INDEPENDENT LABORATORY ACCEPTANCE INFORMATION
GUIDANCE FOR ACCEPTANCE OR RECOGNITION:
Independent Laboratories conduct initial (approval) and follow-up
(production) testing of
equipment and materials that require Coast Guard Approval.
Accepted and recognized independent laboratories act on behalf of the
Coast Guard during the
approval process for selected equipment approval categories ensuring
that the equipment meets appropriate standards. For certain cases
a Recognized Independent Laboratory can issue approvals on behalf of
the Coast
Guard. CG-5214 can only accept and recognize laboratories that
are engaged in the testing of
lifesaving and fire protection equipment and materials.
ISO
17025 accreditation from an accreditation body who is a full member of
the
International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) or a
recognized
accreditation body by the National Cooperation for Laboratory
Accreditation (NACLA) is required for acceptance for testing under the
IMO FTP Code, which requires an audited quality control system.
Once a laboratory has been accepted, we can accept test
reports (with regards to scope of the acceptance) from the laboratory
in an application for Coast Guard type approvals. The laboratory
does not issue the approvals and this office does not accept
certificates in lieu of test reports. When the client identifies
that the testing is for Coast Guard, then it is the laboratory's
responsibility to ensure that the testing is carried out in such a
manner acceptable to the Coast Guard. Should the laboratory have
a question, they are encouraged to contact us prior to testing.
Where a recognized (U.S. accepted) laboratory is required by the
relevant equipment or material regulations, the laboratory must meet
the requirements for recognition in addition to the requirements for
acceptance.
INDEPENDENT
LABORATORY ACCEPTANCE
ACCEPTANCE GUIDANCE & INFORMATION
(a) To be accepted by the Coast Guard as an independent
laboratory, a laboratory must—
(1) Be engaged, as a regular part
of its business, in performing inspections and tests that are the same
as or similar to the inspections and tests required in the applicable
subpart;
(2) Possess or have access to the apparatus, facilities,
personnel, and calibrated instruments that are necessary to inspect and
test the equipment or material under the applicable subpart; In
addition, for testing under the FTP Code, have ISO 17025 accreditation
from accreditation body who is a
full member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation
(ILAC) or a recognized accreditation body by the National Cooperation
for
Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA).
(3) Not be owned or controlled by—
(i) The
manufacturer of the equipment or material to be inspected or tested
under this subchapter or any manufacturer of similar equipment or
material;
(ii) A vendor of the equipment or material to be inspected
or tested under this subchapter or a vendor of similar equipment or
material; or
(iii) A supplier of materials to the manufacturer;
(4) Not be dependent on Coast Guard acceptance under this
subchapter to remain in business; and
(5) Not advertise or promote the manufacturer’s equipment or
material that the laboratory inspects and tests under this subchapter.
APPLICATION FOR ACCEPTANCE.
(a) Each application for acceptance of an organization as an
independent laboratory must contain the following:
(1) The name and address of the
organization.
(2) A list of the equipment or material that the organization
would inspect, or test, or both, under this subchapter.
(3) A description of the organization’s experience and its
qualifications for conducting the inspections and tests required in the
applicable subpart. Often, laboratories send in resumes while the
application is aimed at the ability of the laboratory to meet the
requirements for the positions. The information should reflect
what the lab would require when filling the position, not the current
occupant. However, the current occupant is expected to at least meet or
exceed the requirements given in the application.
(4) A description of the apparatus and facilities available to
the organization for conducting those inspections and tests.
(5) If instruments are used in the required tests and
inspections, a description of the instrument calibration program
applying to those instruments
(6) The position titles of personnel who are to perform,
supervise, or witness those inspections or tests, along with the
training and experience required for personnel in those positions.
(Position titles and qualifications for these positions should be
identified rather than identifying individuals.)
(7) A statement signed by the chief officer of the organization
or the chief officer’s representative, that an official representative
of the Coast Guard is allowed access upon request to the place where
tests and inspections take place, to verify the information submitted
in the application, or to witness tests and inspections.
(b) Each application for acceptance as an independent laboratory that
is not submitted by an agency of a state or another national
government, or by a classification society, must also contain the
following:
(1) The name and address of each
subsidiary and division of the organization, or a statement that none
are involved in the testing or manufacturing of equipment approved
under this subchapter.
(2) The name, title, address, and principal business activity of
each of the organization’s officers and directors, and the name,
address, and principal business activity of each person, company, or
corporation that owns at least three percent interest in the
organization or in a company or corporation that controls the
organization.
Please send the Submittal Package and other related information to the
following address:
Commandant (CG-5214)
U.S. Coast Guard
2100 Second Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20593-0001
After we have completed a review of the submittal package, we will
contact the laboratory to arrange on site inspection of the testing
facility. For laboratories
located outside the United States, the laboratory is required to pay
travel expenses for the facility inspection.
Once the laboratory has been accepted, it will be issued an acceptance
letter, and its name will be listed under the U. S. Coast
Guard
Accepted
Independent
Laboratory Database.
INDEPENDENT LABORATORY RECOGNITION
RECOGNITION GUIDANCE & INFORMATION
For a laboratory to become a Recognized Independent Laboratory,
it must meet all the requirements for acceptance, and enter into a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Coast Guard in accordance
with 46 CFR 159.010-7.
Please send the request to become a Recognized Independent Laboratory
to the following address:
Commandant (CG-5214)
U.S. Coast Guard
2100 Second Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20593-0001
Please ensure that the Approval Category(s) the laboratory wishes to
conduct is included within the request.
Once the laboratory has been recognized, it will execute
a Memorandum of Understanding with the Coast Guard, and its name will
be listed under the U. S. Coast Guard
Accepted Independent
Laboratory Database as recognized for the appropriate subpart(s).