[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 234 (Monday, December 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76047-76049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30786]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. OSHA-2013-0017]


Quality Auditing Institute, Ltd.: Application for Expansion of 
Recognition and Modification to the List of Appropriate NRTL Program 
Test Standards

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In this notice, OSHA announces the application of Quality 
Auditing Institute, Ltd. for expansion of its recognition as a 
Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and presents the 
Agency's preliminary finding to grant the application. Additionally, 
OSHA proposes to add a new test standard to the NRTL list of 
appropriate test standards.

DATES: Submit comments, information, and documents in response to this 
notice, or requests for an extension of time to make a submission, on 
or before December 22, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments by any of the following methods:
    1. Electronically: Submit comments and attachments electronically 
at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal. 
Follow the instructions online for making electronic submissions.
    2. Facsimile: If submissions, including attachments, are not longer 
than 10 pages, commenters may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at 
(202) 693-1648.
    3. Regular or express mail, hand delivery, or messenger (courier) 
service: Submit comments, requests, and any attachments to the OSHA 
Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2013-0017, Technical Data Center, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-2625, 
Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-2350 (TTY number: (877) 889-
5627). Note that security procedures may result in significant delays 
in receiving comments and other written materials by regular mail. 
Contact the OSHA Docket Office for information about security 
procedures concerning delivery of materials by express mail, hand 
delivery, or messenger service. The hours of operation for the OSHA 
Docket Office are 8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m., e.t.
    4. Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and 
the OSHA docket number (OSHA-2013-0017). OSHA places comments and other 
materials, including any personal information, in the public docket 
without revision, and these materials will be available online at 
http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, the Agency cautions commenters 
about submitting statements they do not want made available to the 
public, or submitting comments that contain personal information 
(either about themselves or others) such as Social Security numbers, 
birth dates, and medical data.
    5. Docket: To read or download submissions or other material in the 
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the OSHA Docket Office at 
the address above. All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index; however, some information (e.g., 
copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download 
through the Web site. All submissions, including copyrighted material, 
are available for inspection at the OSHA Docket Office. Contact the 
OSHA Docket Office for assistance in locating docket submissions.
    6. Extension of comment period: Submit requests for an extension of 
the comment period on or before December 22, 2015 to the Office of 
Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, Directorate of 
Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Room N-3655, Washington, DC 20210, or by fax to (202) 693-
1644.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information regarding this notice is 
available from the following sources:
    Press inquiries: Contact Mr. Frank Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office 
of Communications, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Room N-3647, Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-1999; 
email: [email protected].
    General and technical information: Contact Mr. Kevin Robinson, 
Director, Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, 
Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department

[[Page 76048]]

of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-3655, Washington, DC 
20210; phone: (202) 693-2110 or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Notice of the Application for Expansion

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is providing 
notice that Quality Auditing Institute, Ltd. (QAI), is applying for 
expansion of its current recognition as an NRTL. QAI requests the 
addition of sixteen test standards to its NRTL scope of recognition.
    OSHA recognition of an NRTL signifies that the organization meets 
the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.7. Recognition is an 
acknowledgment that the organization can perform independent safety 
testing and certification of the specific products covered within its 
scope of recognition. Each NRTL's scope of recognition includes (1) the 
type of products the NRTL may test, with each type specified by its 
applicable test standard; and (2) the recognized site(s) that has/have 
the technical capability to perform the product-testing and product-
certification activities for test standards within the NRTL's scope. 
Recognition is not a delegation or grant of government authority; 
however, recognition enables employers to use products approved by the 
NRTL to meet OSHA standards that require product testing and 
certification.
    The Agency processes applications by an NRTL for initial 
recognition and for an expansion or renewal of this recognition, 
following requirements in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7. This appendix 
requires that the Agency publish two notices in the Federal Register in 
processing an application. In the first notice, OSHA announces the 
application and provides its preliminary finding. In the second notice, 
the Agency provides its final decision on the application. These 
notices set forth the NRTL's scope of recognition or modifications of 
that scope. OSHA maintains an informational Web page for each NRTL, 
including QAI, which details the NRTL's scope of recognition. These 
pages are available from the OSHA Web site at http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html.
    QAI currently has two facilities (sites) recognized by OSHA for 
product testing and certification, with its headquarters located at: 
#16-211 Schoolhouse Street, Coquitlam, B.C., V3K 4X9, Canada. A 
complete list of QAI's scope of recognition is available at https://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/qai.html.

II. General Background on the Application

    QAI submitted an application, dated November 18, 2014 (Exhibit 15-
1--Application for Scope Expansion OSHA-2013-0017), to expand its 
recognition to include sixteen additional test standards. OSHA staff 
performed detailed analysis of the application packet and reviewed 
other pertinent information. OSHA did not perform any on-site reviews 
in relation to this application.
    Table 1 below lists the test standards found in QAI's application 
for expansion for testing and certification of products under the NRTL 
Program. All of these standards already appear on OSHA's list of 
appropriate test standards except UL 962, Standard for Household and 
Commercial Furnishings. As discussed below, OSHA is proposing to add UL 
962 to the appropriate test standard list by this notice.

