[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88974-88975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28337]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. OSHA-2010-0013]


SolarPTL, LLC: Grant of Expansion of Recognition

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In this notice, OSHA announces the final decision to expand 
the scope of recognition for SolarPTL, LLC as a Nationally Recognized 
Testing Laboratory (NRTL).

DATES: The expansion of the scope of recognition becomes effective on 
December 26, 2023.

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; 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 of Labor; telephone: 
(202) 693-1911; email: [email protected]. OSHA's web page includes 
information about the NRTL Program (see http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Notice of Final Decision

    OSHA hereby gives notice of the expansion of the scope of 
recognition for SolarPTL LLC (PTL). PTL's expansion covers the addition 
of two test standards to the NRTL scope of recognition.
    OSHA recognition of a 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 the 
scope of recognition. Each NRTL's scope of recognition includes (1) the 
type of products the NRTL may test, with each type specified by the 
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 a NRTL for initial 
recognition, as well as for an expansion or renewal of 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 the preliminary finding. In the second notice, 
the agency provides the 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 PTL, which details that NRTL's scope of recognition. These 
pages are available from the OSHA website at https://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html.
    PTL submitted an application, dated December 21, 2018 (OSHA-2010-
0013-0007), to expand recognition as a NRTL to include one additional 
test standard. The standard requested, UL 61730, was referenced in 
application as a single standard; however this standard has two parts. 
PTL amended the application on October 30, 2023 (OSHA-2010-0013-0008), 
to clarify that the expansion request was for both parts of the 
standard. OSHA staff performed a detailed analysis of the application 
packet and reviewed other pertinent information. OSHA performed an on-
site assessment related to this application on August 16-17, 2022, 
where OSHA found nonconformances with the requirements of 29 CFR part 
1910. PTL addressed the nonconformances adequately and OSHA has no 
objection to the addition of both parts of this standard to the NRTL 
scope of recognition.
    OSHA published the preliminary notice announcing PTL's expansion 
application in the Federal Register on November 21, 2023 (88 FR 81107). 
The agency requested comments by December 6, 2023, but it received no 
comments in response to this notice. OSHA now is proceeding with this 
final notice to grant expansion of PTL's NRTL scope of recognition.

[[Page 88975]]

    To review copies of all public documents pertaining to PTL's 
application, go to https://www.regulations.gov or contact the Docket 
Office, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department 
of Labor at (202) 693-2350. Docket No. OSHA-2010-0013 contains all 
materials in the record concerning PTL's recognition. All submissions, 
including copyrighted material, are available for inspection through 
the OSHA Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-
2350 for assistance in locating docket submissions.

II. Final Decision and Order

    OSHA staff examined PTL's expansion application, their capability 
to meet the requirements of the test standards, and other pertinent 
information. Based on its review of this evidence, OSHA finds that PTL 
meets the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of its 
recognition, subject to the limitations and conditions listed below. 
OSHA, therefore, is proceeding with this final notice to grant PTL's 
scope of recognition. OSHA limits the expansion of PTL's recognition to 
testing and certification of products for demonstration of conformance 
to the test standards shown below in table 1.

Table 1--Appropriate Test Standards for Inclusion in PTL's NRTL Scope of
                               Recognition
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           Test standard                     Test standard title
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UL 61730--Part 1..................  Photovoltaic (PV) Module Safety
                                     Qualification--Part 1: Requirements
                                     for Construction; and
UL 61730--Part 2..................  Photovoltaic (PV) Module Safety
                                     Qualification--Part 2: Requirements
                                     for Testing.
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    OSHA's recognition of any NRTL for a particular test standard is 
limited to equipment or materials for which OSHA standards require 
third-party testing and certification before using them in the 
workplace. Consequently, if a test standard also covers any products 
for which OSHA does not require such testing and certification, a 
NRTL's scope of recognition does not include these products.

A. Conditions

    Recognition is contingent on continued compliance with 29 CFR 
1910.7, including but not limited to, abiding by the following 
conditions of recognition:
    1. PTL must inform OSHA as soon as possible, in writing, of any 
change of ownership, facilities, or key personnel, and of any major 
change in its operations as a NRTL, and provide details of the 
change(s);
    2. PTL must meet all the terms of its recognition and comply with 
all OSHA policies pertaining to this recognition; and
    3. PTL must continue to meet the requirements for recognition, 
including all previously published conditions on PTL's scope of 
recognition, in all areas for which it has recognition.
    Pursuant to the authority in 29 CFR 1910.7, OSHA hereby expands the 
scope of recognition of PTL as a NRTL, subject to the limitations and 
conditions specified above.

III. Authority and Signature

    James S. Frederick, Deputy 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. 8-2020 (85 FR 58393; Sept. 18, 2020), 
and 29 CFR 1910.7.

    Signed at Washington, DC.
James S. Frederick,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2023-28337 Filed 12-22-23; 8:45 am]
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