[Federal Register: April 16, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 73)] [Notices] [Page 18939-18940] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr16ap99-116] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Occupational Safety and Health Administration [Docket No. NRTL-3-93] Factory Mutual Research Corporation, Application for Expansion of Recognition AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor. [[Page 18940]] ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces the application of Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC) for expansion of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) under 29 CFR 1910.7, and presents the Agency's preliminary finding. This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or temporary approval of this application. DATES: Comments submitted by interested parties must be received no later than June 15, 1999. ADDRESS: Send comments concerning this notice to: Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, NRTL Program, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N3653, Washington, DC 20210. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernard Pasquet, Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, NRTL Program at the above address, or phone (202) 693-2110. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of Application The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hereby gives notice that Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC) has applied for expansion of its current recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). FMRC's expansion request covers the use of additional test standards. OSHA recognizes an organization as an NRTL, and processes applications related to such recognitions, following requirements in section 1910.7 of Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (29 CFR 1910.7). Appendix A to this section requires that OSHA publish this public notice of the preliminary finding on an application. FMRC's previous application as an NRTL covered its renewal of recognition as an NRTL (60 FR 16167, 3/29/95), which OSHA granted on August 16, 1995 (60 FR 42590). The current addresses of the testing facilities (sites) that OSHA recognizes for FMRC are: Factory Mutual Research Corporation, 1151 Boston-Providence Turnpike, Norwood, Massachusetts 02062 Factory Mutual Research Corporation, 743 Reynolds Road, West Gloucester, Rhode Island 02814 General Background on the Application FMRC submitted a request, dated October 8, 1998 (see Exhibit 7A), to expand its recognition as an NRTL to include four (4) additional test standards. Then it submitted a request, dated November 18, 1998 (see Exhibit 7B), to expand its recognition for one more test standard. FMRC seeks recognition for testing and certification of products to demonstrate compliance to the following 5 test standards, and OSHA has determined the standards are appropriate, as prescribed by 29 CFR 1910.7(c). OSHA recognition of any NRTL for a particular test standard is limited to products for which OSHA standards require third party testing and certification before use in the workplace. ANSI/UL 1950 Information Technology Equipment Including Electrical Business Equipment FMRC 2000 Automatic Sprinklers for Fire Protection FMRC 2008 Early Suppression-Fast Response (ESFR) Automatic Sprinklers FMRC 3260 Flame Radiation Detectors for Automatic Fire Alarm Signaling FMRC 3900 Less or nonflammable Liquid-Insulated Transformers The designations and titles of the above test standards were current at the time of the preparation of this notice. Preliminary Finding on the Application FMRC has submitted an acceptable request for expansion of its recognition as an NRTL. In connection with this request, OSHA did not perform an on-site review of FMRC's NRTL testing facilities. However, NRTL Program assessment staff reviewed information pertinent to the request and, in a memo dated February 10, 1999 (see Exhibit 8), recommended that FMRC's recognition be expanded to include the additional test standards listed above. Following a review of the application file, the assessor's recommendation, and other pertinent documents, the NRTL Program staff has concluded that OSHA can grant, to the FMRC facilities listed above, the expansion of recognition to use the additional 5 test standards. The staff therefore recommended to the Assistant Secretary that the application be preliminarily approved. Based upon the recommendation of the staff, the Assistant Secretary has made a preliminary finding that the Factory Mutual Research Corporation facilities listed above can meet the recognition requirements, as prescribed by 29 CFR 1910.7, for the expansion of recognition. This preliminary finding does not constitute an interim or temporary approval of the application. OSHA welcomes public comments, in sufficient detail, as to whether FMRC has met the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.7 for expansion of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory. Your comment should consist of pertinent written documents and exhibits. To consider it, OSHA must receive the comment at the address provided above (see ``ADDRESS''), no later than the last date for comments (see ``DATES'' above). You may obtain or review copies of FMRC's requests, the memo on the recommendation, and all submitted comments, as received, by contacting the Docket Office, Room N2625, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, at the above address. You should refer to Docket No. NRTL-3-93, the permanent record of public information on FMRC's recognition. The NRTL Program staff will review all timely comments, and after resolution of issues raised by these comments, will recommend whether to grant FMRC's expansion request. The Assistant Secretary will make the final decision on granting the expansion and, in making this decision, may undertake other proceedings that are prescribed in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7. OSHA will publish a public notice of this final decision in the Federal Register. Signed at Washington, D.C. this 26th day of March, 1999. Charles N. Jeffress, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 99-9577 Filed 4-15-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-26-P