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Notice2026-02153

Modification to the List of Appropriate NRTL Program Test Standards and the Scope of Recognition of Several NRTLs

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Published

February 3, 2026

Effective

February 3, 2026

Issuing agencies

Labor DepartmentOccupational Safety and Health Administration

Abstract

In this notice, OSHA announces the final decision to: delete test standards from the Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL) Program's list of appropriate test standards; and modify the scope of recognition of several NRTLs.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 22 (Tuesday, February 3, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 3, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4962-4966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02153]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

[Docket No. OSHA-2013-0012]

Modification to the List of Appropriate NRTL Program Test
Standards and the Scope of Recognition of Several NRTLs

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In this notice, OSHA announces the final decision to: delete
test standards from the Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories
(NRTL) Program's list of appropriate test standards; and modify the
scope of recognition of several NRTLs.

DATES: The actions contained in this notice will become effective on
February 3, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information regarding this notice is
available from the following sources:
Press inquiries: Contact Mr. Frank Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office
of Communications, U.S. Department of Labor, telephone: (202) 693-1999;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4528202c292c2b2220376b2337242b262c367705212a296b222a33"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cda0a8a4a1a4a3aaa8bfe3abbfaca3aea4beff8da9a2a1e3aaa2bb">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
General and technical information: Contact Mr. Kevin Robinson,
Director, Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities,
Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, telephone:
(202) 693-1911 or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bdcfd2dfd4d3ced2d393d6d8cbd4d3fdd9d2d193dad2cb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1b697479727568747535707e6d72755b7f7477357c746d">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The NRTL Program recognizes organizations that provide product-
safety testing and certification services to manufacturers. These
organizations perform testing and certification for purposes of the
program, to U.S. consensus-based product-safety test standards. The
products covered by the NRTL Program consist of those items for which
OSHA safety standards require ``certification'' by a NRTL. The
requirements affect electrical products and 36 other types of products.
OSHA does not develop or issue these test standards, but generally
relies on standards development organizations (SDOs), which develop and
maintain the standards using a method that provides for input and
consideration of views of industry groups, experts, users, consumers,
governmental authorities, and others having broad experience in the
safety field involved.

A. Deletion and Replacement of Test Standards

The NRTL Program regulations require that appropriate test
standards be maintained and current (29 CFR 1910.7(c)). A test standard
withdrawn by an SDO is no longer considered an appropriate test
standard (CPL 01-00-004, NRTL Program Policies, Procedures and
Guidelines Directive (NRTL Program Directive), Ch. 2.IX.C.1). It is
OSHA's policy to remove recognition of withdrawn test standards by
issuing a notice in the Federal Register for all NRTLs recognized for
the withdrawn test standards (Id.). However, SDOs frequently will
designate a replacement standard for withdrawn standards. OSHA will
recognize a NRTL for an appropriate replacement test standard if the
NRTL has the requisite testing and evaluation capability for the
replacement test standard (NRTL Program Directive, Ch. 2.IX.C.2).
One method that NRTLs may use to show such capability involves an
analysis to determine whether any testing and evaluation requirements
of existing test standards in a NRTL's scope are comparable (i.e., are
completely or substantially identical) to the requirements in the
replacement test standard (NRTL Program Directive, Ch. 2.IX.C.3). If
OSHA's analysis shows the replacement test standard does not require
additional or different technical capability than an existing test
standard(s), and the replacement test standard is comparable to the
existing test standard(s), then OSHA can add the replacement test
standard to affected NRTLs' scope of recognition. If OSHA's analysis
shows the replacement test standard requires an additional or different
technical capability, or the replacement test standard is not
comparable to any existing test standards, each affected NRTL seeking
to have OSHA add the replacement test standard to the NRTL's scope of
recognition must provide information to OSHA that demonstrates
technical capability (NRTL Program Directive, Ch. 2.IX.D).

