[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53718-53719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: X96-11015]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 960909249-6276-02]
RIN 0693-XX23
National Voluntary Conformity Assessment System Evaluation
(NVCASE) Program
AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: This is to advise the public that the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) received a letter dated July 25, 1996
from The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors
requesting the development of a new program under the National
Voluntary Conformity Assessment Systems Evaluation (NVCASE) Program.
The letter requests NVCASE to evaluate and accredit that Board as an
ISO-9000 registrar so that it, in turn, can conduct audits of
manufacturers of pressure vessels according to ISO-9000, formally
registering those which are in compliance. The Board's goal is to
achieve acceptance by Canada and other governments of ISO 9000
registrations performed in the United States on an equal basis with
those performed in those other countries.
DATES: Comments on this request must be received by December 30, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted in writing to Robert L.
Gladhill, NVCASE Program Manager, NIST, Bldg. 820, Room 282,
Gaithersburg, MD 20899, by fax at 301-963-2871, or email
rlglad@nist.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert L. Gladhill, NVCASE Program Manager, at NIST, Bldg. 820, Room
282, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, by telephone at 301-975-4029, by fax at
301-963-2871 or by email at rlgad@nist.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NVCASE procedures at 15 CFR Part 286
require NIST to seek public consultation when it receives such
requests. This program involves a collection of information subject to
the Paperwork Reduction Act. This collection is approved by the Office
of Management and Budget under control No. 0693-0019.
The text of the request follows:
July 25, 1996.
Mr. Robert L. Gladhill, Program Manager, NVCASE Program, NIST, Bldg.
820, Room 282, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Dear Mr. Gladhill: The National Board of Boiler and Pressure
Vessel Inspectors is requesting NIST to accredit the National Board
as an ISO-9000 registrar under the NVCASE program. We would like to
coordinate our activities with NIST to achieve our goal in the most
expeditious manner possible. Successful efforts from both our
organizations will help boiler and pressure vessel manufacturers in
the global marketplace.
The National Board is the central organization in the United
States that coordinates certification and enforcement activities in
the boiler and pressure vessel industry. The National Board is
comprised of the chief inspectors of the states and certain cities
of the Unites States. These chief
[[Page 53719]]
inspectors are responsible for the enforcement of regulation
pertaining to the construction, installation, operation, repair, and
alteration of boilers and pressure vessels. Certification by a
government body is consistent with the founding principles of the
National Board.
Since its founding in 1919, the National Board has been
assisting the states in the enforcement of boiler and pressure
vessel safety legislation. Currently, most of the audits of boiler
and pressure vessel manufacturers, installers, and assemblers in the
United States are conducted by the National Board and its members.
Also, all audits of manufacturers and assemblers of safety valves
are conducted by the National Board. These audits are conducted to
assure compliance with the requirements of the quality and
construction standards, and to ensure compliance with the
regulations of the states and cities. The ability to certify to ISO-
9000 will allow manufacturers the option to expand their markets
internationally.
The National Board has conducted audits at nuclear generating
stations. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission in their deliberations
has used results of the audits in its decisions on the licensing of
stations. These audits are conducted on programs complying with 10
CFR 50 that are identical to ISO-9000.
Currently, requirements are in place by Canadian authorities
requiring an accepted quality program for import into Canada. The
U.S. fitting/flange manufacturers may have their quality program
reviewed by provincial authorities or be in possession of a
Certificate issued by an accredited registrar. The National Board is
among organizations recognized by these authorities as a body that
can certify manufacturers. Lacking accreditation, we are unable to
assist U.S. manufacturers in their attempts to enter this market.
The National Board has been in discussions with the Registrar
Accreditation Board(RAB) on the issue of certification of personnel.
Their policy is that in order for an applicant for accreditation to
be considered by them, RAB must certify the applicant's personnel.
Other accreditors of ISO-9000 registrars recognize a registrar's
ability to certify their own personnel in accordance with ISO-10011.
This issue has caused a stalemate in our relationship with RAB
preventing the National Board from becoming accredited by RAB.
On behalf of the members of the National Board, I look forward
to working with NIST on the NVCASE program.
Yours truly,
Albert J. Justin,
Executive Director.
Interested parties should respond in writing to the above address.
All comments submitted with become part of the public record and will
be available for inspection and copying at the U.S. Department of
Commerce Central Reference and Records and Inspection Facility, Room
6020, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution Avenue,
Washington, DC 20230.
Dated: October 9, 1996.
Samuel Kramer,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 26351 Filed 10-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M
