For products used in commercial workplaces in the USA, a product safety certification by a so-called Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) is generally required. These are independent testing institutes that have been officially recognized after a thorough inspection by OSHA. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a US federal authority that was founded in 1971 to implement the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). Its aim is to minimize workplace accidents and their consequences.
The NRTL program was introduced in 1988 to ensure consistent quality and reliability of testing laboratories and their standards. Recognized laboratories must fulfill test requirements that at least meet the legal requirements. Only products certified by an NRTL enjoy unrestricted regulatory and market acceptance.
An NRTL certification mark confirms that a product meets the legal requirements for workplace safety. A European Declaration of Conformity issued by the manufacturer is not valid in North America — therefore, an NRTL certification is essential for market access in the USA.
SGS laboratory in Puchheim now recognized as an NRTL
After successfully completing a multiyear approval process, SGS Germany GmbH at its Puchheim location near Munich has now been officially recognized as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) by OSHA. This means SGS meets the legal requirements according to 29 CFR 1910.7 and is authorized to conduct testing and certification of products based on relevant US test standards.
Until now, the Puchheim lab was operated under the NRTL program as a so-called SNAP site — a supporting testing location supervised by a primary, recognized SGS NRTL laboratory. With the new recognition, SGS in Puchheim is now fully integrated into the OSHA-approved NRTL network and is now considered an independently recognized NRTL testing facility.
In addition to Puchheim, the SGS NRTL network also includes other officially recognized locations in:
- Taiwan (two subsidiaries)
- South Korea
- Belgium
- Japan
With the status as a fully authorized NRTL site, the Puchheim laboratory can now, in addition to testing services, independently conduct certification reviews and make certification decisions. This shortens processing times and increases flexibility for customers requiring certification according to US standards.
Further information on SGS NRTL recognition can be found in the OSHA Federal Register.
We look forward to supporting you as a reliable partner in the testing and certification of your products for the US market.
Contact
Armin Hudetz
t: +49 89 787 475-133
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Customer Service Team
t: +49 89 787 475-222
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