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NRTLs, FEBs and the NEC
What every electrical inspector needs to know about NRTLs, FEBs, listing, labeling
and the NEC.
Presented by ACES - 2011
What we will cover today
» What is a NRTL? What is an FEB?
» Why are they important?
» NEC requirements for listing/labeling.
» What listing and labeling marks look like?
» What do NRTLs and FEBs do?
» How do AHJs relate to NRTLs and FEBs?
» Common issues for inspectors!
What is a NRTL? What is an FEB?
» An NRTL is a Nationally Recognized
Testing Laboratory.
» An FEB is a Field Evaluation Body.
(An NRTL may offer FEB services. But an FEB is not
required to be an NRTL via the OSHA recognition
process to offer FEB services).
What is a NRTL?
» NRTLs are third-party organizations
recognized by OSHA as having the
capability to provide product safety testing
and certification (“listing”) services, at the
point of manufacture, for a wide range of
products used in the American workplace.
What Is Listing?
» The listing process involves rigorous testing of
representative samples of a product and then
periodic (usually 2-4 times per year) factory
follow-up verification and inspection by the
NRTL to ensure new production exactly mirrors
the tested samples.
What is an FEB?
» FEBs are third-party testing organizations.
» FEBs have the capability to provide
product safety testing and labeling
primarily in the field for a wide range of
products found in the American workplace.
What is an FEB?
» NFPA recently published two important
national standards:
▪ NFPA 790, Standard for Competency
of Third Party Evaluation Bodies
(FEBs).
▪ NFPA 791, Recommended Practice
and Procedures for Unlabeled
Equipment Evaluation.
What is an FEB?
» Since these standards provide national
requirements for FEB competency and
methods, they are a big help for AHJs.
» AHJs can now use these standards to
determine FEB acceptability.
What is an FEB?
» Field evaluation involves the non-
destructive testing of EACH product to
verify compliance with applicable
standards before applying a label.
What is a NRTL? What is an FEB?
» The listings performed by NRTLs and
evaluations performed by FEBs are based
on product safety standards developed by
US based standards-developing
organizations and often issued under the
accreditation of the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI).
CFR 1910.399
» Acceptable. An installation of equipment is
acceptable to the Assistant Secretary of Labor,
and approved within the meaning of this Subpart
S:
(1) If it is accepted, or certified, or listed, or
labeled, or otherwise determined to be safe by a
nationally recognized testing laboratory
recognized pursuant to § 1910.7;
(NRTLs can perform this service)
CFR 1910.399
(3) With respect to custom-made equipment or related installations that are designed, fabricated for, and intended for use by a particular customer, if it is determined to be safe for its intended use by its manufacturer on the basis of test data which the employer keeps and makes available for inspection to the Assistant Secretary and his authorized representatives.
(FEBs can provide such test data)
CFR 1910.7(b)
» NRTL requirements. The term nationally
recognized testing laboratory (NRTL)
means an organization which is
recognized by OSHA and which tests for
safety, and lists or labels or accepts,
equipment or materials and which meets
all of the following criteria:
CFR 1910.7(b) (continued)
» For each specified item of equipment or material
to be listed, labeled or accepted, the NRTL has
the capability (including proper testing
equipment and facilities, trained staff, written
testing procedures, and calibration and quality
control programs) to perform: Testing and
examining of equipment and materials for
workplace safety purposes to determine
conformance with appropriate test standards.
What are NRTLs and FEBs?
» NRTLs can issue listings that are accepted by OSHA. NRTLs and FEBs are usually accepted by local jurisdictions for showing that equipment is suitable for use in the workplace.
» NRTLs and FEBs are also usually accepted by local jurisdictions, retailers and others for testing and evaluating products used in construction and the home.
Why are FEBs and NRTLs Important?
» The purpose of NRTLs and FEBs is to
evaluate and test electrical equipment to
insure that the products comply with the
applicable standards.
» Without NRTLs or FEBs there would be no
way of knowing that a particular product met
the required safety requirements (without
taking it apart and checking in the field).
