# Proposed 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.
**SUMMARY:**
In this notice, OSHA proposes to: (1) delete test standards from the Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL) Program's list of appropriate test standards; and (2) modify the scope of recognition of several NRTLs.
**DATES:**
Submit comments, information, and documents in response to this notice, or request for an extension of time to make a submission, on or before October 14, 2025.
**ADDRESSES:**
Submit comments by any of the following methods:
*Electronically:* Submit comments and attachments electronically at *http://www.regulations.gov,* which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for making electronic submissions.
*Docket:* To read or download comments or other material in the docket, go to *http://www.regulations.gov* or the OSHA Docket Office. All documents in the docket (including this *Federal Register* notice) are listed in the *http://www.regulations.gov* index; however, some information ( *e.g.,* copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download through the website. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available for inspection through the OSHA Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-2350 (TTY (877) 889-5627) for assistance in locating docket submissions.
*Instructions:* All submissions must include the agency name and the OSHA docket number (OSHA-2013-0012). OSHA places comments and other materials, including any personal information, in the public docket without revision, and these materials will be available online at *http://www.regulations.gov.* Therefore, the agency cautions commenters about submitting statements they do not want made available to the public, or submitting comments that contain personal information (either about themselves or others) such as Social Security numbers, birth dates, and medical data.
*Extension of comment period:* Submit requests for an extension of the comment period on or before October 14, 2025 to the Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities, Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N-3653, Washington, DC 20210, or by fax to (202) 693-1644.
**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: *[email protected].*
*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: *[email protected].*
**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 correction 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 an internal review in which NRTL Program staff review the NRTL list of appropriate test standards to determine if the test standards conform to the definition of an appropriate test standard defined 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 proposing to delete from NRTLs' scope of recognition any test standards 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 *https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/directives/CPL_01-00-004.pdf* )) 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. Proposal To Delete Test Standards From the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards**
In this notice, OSHA proposes 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. As shown in Table 1, below, 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 proposes 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 is not proposing to incorporate that replacement test standard into the List of Appropriate Test Standards.
Table 1 lists the test standards that OSHA proposes to delete from the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards, as well as an abbreviated rationale for OSHA's proposed action. 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). OSHA seeks comment on the proposed deletion of these 16 test standards from the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards.
OSHA notes that Table 1 lists the subject test standards and the proposed action with regard to each of these test standards, without indicating how the proposed action will affect individual NRTLs. Section III of this notice discusses how the proposed action will affect individual NRTLs.
| Proposed | Test standard title | Reason | Replacement standard |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | 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 (already contained in the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards). |
| ISA 60079-0 | Explosive Atmospheres—Part 0: Equipment—General Requirements | Withdrawn | None. |
| ISA 60079-1 | Explosive Atmospheres—Part 1: Equipment Protection by Flameproof Enclosures “d“ | Withdrawn | None. |
| ISA 60079-6 | Explosive Atmospheres—Part 6: Equipment Protection by Oil Immersion “o“ | Withdrawn | None. |
| ISA 60079-7 | Explosive Atmospheres—Part 7: Equipment Protection by Increased Safety “e“ | Withdrawn | None. |
| ISA 60079-11 | Explosive Atmospheres—Part 11: Equipment Protection by Intrinsic Safety “i“ | Withdrawn | None. |
| ISA 60079-15 | Explosive Atmospheres—Part 15: Equipment Protection by Type of Protection “n“ | Withdrawn | None. |
| ISA 60079-25 | Standard for Explosive Atmospheres—Part 25: Intrinsically Safe Electrical Systems | Withdrawn | None. |
| ISA 60079-28 | Explosive Atmospheres—Part 28: Protection of Equipment and Transmission Systems Using Optical Radiation | Withdrawn | None. |
| ISA 60079-31 | Explosive Atmospheres—Part 31: Equipment Dust Ignition Protection by Enclosure “t” | Withdrawn | None. |
| ISA 61241-0 | Electrical Apparatus for Use in Zone 20, Zone 21 and Zone 22 Hazardous (Classified) Locations—General Requirements | Withdrawn | None. |
| ISA 61241-1 | Electrical Apparatus for Use in Zone 21 and Zone 22 Hazardous (Classified) Locations—Protection by Enclosures “tD” | Withdrawn | None. |
| ISA 61241-2 | Electrical Apparatus for Use in Zone 21 and Zone 22 Hazardous (Classified) Locations—Protection by Pressurization “pD” | Withdrawn | None. |
| ISA 61241-11 | Electrical Apparatus for Use in Zone 20, Zone 21 and Zone 22 Hazardous (Classified) Locations—Protection by Intrinsic Safety “iD” | Withdrawn | None. |
| ISA 61241-18 | Electrical Apparatus for Use in Zone 20, Zone 21 and Zone 22 Hazardous (Classified) Locations—Protection by Encapsulation “mD” | Withdrawn | None. |
| UL 244A | Solid-State Controls for Appliances | Withdrawn | None. |
**III. Proposed Modifications to Affected NRTLs' Scope of Recognition**
In this notice, OSHA additionally proposes to remove test standards ( *i.e.,* those listed in Table 1, above) 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). The tables in this section (Table 2 through Table 9) list, for each affected NRTL, the test standard(s) that OSHA proposes to remove from the scope of recognition of the NRTL. Table 3 lists the proposed replacement test standard for QPS.
