[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88974-88975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28337]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
[Docket No. OSHA-2010-0013]
SolarPTL, LLC: Grant of Expansion of Recognition
AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this notice, OSHA announces the final decision to expand
the scope of recognition for SolarPTL, LLC as a Nationally Recognized
Testing Laboratory (NRTL).
DATES: The expansion of the scope of recognition becomes effective on
December 26, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information regarding this notice is
available from the following sources:
Press inquiries: Contact Mr. Frank Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office
of Communications, U.S. Department of Labor; telephone: (202) 693-1999;
email: meilinger.francis2@dol.gov.
General and technical information: Contact Mr. Kevin Robinson,
Director, Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities,
Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor; telephone:
(202) 693-1911; email: robinson.kevin@dol.gov. OSHA's web page includes
information about the NRTL Program (see http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Notice of Final Decision
OSHA hereby gives notice of the expansion of the scope of
recognition for SolarPTL LLC (PTL). PTL's expansion covers the addition
of two test standards to the NRTL scope of recognition.
OSHA recognition of a NRTL signifies that the organization meets
the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.7. Recognition is an
acknowledgment that the organization can perform independent safety
testing and certification of the specific products covered within the
scope of recognition. Each NRTL's scope of recognition includes (1) the
type of products the NRTL may test, with each type specified by the
applicable test standard and (2) the recognized site(s) that has/have
the technical capability to perform the product-testing and product-
certification activities for test standards within the NRTL's scope.
Recognition is not a delegation or grant of government authority;
however, recognition enables employers to use products approved by the
NRTL to meet OSHA standards that require product testing and
certification.
The agency processes applications by a NRTL for initial
recognition, as well as for an expansion or renewal of recognition,
following requirements in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7. This appendix
requires that the agency publish two notices in the Federal Register in
processing an application. In the first notice, OSHA announces the
application and provides the preliminary finding. In the second notice,
the agency provides the final decision on the application. These
notices set forth the NRTL's scope of recognition or modifications of
that scope. OSHA maintains an informational web page for each NRTL,
including PTL, which details that NRTL's scope of recognition. These
pages are available from the OSHA website at http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html.
PTL submitted an application, dated December 21, 2018 (OSHA-2010-
0013-0007), to expand recognition as a NRTL to include one additional
test standard. The standard requested, UL 61730, was referenced in
application as a single standard; however this standard has two parts.
PTL amended the application on October 30, 2023 (OSHA-2010-0013-0008),
to clarify that the expansion request was for both parts of the
standard. OSHA staff performed a detailed analysis of the application
packet and reviewed other pertinent information. OSHA performed an on-
site assessment related to this application on August 16-17, 2022,
where OSHA found nonconformances with the requirements of 29 CFR part
1910. PTL addressed the nonconformances adequately and OSHA has no
objection to the addition of both parts of this standard to the NRTL
scope of recognition.
OSHA published the preliminary notice announcing PTL's expansion
application in the Federal Register on November 21, 2023 (88 FR 81107).
The agency requested comments by December 6, 2023, but it received no
comments in response to this notice. OSHA now is proceeding with this
final notice to grant expansion of PTL's NRTL scope of recognition.
To review copies of all public documents pertaining to PTL's
application, go to https://www.regulations.gov or contact the Docket
Office, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department
of Labor at (202) 693-2350. Docket No. OSHA-2010-0013 contains all
materials in the record concerning PTL's recognition. All submissions,
including copyrighted material, are available for inspection through
the OSHA Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-
2350 for assistance in locating docket submissions.
II. Final Decision and Order
OSHA staff examined PTL's expansion application, their capability
to meet the requirements of the test standards, and other pertinent
information. Based on its review of this evidence, OSHA finds that PTL
meets the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of its
recognition, subject to the limitations and conditions listed below.
OSHA, therefore, is proceeding with this final notice to grant PTL's
scope of recognition. OSHA limits the expansion of PTL's recognition to
testing and certification of products for demonstration of conformance
to the test standards shown below in table 1.
Table 1--Appropriate Test Standards for Inclusion in PTL's NRTL Scope of
Recognition
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test standard Test standard title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
UL 61730--Part 1.................. Photovoltaic (PV) Module Safety
Qualification--Part 1: Requirements
for Construction; and
UL 61730--Part 2.................. Photovoltaic (PV) Module Safety
Qualification--Part 2: Requirements
for Testing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OSHA's recognition of any NRTL for a particular test standard is
limited to equipment or materials for which OSHA standards require
third-party testing and certification before using them in the
workplace. Consequently, if a test standard also covers any products
for which OSHA does not require such testing and certification, a
NRTL's scope of recognition does not include these products.
A. Conditions
Recognition is contingent on continued compliance with 29 CFR
1910.7, including but not limited to, abiding by the following
conditions of recognition:
1. PTL must inform OSHA as soon as possible, in writing, of any
change of ownership, facilities, or key personnel, and of any major
change in its operations as a NRTL, and provide details of the
change(s);
2. PTL must meet all the terms of its recognition and comply with
all OSHA policies pertaining to this recognition; and
3. PTL must continue to meet the requirements for recognition,
including all previously published conditions on PTL's scope of
recognition, in all areas for which it has recognition.
Pursuant to the authority in 29 CFR 1910.7, OSHA hereby expands the
scope of recognition of PTL as a NRTL, subject to the limitations and
conditions specified above.
III. Authority and Signature
James S. Frederick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20210, authorized the preparation of this notice. Accordingly, the
agency is issuing this notice pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 657(g)(2),
Secretary of Labor's Order No. 8-2020 (85 FR 58393; Sept. 18, 2020),
and 29 CFR 1910.7.
Signed at Washington, DC.
James S. Frederick,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2023-28337 Filed 12-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P
