DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration [Docket No. NRTL-2-93]

Entela, Inc.; Expansion for Recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of requests for expansions of recognition as a nationally recognized testing laboratory, and preliminary finding.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the applications of Entela, Inc. for expansion of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) under 29 CFR 1910.7, for laboratory facilities, test standards, and programs and procedures, and presents the Agency's preliminary finding.

DATES: The last date for interested parties to submit comments is April 22, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: NRTL Recognition Program, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor -- Room N3653, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Variance Determination, NRTL Recognition Program, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N3653, Washington, DC 20210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Notice of Application

Notice is hereby given that Entela, Inc. (ENT), which previously made application pursuant to section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, (84 Stat. 1593, 29 U.S.C. 655), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-90 (55 FR 9033), and 29 CFR 1910.7, for recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (see 59 FR 10180, 3/3/94), and was so recognized (see 59 FR 37997, 7/26/94), has made application for expansion of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory for the programs and procedures, the equipment or materials, and the programs and procedures, listed below.

The address of the laboratory covered by this application is:

Entela, Inc., 3033 Madison, S.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49548.

Background

This Federal Register notice is a compilation of three separate applications from Entela, Inc., as follows:

(1) Application for expansion of recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory for inclusion of Entela's Taiwan facility, dated May 15, 1996; (2) Application for expansion of recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory for additional programs and procedures, dated June 26, 1996; and (3) Application for expansion of recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory for additional standards, dated August 13, 1996.

Expansion of Recognition -- Facilities

A report prepared by the NRTL Program Lead Assessor, dated February 24, 1994, relative to ENT's request for inclusion of its Taiwan facility in its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, contains a positive recommendation with limitations. The recommendation was limited to minor mechanical and electrical testing of instruments and small appliances as well as inspections being carried out only by Entela personnel.

By letter dated July 5, 1995, to Ken Klouse, the Lead Assessor for the NRTL Program, Kim Phillipi, President of ENT, stated that ENT would not pursue the inclusion of the Taiwan facility until changes to their overall program were reviewed. On May 15, 1996, Timothy Hubbard of Entela wrote to Ken Klouse and enclosed a revised Entela Third Party Certification Program Manual which, among other things, addressed outstanding issues concerning the Taiwan facility.

The original limitations as cited in the on-site Survey Report dated February 24, 1994, will apply to the recognition of theTaiwan facility, specifically:

a. The Taiwan facility shall be limited to carrying out minor mechanical and electrical testing of instruments and small appliances.

b. Performance of inspections shall be limited to Entella personnel. The Taiwan facility is located at: 3F No. 260 262 Wen, Lin North Road, Pei Tou, Taipei, Taiwan.

Expansion of Recognition -- Test Standards

Entela, Inc., desires recognition for testing and certification of products when tested for compliance with the following test standards, which are appropriate within the meaning of 29 CFR 1910.7(c):