Importance of NRTLs and FEBs
» By looking for the NRTL mark or FEB
label, an inspector will have information
about the standards to which the product
has been listed or labeled. In addition the
inspector can call on the NRTL or FEB for
help regarding safety or acceptance
questions regarding equipment suitability
when something does not look correct!
Importance of NRTLs and FEBs
» NRTLs and FEBs are part of the US
Electrical Safety System that helps insure
safe installations of electrical products and
systems.
The NEC, NRTLs and FEBs
» How does this apply to AHJs and Electrical
Inspectors?
The NEC, NRTLs and FEBs
» The NEC is the driver that causes local
Electrical Inspectors and AHJs to look for
labels and listing marks!
» 110.2 Approval.
▪ The conductors and equipment required or
permitted by this Code shall be acceptable
only if approved.
(See also NEC 90.7)
The NEC, NRTLs and FEBs
» NEC 110.3 provides a list of considerations to be made in evaluating equipment:
▪ Suitability
▪ Mechanical strength
▪ Wire bending space
▪ Insulation
▪ Heating effects under normal and abnormal conditions
The NEC, NRTLs and FEBs
» In itself, 110.3(A) does not require listing or labeling of equipment. It does, however, require considerable evaluation of equipment. Section 110.2 requires that equipment be acceptable only if approved. The term approved is defined in Article 100 as acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Before issuing approval, the authority having jurisdiction may require evidence of compliance with 100.3(A).
» The most common form of evidence considered acceptable by authorities having jurisdiction is a listing or labeling by a third party.
The NEC, NRTLs and FEBs
» Another important Point from the NEC!
▪ (B) Installation and Use. Listed or labeled
equipment shall be installed and used in
accordance with any instructions included in
the listing or labeling.
NRTL Listing Marks
» The following slides show typical NRTL
listing marks and were taken from the
OSHA NRTL Website:
www.osha.gov.dts/otpca/nrtl/nrtlmrk.html
(Note: Other forms and older labels are also
shown there.)
NRTL Listing Marks
» Canadian Standards Association
» Communication Certification Laboratory
(CCL)
NRTL Listing Marks
» Curtis-Strauss LLC (CSL)
» FM Global Technologies LLC (FM)
NRTL Listing Mark
» Intertek
» MET Laboratories, Inc (MET)
NRTL Listing Marks
» NSF International
» National Technical Systems Inc NTS
NRTL Listing Marks
» TUV SUD America, Inc
» TUV SUD Product Services
NRTL Listing Marks
» TUV Rheinland of No. America
» TUV Rheinland PTL, LLC
NRTL Listing Marks
» Underwriters Laboratories, Inc
» QPS Evaluation Services Inc (QPS)
FEB Labeling Marks
» The following slides show typical FEB
labels.
(Note: Since there are many more FEBs than NRTLs,
this if far from a comprehensive listing of FEB labels)
FEB Labels
» MET Laboratories, Inc.
» LabTest Certification Inc.
FEB Labels
» TUV SUD America Inc.
» NSS Laboratories, Incorporated
FEB Labels
» QPS Evaluation Services, Inc
» SGS North America
FEB Labels
» CSA International
» Applied Research Laboratories
FEB Labels
» Intertek
» ASC Engineering Service
FEB Labels
» Underwriters Laboratories
» eti Conformity Services
What do NRTLs and FEBs do?
» NRTLs and FEBs evaluate products for
safety.
» This evaluation includes:
▪ Determination of the proper standard to use to
evaluate the product.
▪ Review samples and information provided by
the manufacturer or customer.
What do NRTLs and FEBs do?
» This evaluation includes (continued):
▪ Verification of the information provided by
checking references and comparing to the
actual product.
▪ Review of the standard and comparing the
product to the standard, evaluating each part
covered by the standard.
▪ Conducting testing required per the standard.
What do NRTLs and FEBs do?
» Once the testing and evaluation is done and product is determined to comply with the standard, the product or equipment is eligible to receive the listing mark of the NRTL, or label of the FEB.
What do NRTLs and FEBs do?
» The listing process requires that representative samples of a product be tested to determine acceptability. Therefore NRTLs perform factory follow-up inspections on new production (typically 2-4 times/year). These inspections check that critical components are the same.
