SolarPTL is a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). NRTL is a designation granted by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to laboratories which have been recognized to perform certification to U.S. Safety Standards. SolarPTL has been recognized as a safety certification body.
About the NRTL Program
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) safety standards require that specified equipment and materials (products) be tested and certified for safety by an OSHA-recognized organization. OSHA’s Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program fulfills this responsibility by recognizing the capabilities of (mainly) private sector testing organizations to test and certify such products for manufacturers. The NRTL Program, in operation since 1988, is an effective public and private partnership. Rather than performing testing and certification itself, OSHA relies on private sector organizations to accomplish it. This helps to ensure worker safety, with existing private sector systems performing the work rather than maintaining government facilities.
These organizations use generally accepted, consensus-based product safety standards issued by national standards-producing organizations such as:
∙ American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
∙ American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM)
∙ Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC)
∙ Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
To be recognized, an organization must meet OSHA’s requirements. Initial recognition, valid for 5 years and for a specific scope of recognition, is granted if the application and an on-site review of the organization demonstrate the applicant is completely independent, has the capability (including equipment, personnel, and quality assurance), and meets other requirements to test and certify products for safety. An organization must have the necessary capability both as a testing laboratory and as a product certification body to receive OSHA recognition as an NRTL.