A Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory ( NRTL) is a government-recognized, private testing laboratory in the United States that certifies products according to its own standards.
Relation to UL
In choosing UL, we have opted for what is arguably the most meticulous NRTL. The high quality of UL’s standards, tests, and audits aligns with our quality standards.
NRTLs and Occupational Safety in the United States
Under federal law, ensuring workplace safety in the United States is the responsibility of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It issues relevant regulations for this purpose. Monitoring compliance with these regulations, in turn, is the responsibility of local authorities, the Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) or their inspectors. Before a machine or piece of equipment can be put into operation in the United States, it must be approved by an AHJ inspector.
NRTLs are accredited testing laboratories
Many of these inspectors rely on the presence of a certification seal when inspecting the facility. However, these seals are not issued by OSHA itself, but by private companies. In theory, any private organization may issue its own labels; in practice, however, only NRTL certifications are recognized by inspectors. But what distinguishes a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory from other companies?
How does a testing laboratory become an NRTL?
All private testing laboratories in the United States operate according to their own standards. To obtain a certification mark—as the test mark is also known—the tested product must comply with the standards specified therein. To ensure the quality of testing laboratories and their standards, OSHA launched the NRTL program in 1988. Laboratories whose standards are at least as stringent as the legal requirements can receive federal recognition following a thorough review.
In short, an NRTL certification mark means that the labeled product meets at least the legal requirements for workplace safety. The declaration of conformity issued by the manufacturer, which is standard in the EU, has no meaning in North America. Anyone seeking market access to North America should therefore not forego NRTL certification.
In which fields do NRTLs operate?
Not every NRTL operates in every field or is certified for every field. While some laboratories focus on specific sectors, such as aerospace or healthcare, others operate in nearly all sectors. In the field of electrical safety and fire protection, UL be considered the leading NRTL. UL’s influence is such that some UL standards even form the basis for legal regulations.
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Are there any NRTLs for Canada?
Canada has its own agency, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), which is comparable to OSHA. Some NRTLs are accredited by both agencies and can therefore issue certification marks recognized in both countries.
In addition, there is an agreement between the United States and Canada regarding the mutual recognition of their respective NRTL marks. For NRTL customers, this means that the certification of their products is recognized in both countries.
Zusammenfassung
NRTL stands for Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory. This is the term used in the United States to refer to private testing laboratories that are recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)—the federal agency responsible for workplace safety. Only products certified by these laboratories are fully recognized by regulatory agencies and consumers.