  Table 1--Proposed List of Appropriate Test Standards for Inclusion in
                     QAI's NRTL Scope of Recognition
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           Test standard                     Test standard title
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UL 48.............................  Standard for Electric Signs.
UL 153............................  Standard for Portable Electric
                                     Luminaires.
UL 234............................  Standard for Low Voltage Lighting
                                     Fixtures for Use in Recreational
                                     Vehicles.
UL 355............................  Standard for Cord Reels.
UL 507............................  Standard for Electric Fans.
UL 508............................  Standard for Industrial Control
                                     Equipment.
UL 508A...........................  Standard for Industrial Control
                                     Panels.
UL 514C...........................  Standard for Nonmetallic Outlet
                                     Boxes, Flush-Device Boxes and
                                     Covers.
UL 514D...........................  Cover Plates for Flush-Mounted
                                     Wiring Devices.
UL 962\*\.........................  Standard for Household and
                                     Commercial Furnishings.
UL 1574...........................  Standard for Track Lighting Systems.
UL 1993...........................  Self-Ballasted Lamps and Lamp
                                     Adapters.
UL 2108...........................  Standard for Low Voltage Lighting
                                     Systems.
UL 60950-1........................  Information Technology Equipment--
                                     Safety--Part 1: General
                                     Requirements.
UL 61010-1........................  Safety Requirements for Electrical
                                     Equipment Measurement, Control, and
                                     Laboratory Use--Part 1: General
                                     Requirements.
UL 8750...........................  Standard for Light Emitting Diode
                                     (LED) Equipment for Use in Lighting
                                     Products.
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\*\Represents a new standard that OSHA is proposing to add to the NRTL
  Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards.

III. Proposal To Add New Test Standards to the NRTL Program's List of 
Appropriate Test Standards

    Periodically, OSHA will propose to add new test standards to the 
NRTL list of appropriate test standards following an evaluation of the 
test standard document. To qualify as an appropriate test standard, the 
Agency evaluates the document to (1) verify it represents a product 
category for which OSHA requires certification by an NRTL, (2) verify 
the document represents an end product and not a component, and (3) 
verify the document defines safety test specifications (not 
installation or operational performance specifications).
    In this notice, OSHA proposes to add a new test standard to the 
NRTL Program's list of appropriate test standards. Table 2, below, 
lists the test standard new to the NRTL Program. OSHA preliminarily 
determined that this test standard is an appropriate test standard and 
proposes to include this test standard in the NRTL Program's list of 
appropriate test standards. OSHA seeks public comment on this 
preliminary determination.

[[Page 76049]]



  Table 2--Test Standard OSHA Is Proposing To Add to the NRTL Program's
                   List of Appropriate Test Standards
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           Test standard                     Test standard title
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UL 962............................  Standard for Household and
                                     Commercial Furnishings.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Preliminary Findings on QAI's Application

    QAI submitted an acceptable application for expansion of its scope 
of recognition. OSHA's review of the application file and pertinent 
information indicate that QAI can meet the requirements prescribed by 
29 CFR 1910.7 for expanding its recognition to include the addition of 
these sixteen test standards for NRTL testing and certification listed 
above. This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or 
temporary approval of QAI's application.
    OSHA welcomes public comment as to whether QAI meets the 
requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of its recognition as an 
NRTL. Comments should consist of pertinent written documents and 
exhibits. Commenters needing more time to comment must submit a request 
in writing, stating the reasons for the request. Commenters must submit 
the written request for an extension by the due date for comments. OSHA 
will limit any extension to 10 days unless the requester justifies a 
longer period. OSHA may deny a request for an extension if the request 
is not adequately justified. To obtain or review copies of the exhibits 
identified in this notice, as well as comments submitted to the docket, 
contact the Docket Office, Room N-2625, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, at the above address. These 
materials also are available online at http://www.regulations.gov under 
Docket No. OSHA-2013-0017.
    OSHA staff will review all comments to the docket submitted in a 
timely manner and, after addressing the issues raised by these 
comments, will recommend to the Assistant Secretary for Occupational 
Safety and Health whether to grant QAI's application for expansion of 
its scope of recognition. The Assistant Secretary will make the final 
decision on granting the application. In making this decision, the 
Assistant Secretary may undertake other proceedings prescribed in 
Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7.
    OSHA will publish a public notice of its final decision in the 
Federal Register.

Authority and Signature

    David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
Occupational Safety and Health, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210, authorized the preparation of this notice. 
Accordingly, the Agency is issuing this notice pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 
657(g)(2), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-2012 (77 FR 3912, Jan. 25, 
2012), and 29 CFR 1910.7.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on December 2, 2015.
David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2015-30786 Filed 12-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-26-P