B. Other Reasons for Removal of Test Standards From the NRTL List of
Appropriate Test Standards

OSHA may choose to remove a test standard from the NRTL list of
appropriate test standards based on a review by NRTL Program staff to
determine if the test standards conform to the definition of an
appropriate test standard in NRTL Program regulations and policy. There
are several reasons for removing a test standard based on this review.
First, a document that provides the methodology for a single test is a
test method rather than an appropriate test standard (29 CFR
1910.7(c)). A test standard must specify the safety requirements for a
specific type of product(s) (NRTL Program Directive, Ch. 2.VIII.C.1). A
test method, however, is a specified technical procedure for performing
a test. As such, a test method is not an appropriate test standard.
While a NRTL may use a test method to determine if certain safety
requirements are met, a test method is not itself a safety requirement
for a specific product category.
Second, a document that focuses primarily on usage, installation,
or maintenance requirements, and not safety requirements (i.e.,
features, parts, capabilities, usage limitations, or installation
requirements that would create a potential hazard in operating the
equipment if not properly used), would also not be considered an
appropriate test standard (NRTL Program Directive, Ch. 2.VIII.C.1). In
some cases, however, a document may also provide safety test
specifications in addition to usage, installation, and maintenance
requirements. In such cases, the document would be retained as an
appropriate test standard based on the safety test specifications.
Finally, a document may not be considered an appropriate test
standard if the document covers products for which OSHA does not
require testing and certification (NRTL Program Directive, Ch.
2.VIII.C.2). Similarly, a document that covers electrical product
components would not be considered an appropriate test standard. These
documents apply to types of components that have limitation(s) or
condition(s) on their use, which are not appropriate for use as end-use
products. These documents also specify that these types of components
are for use only as part of an end-use product. NRTLs, however,
evaluate such components only in the context of evaluating whether end-
use products requiring NRTL approval are safe for use in the workplace.
Accordingly, as a matter of policy, OSHA considers that documents
covering such components are not appropriate test standards under the
NRTL Program. OSHA notes, however, that it is not deleting from NRTLs'
scope of recognition any test standards

[[Page 4963]]

covering end-use products that contain such components.
In addition, OSHA notes that, to conform to a test standard
covering an end-use product, a NRTL must still determine that the
components in the product comply with the components' specific test
standards. In making this determination, NRTLs may (within the confines
of the requirements of Annex B, Section 7.4 G and H of the NRTL Program
Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines, OSHA Instruction CPL 01-00-004
(Oct. 1, 2019) (the NRTL Program Directive, available at <a href="https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/directives/CPL_01-00-004.pdf">https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/directives/CPL_01-00-004.pdf</a>)) test the components themselves or accept the testing of a
qualified testing organization that a given component conforms to the
particular test standard. OSHA reviews each NRTL's procedures to
determine which approach the NRTL will use to address components and
reviews the end-use product testing to verify that the NRTL
appropriately addresses that product's components.

II. Summary of Proposed Actions

In a September 12, 2025 Federal Register notice (90 FR 44242,
available at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> under Docket ID OSHA-2013-0012-0032),
OSHA proposed to delete 16 test standards from the NRTL Program's List
of Appropriate Test Standards because they were all withdrawn by the
SDO that issued them. Moreover, a replacement test standard (UL 121201,
Nonincendive Electrical Equipment for Use in Class I and II, Division 2
and Class III, Divisions 1 and 2 Hazardous (Classified) Locations) was
designated for one of the test standards OSHA proposed to delete from
the List of Appropriate Test Standards (ISA 12.12.01, Nonincendive
Electrical Equipment for Use in Class I and II, Division 2 and Class
III, Divisions 1 and 2 Hazardous (Classified) Locations). UL 121201 is
already contained in the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test
Standards. Therefore, OSHA did not propose to incorporate that
replacement test standard into the List of Appropriate Test Standards.
OSHA additionally proposed to remove test standards from the scopes
of recognition of several NRTLs and to add to the scope of recognition
of one of these NRTLs, QPS Evaluation Services Inc. (QPS), a
replacement test standard (UL 121201). OSHA had previously added UL
121201 into the scopes of recognition for several NRTLs and therefore
did not propose to add UL 121201 into the scopes of recognition of
these NRTLs. For more information on OSHA's prior actions in adding UL
121201 to the scopes of recognition of these NRTLs, please see the
relevant Federal Register notices granting these NRTLs' applications
for expansion of recognition: 86 FR 45765 (August 16, 2021), SGS North
America, Inc.; 87 FR 12737 (March 7, 2022), UL LLC; 87 FR 51156 (August
19, 2022), Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc.; 87 FR 51154 (August 19,
2022), FM Approvals; and 87 FR 51155 (August 19, 2022), Eurofins
Electrical and Electronic Testing NA, Inc. a/k/a MET Laboratories,
Inc.; and 87 FR 51157 (August 19, 2022), CSA Group Testing &
Certification Inc.
The September 12, 2025 Federal Register notice requested public
comment on the proposal; however, no comments were received in
response. Therefore, as will be explained below, OSHA is adopting,
without modification, the proposed decision to delete several withdrawn
test standards from the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test
Standards and to modify the scope of recognition of several NRTLs.

III. Final Decision To Remove Test Standards From the NRTL Program's
List of Appropriate Test Standards

In this notice, OSHA announces the final decision to delete several
withdrawn test standards from the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate
Test Standards. These final actions are detailed below in Table 1.
Additionally, Table 1 lists the replacement test standard that OSHA has
already incorporated into the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test
Standards (for informational purposes only).

