What are Nationally Recognised Test Laboratories (NRTL) and why are they important for UL certification?

Brainboxes are frequently asked for products which are "UL Certified", this article aims to clarify what UL certification is and how this applies to Brainboxes products.

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What is an NRTL?

A Nationally Recognised Test Laboratory (NRTL) is the official name given to a group of independent, non-government organisations, officially recognised by the United States Government, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), under Federal Code 29 CFR 1910.7.

At the time of writing, OSHA officially recognises 21 individual test laboratories under the NRTL group. Each of these laboratories perform testing and certification to safety standards developed by institutions such as, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

A full list of NRTL's can be seen at the following link: https://www.osha.gov/nationally-recognized-testing-laboratory-program/current-list-of-nrtls

Why is NRTL Certification important?

As with any product, testing and certification is vital and NRTL certification is no different. There are numerous reasons why NRTL certification is important; first and foremost, it highlights that a product has been thoroughly tested to the relevant standards by an external test house. This validates the product and ensures it is safe for distribution into the United States.

Furthermore, it provides clear certification that an electrical or electronic product complies with the standards required for the U.S. Market. Many retailers and distributors will refuse to stock a product if insufficient evidence is provided to show that NRTL certification has been achieved. NRTL certification gives license for a product to be distributed quickly into the vast U.S. Market.

Failure to provide sufficient evidence that a product has been tested can result in fines.

What does the term 'UL Certified' mean?

Much of the confusion surrounding a product being NRTL certified, stems from the term 'UL Certified' being used synonymously to describe a product which has been tested and approved by an NRTL. This comes as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), were previously the only source of testing and approval within the United States.

Following legal action, it was deemed that other test houses should also be able to conduct this testing and that their certification should be seen as equal throughout the United States. The resulting outcome saw OSHA create the aforementioned group of NRTL's. Underwriters Laboratories, now a recognised NRTL, still share the name with the industry standard.

A manufacturer can send their product for testing and certification to any of the approved NRTL's. The chosen test house will perform testing outlined by the industry defined standards for that product type, as developed by ANSI & UL, with their product receiving equal certification should it pass these tests.

Devices which are tested and certified by an OSHA recognised NRTL are deemed to comply with the regulations required for its sale and distribution into the United States Marketplace.

Are manufacturers required to display the UL mark?

While Underwriters Laboratories (UL) are responsible for writing many of the official standards, they are only 1 of the aforementioned recognised NRTL's for testing and certification. Legally, the requirement is that the laboratory which performs the testing should be an NRTL recognised by OSHA. The certified product can then physically apply the respective NRTL's mark to show certification.

Brainboxes NRTL Compliance

While all of Brainboxes' manufactured products are thoroughly and vigorously tested, they are not all NRTL listed.

Our Ethernet to Serial (ES), Ethernet to IO (ED) and Network Switch (SW) product ranges are all tested and NRTL certified to the UL 62368-1 standard for safety and listed under a corresponding 'E-Number'. Internationally, UL 62368-1 is also known as: IEC 62368-1 & EN 62368-1.

Element

Brainboxes has recently changed our NRTL from Eurofins MET Labs to Element.

As the new Element mark is rolled out on our products, you may have or will receive products from the aforementioned ranges with either mark. In time, this will be entirely replaced by the Element mark, although older products will still feature the MET mark. The MET Labs and Element NRTL marks are completely equal to the UL mark, with all 3 being recogised in law by the United States Government.

For more information on Element's NRTL testing, please see the following link: https://www.element.com/connected-technologies/electrical-safety-testing-and-certification/us-nrtl-canadian-scc-certification-services

The aforemention product ranges are now listed under the Element E-Number: E1123319

MetLabs

Previously, Brainboxes used Eurofins MET Labs (formerly MET Labs) for NRTL testing, who were one of the first organisations to be recognised as an NRTL by OSHA in 1989, following the creation of the NRTL group. Products featuring the MET mark, symbolise compliance to the respective UL/CSA standards for the type of product and indicate compliance to required standards by virtue of Eurofins' equivalent NRTL accreditation to UL, within the regulations of the United States and Canadian markets.

Brainboxes products were previously listed under the Eurofins MET Labs E-Number: E112324

For more information on the Eurofins MET Labs NRTL testing, please see the following link: https://www.eurofinsus.com/electrical-and-electronics/services/product-safety/met-vs-ul/

For further details on the MET mark, please see the following link: https://www.eurofins.com/electrical-and-electronics/about-us/certifications/eurofins-met-mark/

Canadian & United States Markets

The Element or MET marks displayed on a product may take multiple forms; the basic symbols feature 'element' within a partially open circle, or 'MET' inside a circle (as pictured above). Each mark can be accompanied by either a 'C', 'US' or both depending on the testing which has been performed on the product.

The 'C' & 'US' designates the market for which the product has been certified for, with 'C' being for the Canadian market and 'US' being the United States market. Optionally, the Element or MET marks may also specify the specific standard(s) to which a product is certified for additional clarity.