ANSI/UL 22 -- Amusement and Gaming Machines

UL 122 -- Photographic Equipment

ANSI/UL 244A -- Solid State Controls for Appliances

ANSI/UL 353 -- Limit Controls

UL 355 -- Cord Reels

UL 429 -- Electrically Operated Valves

ANSI/UL 467 -- Grounding and Bonding Equipment

ANSI/UL 499 -- Electric Heating Appliances

ANSI/UL 696 -- Electric Toys

UL 745-1 -- Portable Electric Tools

UL 745-2-1 -- Drills

UL 745-2-2 -- Screwdrivers and Impact Wrenches

UL 745-2-3 -- Grinders, Polishers and Disk-type Sanders

UL 745-2-4 -- Sanders

UL 745-2-5 -- Circular Saws and Circular Knives

UL 745-2-6 -- Hammers

UL 745-2-8 -- Shears and Nibblers

UL 745-2-9 -- Tappers

UL 745-2-11 -- Reciprocating Saws

UL 745-2-12 -- Concrete Vibrators

UL 745-2-14 -- Planers

UL 745-2-17 -- Routers and Trimmers

UL 745-2-30 -- Staplers

UL 745-2-31 -- Diamond Core Drills

UL 745-2-32 -- Magnetic Drill Press

UL 745-2-33 -- Portable Bandsaws

UL 745-2-34 -- Strapping Tools

UL 745-2-35 -- Drain Cleaners

UL 745-2-36 -- Hand Motor Tools

UL 745-2-37 -- Plate Joiners

UL 749 -- Household Dishwashers

UL 763 -- Motor Operated Commercial Food Preparing Machines

ANSI/UL 826 -- Household Electric Clocks

ANSI/UL 859 -- Household Electric Personal Grooming Appliances

ANSI/UL 917 -- Clock Operated Switches

ANSI/UL 921 -- Commercial Electric Dishwashers

UL 982 -- Motor Operated Household Food Preparing Machines

UL 987 -- Stationary and Fixed Electric Tools

UL 1018 -- Electric Aquarium Equipment

UL 1028 -- Hair Clipping and Shaving Appliances

ANSI/UL 1083 -- Household Electric Skillets and Frying Type Appliances

UL 1086 -- Household Trash Compactors

UL 1206 -- Electric Commercial Clothes Washing Machines

ANSI/UL 1262 -- Laboratory Equipment

ANSI/UL 1310 -- Class 2 Power Units

ANSI/UL 1447 -- Electric Lawn Mowers

ANSI/UL 1448 -- Electric Hedge Trimmers

ANSI/UL 1555 -- Electric Coin Operated Clothes Washing Equipment

ANSI/UL 1556 -- Electric Coin Operated Clothes Drying Equipment

UL 1574 -- Track Lighting Systems

ANSI/UL 1585 -- Class 2 and Class 3 Transformers

ANSI/UL 1594 -- Sewing and Cutting Machines

ANSI/UL 1727 -- Commercial Electric Personal Grooming Appliances

UL 1786 -- Nighlights

UL 1838 -- Low Voltage Landscape Lighting Systems

UL 3101-1 -- Electric Equipment for Laboratory Use, Part 1, General

UL 3111-1 -- Electric Controls for Household and Similar Use, Part 1,General

An on-site audit and an assessment of ENT's Grand Rapids facility was carried out on August 29, 1996. See the Survey Report dated November 26, 1996, for the results of the assessment. The NRTL staff made an in-depth study of the details of ENT's original application for recognition, as well as its requests for expansion, and the original and expansion on-site assessments, and its audit, and determined that ENT had the staff capability and the necessary equipment to conduct testing of producing the proposed test standards.

Expansion of Recognition -- Programs and Procedures

Entela, Inc., requested expansion of its recognition, based upon the conditions as detailed in the Federal Register document titled "Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories; Clarification of the Types of Programs and Procedures", 60 FR 12980, 3/9/95, for the following programs and procedures:

1. Acceptance of testing data from independent organizations, other than NRTLs.

2. Acceptance of product evaluations from independent organizations, other than NRTLs.

3. Acceptance of witnessed testing data. 4. Acceptance of testing data from non-independent organizations. 5. Acceptance of evaluation data from non-independent organizations (requiring NRTL review prior to marketing).

6. Acceptance of continued certification following minor modifications by the client.

7. Acceptance of product evaluations from organizations that function as part of the International Electrotechnical Commission Certification Body (IEC-CB) Scheme.

8. Acceptance of services other than testing or evaluation performed by subcontractors or agents.

Preliminary Finding

Based upon a review of the completed application file, the on-site assessment reports, and the recommendations of the staff, the Assistant Secretary has made a preliminary finding that Entela, Inc. can meet the requirements as prescribed by 29 CFR 1910.7 for the expansion of its recognition:

(1) to recognize the Taiwan facility;

(2) to include the 57 test standards previously listed; and

(3) to incorporate the additional eight programs and procedures noted above.

All interested members of the public are invited to supply detailed reasons and evidence supporting or challenging the sufficiency of the applicant's having met the requirements for expansion of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, as required by 29 CFR 1910.7 and Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7. Submission of pertinent written documents and exhibits shall be made no later than April 22, 1997, and must be addressed to the NRTL Recognition Program, Office of Variance Determination, Room N 3653, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Copies of the ENT application, the laboratory survey reports, and all submitted comments, as received, (Docket No. NRTL-2-93), are available for inspection and duplication at the Docket Office, Room N 2634, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, at the above address.

The Assistant Secretary's final decision on whether the applicant (Entela, Inc.) satisfies the requirements for expansion of its recognition as an NRTL will be made on the basis of the entire record including the public submissions and any further proceedings that the Assistant Secretary may consider appropriate in accordance with Appendix A to Section 1910.7.

Signed at Washington, D.C., this 13th day of February, 1997.

Greg Watchman,
Acting Assistant Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97-4321 Filed 2-20-97; 8:45 am)

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