Table 1--Test Standards OSHA Is Deleting From NRTL Program's List of
Appropriate Test Standards
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deleted test Reason for Replacement
standard Test standard title deletion standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISA 12.12.01.... Nonincendive Withdrawn...... UL 121201
Electrical Nonincendive
Equipment for Use Electrical
in Class I and II, Equipment for
Division 2 and Use in Class I
Class III, and II,
Divisions 1 and 2 Division 2 and
Hazardous Class III,
(Classified) Divisions 1
Locations. and 2
Hazardous
(Classified)
Locations.
ISA 60079-0..... Explosive Withdrawn...... None.
Atmospheres--Part
0: Equipment--
General
Requirements.
ISA 60079-1..... Explosive Withdrawn...... None.
Atmospheres--Part
1: Equipment
Protection by
Flameproof
Enclosures ``d''.
ISA 60079-6..... Explosive Withdrawn...... None.
Atmospheres--Part
6: Equipment
Protection by Oil
Immersion ``o''.
ISA 60079-7..... Explosive Withdrawn...... None.
Atmospheres--Part
7: Equipment
Protection by
Increased Safety
``e''.
ISA 60079-11.... Explosive Withdrawn...... None.
Atmospheres--Part
11: Equipment
Protection by
Intrinsic Safety
``i''.
ISA 60079-15.... Explosive Withdrawn...... None.
Atmospheres--Part
15: Equipment
Protection by Type
of Protection ``n''.
ISA 60079-25.... Standard for Withdrawn...... None.
Explosive
Atmospheres--Part
25: Intrinsically
Safe Electrical
Systems.
ISA 60079-28.... Explosive Withdrawn...... None.
Atmospheres--Part
28: Protection of
Equipment and
Transmission
Systems Using
Optical Radiation.
ISA 60079-31.... Explosive Withdrawn...... None.
Atmospheres--Part
31: Equipment Dust
Ignition Protection
by Enclosure ``t''.
ISA 61241-0..... Electrical Apparatus Withdrawn...... None.
for Use in Zone 20,
Zone 21 and Zone 22
Hazardous
(Classified)
Locations--General
Requirements.
ISA 61241-1..... Electrical Apparatus Withdrawn...... None.
for Use in Zone 21
and Zone 22
Hazardous
(Classified)
Locations--Protecti
on by Enclosures
``tD''.
ISA 61241-2..... Electrical Apparatus Withdrawn...... None.
for Use in Zone 21
and Zone 22
Hazardous
(Classified)
Locations--Protecti
on by
Pressurization
``pD''.
ISA 61241-11.... Electrical Apparatus Withdrawn...... None.
for Use in Zone 20,
Zone 21 and Zone 22
Hazardous
(Classified)
Locations--Protecti
on by Intrinsic
Safety ``iD''.
ISA 61241-18.... Electrical Apparatus Withdrawn...... None.
for Use in Zone 20,
Zone 21 and Zone 22
Hazardous
(Classified)
Locations--Protecti
on by Encapsulation
``mD''.
UL 244A......... Solid-State Controls Withdrawn...... None.
for Appliances.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 4964]]

IV. Final Decision To Modify Affected NRTLs' Scope of Recognition

In this notice, OSHA announces the final decision to: remove test
standards (those listed in Table 1, above) from the scopes of
recognition of several NRTLs; and to add UL 121201 to the scope of
recognition of QPS. The tables in this section (Table 2 through Table
9) list, for each affected NRTL, the test standard(s) that OSHA is
removing from the scope of recognition of the NRTL and, for QPS, the
addition of UL 121201 to its scope of recognition. Where relevant,
Table 2 through Table 9 indicate, for informational purposes, where
OSHA had previously added UL 121201 into the scopes of recognition of
each affected NRTL.

Table 2--Test Standards OSHA Is Removing From the Scope of Recognition
of CSA Group Testing & Certification Inc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reason for Replacement test
Test standard removed removal standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISA 12.12.01.................. Withdrawn........ UL 121201
Nonincendive
Electrical Equipment
for Use in Class I
and II, Division 2
and Class III,
Divisions 1 and 2
Hazardous
(Classified)
Locations \1\.
ISA 60079-11.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-15.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-28.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-31.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-0................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-1................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-2................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-11.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-18.................. Withdrawn........ None.
UL 244A....................... Withdrawn........ None.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Informational only--replacement standard is already in the NRTL's
scope.

