NRTL Certification
Certification Overview:
NRTL stands for Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the United States Department of Labor. It requires products used in workplaces to undergo testing and certification by NRTLs to ensure the safety of users.
In North America, manufacturers must subject their products intended for legal sale in the consumer or industrial markets to rigorous testing according to national standards. Only products that have passed relevant tests by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) can be legally marketed.
Detailed Information:
Significance of Implementation:
Similar to China's CCC certification, NRTL certification is a mandatory safety certification for products marketed in North America. NRTL certification helps to enhance the brand recognition of enterprises within relevant industries in North America and guides consumers in choosing products that meet safety requirements and their satisfaction. By conducting structural inspections and relevant tests on products, NRTL certification effectively protects consumer safety and health, increases customer satisfaction, and thus gains a larger market share.
Scope of Products:
The authorized scope of certification varies among different NRTLs. Hangzhou Make Company actively collaborates with various NRTL certification bodies, representing products such as:
1. Household appliances, including small appliances, kitchenware, and home entertainment devices.
2. Electronic toys.
3. Sports and leisure goods.
4. Household electronic equipment and lighting appliances.
5. Household machinery.
6. Electrical and electronic office equipment, such as copiers, fax machines, shredders, computers, printers, etc.
7. Communication products and IT-related products.
8. Power tools, electronic measuring instruments, etc.
9. Industrial machinery and experimental measurement equipment.
10. Other safety-related products such as bicycles, helmets, ladders, furniture, etc.
11. Hardware tools and accessories.
The official OSHA website lists all NRTLs. MET was the first NRTL in the United States based on the authorization date. The MET certification mark holds equivalent authority to the UL certification mark in the United States. It's important to note that UL certification is not mandatory; rather, UL is one of the NRTLs that can provide such certifications.
In summary, it's more accurate to refer to U.S. safety certification as "NRTL certification" rather than "UL certification." The misconception that "UL is the official agency" is a result of misinformation.