[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 19 (Friday, January 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1821]
[Federal Register: January 28, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Docket No. 931241-3341]
National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.
ACTION: Request for comments on need for establishing a laboratory
accreditation program.
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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has
received a request to establish a laboratory accreditation program. In
a letter dated September 16, 1993, the National Electrical
Manufacturers Association, Washington, DC requested that NIST establish
an accreditation program for testing electric motors for energy
efficiency (but not for safety). A copy of the request letter is set
out as an appendix to this notice. Announcement of this request by the
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), and of the NIST
request for comments with respect thereto, are being made under the
procedures of the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program
(NVLAP) (15 CFR part 7, subpart B, Sec. 7.11(d)) of the referenced
Procedures.
DATES: Comments may be submitted on or before March 28, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Persons desiring to comment on the need for such an
accreditation program are invited to submit their comments in writing
within the 60 day period to Albert Tholen, Chief, National Voluntary
Accreditation Program, National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Building 411, room A162, Gaithersburg, MD 20899. Copies of comments
received will be available for inspection and copying at the Department
of Commerce Central Reference and Records Inspection Facility, room
6020, Hoover Building, Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lawrence Galowin, Deputy to Chief, Laboratory Accreditation Program,
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building 411, room
A162, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, Telephone (301) 975-4022, FAX (301) 926-
2884.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Scope of Laboratory Accreditation
The request letter called for accreditation of test laboratories
based on standard test methods for performance of energy efficient
electric motors for the proposed program. The accreditation program
will assist the efforts of industry to meet the requirements of the
Energy Policy Act (EPACT) of 1992 regarding electric motors. The test
methods for accreditation discussed at NEMA and DoE meetings with
industry will be for IEEE Standard 112 Test Method B, and NEMA
Standards Publication MG1-1987, as set forth in the EPACT legislation
and other standards when and if the Secretary (DoE) amends the test
procedures. NVLAP Procedures have recently been modified to be fully in
accord with ISO Guide 25 that extends ISO 9002 recognition; such
criteria will beneficially impact on the qualified applicants granted
accreditation if approval is made to proceed with the program.
As a normal extension of support by NVLAP to other agencies the
applicable requirements of DoE to be established under the Energy
Policy Act (EPACT) would be made an integral part of the program for
accreditation of laboratories.
Procedure Following Receipt of Comments
After the 60 days comment period, NIST will thoroughly evaluate all
comments pertaining to the proposed accreditation program. Notification
to all interested persons will be made by copy of a FR notice of the
decision by the director of NIST regarding development of this program.
Interested persons are the submitters of comments, or those requesting
copy by placement on a NVLAP mailing distribution list. Approval of the
program will call for technical assistance and input from interested
and qualified parties and for comments to be made on the program
handbook, test methods, and criteria applied in the program. NVLAP
Procedures provide for public comment prior to final publication of the
accreditation requirements.
Dated: January 11, 1994.
Arati Prabhakar,
Director.
Appendix
September 16, 1993
Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Dear Dr. Prabhakar: This letter is written on behalf of the
Motor and Generator Section of NEMA to request that the National
Institute of Standards and Technology establish a laboratory
accreditation program (LAP) for electric motors through the National
Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program.
The purpose of the program will be to accredit testing
laboratories to certify that standard test methods for product
performance (and not safety) are properly followed in testing
electric motors. Standard test methods and related performance
standards will be those developed through such accredited standards-
making organizations as NEMA and the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers, Inc.
The development of a NVLAP program on energy efficient motors
will be beneficial to industry in meeting the requirements of the
Energy Policy Act (EPACT) of 1992 regarding electric motors. The
EPACT requires that certain types and sizes of electric motors meet
minimum efficiency standards and that a program be established to
verify the efficiencies. A NVLAP program will assure that data used
to verify motor efficiencies are measured in competent testing
laboratories. The NVLAP program on energy efficient lighting,
developed in response to a previous request by NEMA, will serve as a
model for a program on electric motors.
The NEMA Motor and Generator Section is willing to assist the
National Institute of Standards and Technology in identifying and
obtaining the necessary technical resources to establish the
accreditation program.
Please give this request your immediate attention.
Sincerely,
Frank Kitzantides,
(Vice President, Engineering).
Dated: January 24, 1994.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director
[FR Doc. 94-1821 Filed 1-27-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M
