can
meet the requirements as prescribed by 29 CFR 1910.7 for renewal of its
recognition, and for the expansion of its recognition to include the
additional facility, and to use the additional programs and
[[Page 27600]]
procedures, subject to the above conditions.
All interested members of the public are invited to supply detailed
reasons and evidence supporting or challenging the sufficiency of the
applicant's having met the requirements for expansion of its
recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, as required
by 29 CFR 1910.7 and Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7. Submission of
pertinent written documents and exhibits shall be made no later than
the last date for comments (see DATES above), and submitted to the
address provided above (see ADDRESS). Copies of the SGS application,
letters and supporting documentation, the on-site review report, and
all submitted comments, as received, are available for inspection and
duplication (under Docket No. NRTL-2-90) at the Docket Office, Room
N2634, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department
of Labor, at the above address.
The Assistant Secretary's final decision on whether the applicant
(SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc.) satisfies the requirements for renewal
and for expansion of its recognition as an NRTL will be made on the
basis of the entire record including the public submissions and any
further proceedings that the Assistant Secretary may consider to be
appropriate in accordance with appendix A to Sec. 1910.7.
Signed at Washington, DC., this 12th day of May, 1998.
Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-13260 Filed 5-18-98; 8:45 am]
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