[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 217 (Tuesday, November 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63085-63086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30113]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. NRTL-1-88]


MET Laboratories, Inc., Application Expansion of Recognition

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the application of MET Laboratories, 
Inc. for expansion of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized 
Testing Laboratory under 29 CFR 1910.7, and presents the Agency's 
preliminary finding. This preliminary finding does not constitute an 
interim or temporary approval of the application.

DATES: Comments submitted by interested parties must be received no 
later than January 11, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments concerning this notice to: Office of Technical 
Programs and Coordination Activities, NRTL Program, Occupational Safety 
and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW, Room N3653, Washington, D.C. 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernard Pasquet, Office of Technical 
Programs and Coordination Activities, NRTL Program at the above 
address, or phone (202) 219-7056.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Notice of Application

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hereby 
gives notice that MET Laboratories, Inc. (MET), has applied for 
expansion of its current recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing 
Laboratory (NRTL). MET's expansion request covers the use of additional 
test standards. OSHA recognizes an organization as an NRTL, and 
processes applications related to such recognitions, following 
requirements in Sec. 1910.7 of Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations 
(29 CFR 1910.7). Appendix A to this section requires that OSHA publish 
this public notice of the preliminary finding on an application.
    MET's previous application as an NRTL covered the renewal and an 
expansion of its recognition (61 FR 41661, August 6, 1996), which OSHA 
granted on November 20, 1996 (61 FR 59114).
    The current address of the MET testing facility already recognized 
by OSHA is: MET Laboratories, Inc., 914 West Patapsco Avenue, 
Baltimore, Maryland 21230.

[[Page 63086]]

General Background on the Application

    MET has submitted a request, dated June 3, 1998 (see Exhibit 20A), 
to expand its recognition as an NRTL for additional test standards. MET 
provided some additional information related to its request on August 
21, 1998 (see Exhibit 20B). MET will notify OSHA, as stated in this 
letter, regarding a change in its existing capability to perform 
explosion tests. Relatedly, OSHA intends to impose limitations on the 
testing permitted under certain test standards.
    MET seeks recognition for testing and certification of products to 
demonstrate compliance with the following 17 standards, and OSHA has 
determined the standards are appropriate, as prescribed by 29 CFR 
1910.7(c). OSHA recognition of any NRTL for a particular test standard 
is limited to products for which OSHA standards require third party 
testing and certification before use in the workplace.

ANSI/UL 5 Surface Metal Raceways and Fittings
ANSI/UL 50 Enclosures for Electrical Equipment
ANSI/UL 65 Electric Wired Cabinets
ANSI/UL 201 Garage Equipment
ANSI/UL 482 Portable Sun/Heat Lamps
ANSI/UL 514A Metallic Outlet Boxes, Electrical
UL 664 Commercial Dry-Cleaning Machines (Type IV)
ANSI/UL 698 Industrial Control Equipment for Use in Hazardous 
(Classified) Locations\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Testing and certification of products under this test 
standard is limited to Class I locations. Explosion testing is also 
limited to current test chamber capabilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

UL 775 Graphic Arts Equipment
ANSI/UL 886 Outlet Boxes and Fittings for Use in Hazardous 
(Classified) Locations \1\
ANSI/UL 1017 Vacuum Cleaning Machines and Blower Cleaners
ANSI/UL 1018 Electric Aquarium Equipment
ANSI/UL 1054 Special-Use Switches
ANSI/UL 1203 Explosion-Proof and Dust-Ignition-Proof Electrical 
Equipment for Use in Hazardous (Classified) Locations \1\
ANSI/UL 1310 Direct Plug-In Transformer Units
ANSI/UL 1573 Stage and Studio Lighting Units
ANSI/UL 6500 Audio/Visual and Musical Instrument Apparatus for 
Household, Commercial, and Similar General Use

Preliminary Finding on the Application

    MET has submitted an acceptable request for expansion of its 
recognition as an NRTL. In connection with this request, OSHA did not 
perform an on-site review of MET's NRTL testing facilities. However, 
NRTL Program audit staff reviewed information pertinent to the request, 
and in a memo dated September 9, 1998 (see Exhibit 21), recommended 
that MET's recognition be expanded to include the 17 additional test 
standards listed above.
    Following a review of the application file, the auditor's 
recommendation, and other pertinent documents, the NRTL Program staff 
has concluded that OSHA can grant, to the MET Laboratories, Inc. 
facility listed above, the expansion of recognition to use the 
additional 17 test standards. The staff therefore recommended to the 
Assistant Secretary that the application be preliminarily approved.
    Based upon the recommendations of the staff, the Assistant 
Secretary has made a preliminary finding that the MET Laboratories, 
Inc. facility listed above can meet the requirements, as prescribed by 
29 CFR 1910.7, for the expansion of recognition. This preliminary 
finding does not constitute an interim or temporary approval of the 
application.
    OSHA welcomes public comments, in sufficient detail, as to whether 
MET has met the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of its 
recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory. Your comment 
must consist of pertinent written documents and exhibits. To consider 
it, OSHA must receive the comment at the address provided above (see 
ADDRESSES), no later than the last date for comments (see DATES above). 
You may obtain or review copies of MET's request, the recommendation on 
the expansion, and all submitted comments, as received, by contacting 
the Docket Office, Room N2625, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, at the above address. You 
should refer to Docket No. NRTL-1-88, the permanent record of public 
information on MET's recognition.
    The NRTL Program staff will review all timely comments, and after 
resolution of issues raised by these comments, will recommend whether 
to grant MET's expansion request. The Assistant Secretary will make the 
final decision on granting the expansion, and in making this decision, 
may undertake other proceedings that are prescribed in Appendix A to 29 
CFR 1910.7. OSHA will publish a public notice of this final decision in 
the Federal Register.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 28th day of October, 1998.
Charles N. Jeffress,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-30113 Filed 11-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-U