AHJs, NRTLs, FEBs and NEC
The safety system is a cooperative effort:
» The NRTLs and the FEBs determine that products meet safety standards and are capable of being installed in accordance with the NEC.
» The AHJs determine that the installation has been made in accordance with applicable codes.
Importance of NRTLs and FEBs
» US Electrical Safety System
AHJs, NRTLs and FEBs
» AHJs rely on the NRTL listing or FEB label to
know products have been evaluated and are
suitable for the identified purpose.
» Should product problems arise, NRTLs and
FEBs rely on the AHJ, consumers and others
to identify problems with products, so that
further investigation can be done to improve
the system.
AHJs, NRTLs and FEBs
» When AHJs rely on listed or labeled products, it can make the job easier since the inspector does not need to evaluate all the parts as required by NEC 110.3(A).
» Use of listed or labeled products provides a minimum level of consistent safety when installed properly. NRTLs, FEBs and inspectors working together!
AHJs, NRTLs and FEBs
» We have discussed NRTL and FEB
processes and how they help the
inspectors in general.
» Now we will look at some places where
working together we make a difference
and how the NRTL or FEB can help the
Electrical Inspector complete work more
efficiently.
Inspector Issues
» What if a listed or labeled product just does not look right or has obvious violations?▪ Notify the NRTL or FEB.
• Might be a counterfeit label on a product.
• Might be modified somehow.
• Might be the manufacturer is incorrectly manufacturing the product.
▪ In any case the NRTL or FEB has a process to review, evaluate and stop problems in the future.
Inspector Issues
» What if a product bears an NRTL mark but has been
repaired, reconditioned, modified, refurbished or
remanufactured such that its features or design have
been changed?
» These product changes, even if inadvertent, void the
NRTL’s approval for that product, and an employer’s
use of these products in the workplace violates the
OSHA standard requiring that products be NRTL
approved.
» Recommended Action: ASK if any equipment falls
under above criteria.Refer to OSHA’s Safety and Health Informational Bulletin (SHIB) 02-16-2010.
Inspector Issues
» What if a listed or labeled product just does not look right or has obvious violations?
▪ Once you notify the NRTL or FEB, now what? What about the item holding up the opening of the business?
▪ FEBs provide field label service paid for by one of the parties involved - typically the manufacturer or installer - to determine if the specific unit in the field is compliant in the specific installation.
What Is Field Labeling ?
» What if a product is not listed, or has been field
modified, refurbished or relocated?
» OSHA’s Safety and Health Informational Bulletin
(SHIB) 02-16-2010 states: “Changes made to a
product after NRTL approval will void the NRTL’s
approval of the product.”
» Such products can be field evaluated to provide
assurance to the AHJ that the equipment
complies with applicable safety standards.
What Is Field Labeling ?
Field Labeling
» FEBs and most NRTLs offer field evaluation
services.
» NFPA – the same organization that publishes the
NEC – also published NFPA 790. This standard
will help formalize and bring more consistency to
the field labeling process.
Inspector Issues
» Field Labeling
▪ NFPA 790 – Standard for Competency of
Third Party Field Evaluation Bodies.
• Used by accreditors to show an FEB is qualified
and has minimum skills and procedures necessary
to do this type of work.
• These rules could also be used by states and local
jurisdictions to determine if a field evaluation firm
meets minimum requirements.
Inspector Issues
» Field Labeling
▪ NFPA 791 – Recommended Practice and
Procedures for Unlabeled Equipment
Evaluation.
• These are the guidelines that accredited Field
Evaluation Bodies will use to evaluate equipment
in the field.
• These guidelines will provide for more consistency
in the evaluation process and in evaluation reports.
Inspector Issues
The CE Mark
» It looks like this:
» The CE Mark is the manufacturer’s self-
declaration of compliance to European
standards.
» It says nothing about compliance with
US requirements.
Conclusion
» The use of listed and labeled products are
great evidence that the products you are
seeing are in compliance with US
standards and codes.
For More Information:
» Contact Us:eti Conformity Services
800-Go to eti (468-6384)
www.eticonformity.com
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