Table 3--Test Standards OSHA Is Removing From/Adding to to the Scope
Recognition of QPS Evaluation Services Inc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reason for Replacement test
Test standard removed removal standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISA 12.12.01.................. Withdrawn........ UL 121201
Nonincendive
Electrical Equipment
for Use in Class I
and II, Division 2
and Class III,
Divisions 1 and 2
Hazardous
(Classified)
Locations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 4--Test Standards OSHA Is Removing From the Scope of Recognition
of Eurofins Electrical and Electronic Testing NA, Inc. a/k/a MET
Laboratories, Inc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reason for Replacement test
Test standard removed removal standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISA 12.12.01.................. Withdrawn........ UL 121201
Nonincendive
Electrical Equipment
for Use in Class I
and II, Division 2
and Class III,
Divisions 1 and 2
Hazardous
(Classified)
Locations \1\.
UL 244A....................... Withdrawn........ None
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Informational only--replacement standard is already in the NRTL's
scope.

Table 5--Test Standards OSHA Is Removing From the Scope of Recognition
of FM Approvals
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reason for Replacement test
Test standard removed removal standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISA 12.12.01.................. Withdrawn........ UL 121201
Nonincendive
Electrical Equipment
for Use in Class I
and II, Division 2
and Class III,
Divisions 1 and 2
Hazardous
(Classified)
Locations \1\.
ISA 60079-0................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-1................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-6................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-7................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-11.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-15.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-25.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-28.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-31.................. Withdrawn........ None.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Informational only--replacement standard is already in the NRTL's
scope.

[[Page 4965]]

Table 6--Test Standards OSHA Is Removing From the Scope of Recognition
of Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reason for Replacement test
Test standard removed removal standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISA 12.12.01.................. Withdrawn........ UL 121201
Nonincendive
Electrical Equipment
for Use in Class I
and II, Division 2
and Class III,
Divisions 1 and 2
Hazardous
(Classified)
Locations \1\.
ISA 60079-0................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-1................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-6................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-7................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-11.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-15.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-25.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-28.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-31.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-0................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-1................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-11.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-18.................. Withdrawn........ None.
UL 244A....................... Withdrawn........ None.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Informational only--replacement standard is already in the NRTL's
scope.

Table 7--Test Standards OSHA Is Removing From the Scope of Recognition
of SGS North America, Inc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reason for Replacement test
Test standard removed removal standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISA 12.12.01.................. Withdrawn........ UL 121201
Nonincendive
Electrical Equipment
for Use in Class I
and II, Division 2
and Class III,
Divisions 1 and 2
Hazardous
(Classified)
Locations \1\.
ISA 60079-0................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-1................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-6................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-7................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-11.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-15.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-25.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-28.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-31.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-0................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-1................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-11.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-18.................. Withdrawn........ None.
UL 244A....................... Withdrawn........ None.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Informational only--replacement standard is already in the NRTL's
scope.

Table 8--Test Standard OSHA Is Removing From the Scope of Recognition of
TUV Rheinland of North America, Inc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replacement test
Test standard removed Reason for removal standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
UL 244A......................... Withdrawn......... None.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 9--Test Standards OSHA Is Removing From the Scope of Recognition
of UL LLC
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reason for Replacement test
Test standard removed removal standard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISA 12.12.01.................. Withdrawn........ UL 121201
Nonincendive
Electrical Equipment
for Use in Class I
and II, Division 2
and Class III,
Divisions 1 and 2
Hazardous
(Classified)
Locations \1\.
ISA 60079-0................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-1................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-6................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-7................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-11.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-15.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-28.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-31.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-0................... Withdrawn........ None.

[[Page 4966]]

ISA 61241-1................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-2................... Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-11.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 61241-18.................. Withdrawn........ None.
ISA 60079-25.................. Withdrawn........ None.
UL 244A....................... Withdrawn........ None.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Informational only--replacement standard is already in the NRTL's
scope.

OSHA will place on its informational web pages the modifications to
each NRTL's scope of recognition. These web pages detail the scope of
recognition for each NRTL, including the test standards the NRTL may
use to test and certify products under OSHA's NRTL Program. The agency
will also add to the ``Standards No Longer Recognized'' web page those
test standards that OSHA no longer recognizes or permits under the NRTL
Program. Access to these web pages is available at <a href="http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html">http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/index.html</a>.

V. Authority and Signature

Amanda Laihow, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health, authorized the preparation of this
notice. Accordingly, the agency is issuing this notice pursuant to 29
U.S.C. 657(g)(2), Secretary of Labor's Order No. 7-2025 (90 FR 27878,
June 30, 2025), and 29 CFR 1910.7.

Signed at Washington, DC, on January 27, 2026.
Amanda Laihow,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety
and Health.
[FR Doc. 2026-02153 Filed 2-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-P

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