NTRLs offer alternative route to certification

TUV Rheinland is one of 18 Nationally Recognised Testing Laboratories authorised to certify equipment listed in the 37 OSHA product categories for export to North America.

Historically, it was widely believed that all manufactures exporting to North America needed a UL mark in order to get access to the American market.

However, this changed in 1988 when OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) introduced regulations allowing private sector companies to become Nationally Recognised Testing Laboratories (NRTLs).

Currently, there are 18 NRTLs that are authorised to certify equipment listed in the 37 OSHA product categories which cover electrical conductors and equipment used in the US workplace.

This means that manufacturers of such products are legally forced to use an NRTL otherwise they are not allowed to sell them in the USA.

Other companies draw on NRTLs because of the fear of being sued in court even when they are not bound by the aforementioned categories.

Permitting companies, like TUV Rheinland, to become an NRTL was a significant step towards avoiding distortion of competition.

However, work still needs to be done to communicate that there are alternatives to the UL mark; therefore, OSHA and the American Council of Independent Laboratories (ACIL) have built an alliance to increase the awareness of NRTLs.

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