A common wood industry challenge lately is machinery or equipment without the mandatory NRTL or equivalent (You Ell) certification. While this can be discouraging to the buyer, it is easily remedied if you have the proper plan and resources in place.

Most of the equipment Lone Pine USA sources isn’t NRTL/CSA approved, however we have resources available for customers who purchase non-certified machines and run into problems passing safety inspections.

Usually, these machines have the necessary components to be labeled NRTL, but they must undergo a field evaluation by a licensed technician.

CSA certification (Canadian) does not substitute for the NRTL label, but most of the time the CSA ratings are more stringent. Machines with a CSA rating must also be evaluated and almost always pass.

Prior to a field evaluation, the machine must: 

1. Be original factory build (non-modified)
2. Be completely assembled, start-up, programmed and operational but will also need to be placed in an electrical safe working condition.
3. The technician will require all of the machine manuals, nameplates, electrical specification documents and facility electrical information.

To learn more about the process, read “Additional Information” below.  

After the evaluation, the technician will either apply the NRTL label (equivalent to the common US safety label) or issue a correction plan for any changes that need to be made in order to pass a subsequent inspection.

As an alternative, some technicians can provide a field listing to a licensed engineer prior to being evaluated and perform any corrections necessary while the licensed technician is on-site. This method works well if the machine has already been modified.

Lone Pine USA has worked with several licensed organizations who can perform inspections, corrections, and labeling in WA, ID, OR, and MT. Contact us at joe@lonepineusa.com or 360-823-3222 for referrals and more information.

Additional Information on Field Evaluations

One of our main sources has provided us with more details on what typically is inspected during a field evaluation. Essentially, this type field evaluation (or “third party inspection”) is an equivalency report and label; it is not a UL listing. A UL listing must be done at the manufacturer’s facility; once it leaves the factory, a qualified field evaluation is required.

1. Premises wiring and Installation meeting NEC (National Electrical Code), machine wiring meeting NFPA 79 & machine controls meeting UL 508A.
2. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.303 & 339, 1926.403B recognized devices, Enclosures, Materials and Components meeting NEC 90.7 and 110.3; equivalency to industry standards such as ANSI, NEMA, NSF, NOM, JQA, CSA, TÜV, SÜD, ETL, FM, UL, cUL, CCC, CE, cMETus, QAI, NEMKO, UKCA, IEC.
3. Field Evaluations follow NFPA 791’s Recommended Practice and Procedures for Unlabeled Electrical Equipment Evaluation and ACES “Recommended Practice and Procedures for Unlabeled Electrical Equipment Evaluation”
4. NEC, Section 110.3 Examination, Identification, Installation, and Use of Equipment.

           a. Examination. In judging equipment, considerations such as the following shall be evaluated:

            b. Suitability for installation and use in conformity with the provisions of this Code.

            c. FPN: Suitability of equipment use may be identified by a description marked on or provided with a product to identify the suitability of the product for a specific purpose, environment, or application. The suitability of equipment may be evidenced by listing or labeling.

            d. Mechanical strength and durability, including, for parts designed to enclose and protect other equipment, the adequacy of the protection thus provided

            e. Wire-bending and connection space.

            f. Electrical insulation.

            g. Heating effects under normal conditions of use and also under abnormal conditions likely to arise in service.

            h. Arcing effects.

           i. Classification by type, size, voltage, current capacity, and specific use.

           j. Other factors that contribute to the practical safeguarding of persons using or likely to come in contact with the equipment.

    5. Construction or Installation Evaluation: 

          A visual inspection of the product & surroundings is performed, and photographs taken, with particular attention to the following:

           a. Use of “listed” or “recognized” components and materials.

           b. Suitability & rating of components for application or intended use.

          c. Proper overcurrent protection, LOTO and withstand rating.

          d. Proper wiring sizes, routing, and protection.

          e. Compliant wiring methods & labeling.

          f. Grounding & Bonding methods & sizing.

          g. Acceptable isolation, enclosure rating.

          h. Guarding of live parts, barriers, covers, curtains, cage, shielding & bollards.

         i. Acceptable markings & warnings.

          j. Damaged components, modified conditions & factory documents.

          k. Obvious hazards, anchoring, obstructions & clearances.

If they have the above listed, they should be able to pass the UL Certification inspection.

Non Typical Evaluations

Should a machine or controls fail the field evaluation process, an approved correction plan is carried out (modifications must be documented and acceptable to AHJ, MFT, Owner and Evaluator). Sometimes local users implement certain additional safety barriers or lockouts as part of the Owner's Electrical Safety Program. These modifications are generally acceptable but must be evaluated.

As mentioned in the “Summary,” there are scenarios in which an electrical technician can be contracted to make modifications to machinery prior to inspections or provide a field listing to a licensed evaluator. 

Oregon code requires an additional UL 508 label. Contact us for certified technicians who can review, fix, and/or finalize control panels under this label. 

Lone Pine USA has worked with several licensed organizations who can perform inspections, corrections, and labeling in WA, ID, OR, and MT. Contact us at joe@lonepineusa.com or 360-823-3222 for referrals and more information.