NRTL Services

NRTL Field Evaluation and Labeling of Industrial Machinery

In the United States, all industrial machinery with electrical components must undergo a rigorous safety review and receive NRTL approval before it can be legally installed and operated. This crucial step ensures the equipment meets national safety standards, protecting both workers and facilities from potential hazards. Navigating this process, however, can be complex and time-consuming for manufacturers and importers. That’s where we come in.  At Machine Safety Specialists (MSS), our team of experienced engineers specializes in ensuring the safety of industrial machinery. We provide expert guidance and support to help you achieve NRTL approval quickly and efficiently, so you can get your machinery to market and installed without delay.

Our comprehensive services extend beyond simple consultation. As your dedicated safety partner, MSS engineers offer engineering consulting guidance and work closely with our NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) partners to provide field evaluation services. This includes securing Field Evaluation Body (FEB) approvals and applying the necessary Field Evaluation labels. Our on-site evaluations, conducted in partnership with leading NRTLs, are designed to ensure your equipment is in full compliance with all relevant consensus-based safety standards, such as NFPA 79 (Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery) and various UL standards. We also perform thorough risk assessments to identify and mitigate any potential dangers associated with your machinery, ensuring its safe operation from day one.

Safety Requirements for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)

For original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the United States, obtaining an NRTL listing or field evaluation is a crucial step to ensure market access and compliance. Without a proper NRTL label, local authorities and inspectors may not permit the installation or operation of the equipment, leading to costly delays and rework.

The following OEM safety requirements typically apply:

• Risk Assessment and Safeguarding: OEMs must ensure their machinery meets U.S. standards for machine safeguarding and that a proper risk assessment has been performed.
• NRTL Listing or Field Evaluation: The equipment must have a valid NRTL mark or receive a field evaluation to demonstrate compliance with U.S. electrical safety standards.
• NFPA 79: Compliance with this standard, the Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery, is often required for field evaluations.
• NFPA 70: Also known as the National Electrical Code (NEC), this standard governs the installation of electrical equipment. Your machinery’s design must be compatible with NEC requirements.
• OSHA Requirements: All machinery must meet the safety standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Safety Standards in the NRTL Process

Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) utilize specific safety standards to evaluate industrial machinery for electrical and fire safety. These standards are developed and published by respected organizations such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

The following electrical safety standards may be applied in the NRTL field evaluation of industrial machinery, if/when applicable:

• NFPA 70: National Electrical Code
• NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®
• NFPA 79: Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery
• Cal/OSHA articles: Articles within the California Code of Regulations, Title 8
• UL 98: Enclosed and Dead-Front Switches
• UL 508A: Industrial Control Panels
• UL 61010-1: Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use – Part 1: General Requirements
• IEEE 315 (US): Standard for Graphic Symbols for Electrical and Electronics Diagrams
• IEEE 60617 (CE): Graphical Symbols for Diagrams (Refers to the IEC 60617 series)

The following is a partial list of additional safety standards that may also be used:

• UL 1008 (Transfer Switch Equipment)
• UL 1740 (Industrial Robots and Robotic Equipment)
• UL 1012 (Power Supplies)
• UL 73 (Electric Motor-Operated Appliances)
• UL 50 (Enclosures for Electrical Equipment)
• UL 987 (Stationary and Fixed Electric Tools)
• UL 1598 (Luminaires)