OSHA notes that it has already added UL 121201 into the scopes of recognition for several NRTLs when the agency granted applications for expansion of those NRTL's recognition to include UL 121201. Therefore, OSHA is not proposing to add UL 121201 to 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. Citations to these *Federal Register* notices are contained below, in Table 2 through Table 9, as applicable, which OSHA includes in those tables for informational purposes only.
| Proposed test standard | Reason for proposed removal | Replacement test 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. Already in NRTL's scope of recognition.
87 FR 51157 (August 19, 2022). |
| 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. |
| Proposed test standard | Reason for proposed removal | Proposed replacement test 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. |
| Proposed test standard | Reason for proposed removal | Replacement test 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. Already in NRTL's scope of recognition.
87 FR 51155 (August 19, 2022). |
| UL 244A | Withdrawn | None. |
| Proposed test standard | Reason for proposed removal | Replacement test 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. Already in NRTL's scope of recognition.
87 FR 51154 (August 19, 2022). |
| 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. |
| Proposed test standard | Reason for proposed removal | Replacement test 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. Already in NRTL's scope of recognition.
87 FR 51156 (August 19, 2022). |
| 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. |
| Proposed test standard | Reason for proposed removal | Replacement test 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. Already in NRTL's scope of recognition.
86 FR 45765 (August 16, 2021). |
| 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. |
| Proposed test standard | Reason for proposed removal | Replacement test standard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| UL 244A | Withdrawn | None. |
| Proposed test standard | Reason for proposed removal | Replacement test 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. Already in NRTL's scope of recognition.
87 FR 12737 (March 7, 2022). |
| 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. |
| 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. |
**IV. Public Participation**
OSHA welcomes public comment on whether the proposed deletions and replacement are appropriate, and whether individual tables omit any appropriate replacement test standard that is comparable to a withdrawn test standard. If OSHA determines that it omitted any appropriate replacement test standard that is comparable to a withdrawn test standard, it will, in the final determination, incorporate that replacement test standard into the scope of recognition of each affected NRTL.
Comments should consist of pertinent written documents and exhibits. Commenters needing more time to comment must submit a request in writing, stating the reasons for the request, by the due date for comments. OSHA will limit any extension to 10 days unless the requester justifies a longer time period. OSHA may deny a request for an extension if it is not adequately justified.
To review copies of comments submitted to the docket, contact the Docket Office, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. These materials also are generally available online at *https://www.regulations.gov* under Docket No. OSHA-2013-0012. For further information, including information on how to contact the Docket Office, see the “ *Docket* ” heading in the section of this notice titled *ADDRESSES* .
OSHA staff will review all comments to the docket submitted in a timely manner and, after addressing the issues raised by these comments, will make a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health regarding the removal of recognition of these test standards from the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards and to update the scope of recognition of several NRTLs. The Assistant Secretary will make the final decision. In making this decision, the Assistant Secretary may undertake other proceedings prescribed in Appendix A to 29 CFR 1910.7.
OSHA will publish a public notice of this final decision in the *Federal Register* .
**V. Authority and Signature**
Amanda Laihow, Acting 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 August 27, 2025.
Amanda Laihow,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.