LabTest is currently in the process of being accredited by Standards Council of Canada (SCC) as a Certification Body (CB) based on ISO/IEC Guide 65. An application was also submitted to be recognized as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) based on the accreditation to ISO IEC 17025 and ISO IEC Guide 65. The policies and procedures that guide the operation of the certification program are administered in a nondiscriminatory manner and are not used to inhibit or impede access by applicants. In particular, LabTest does not elicit any financial support from a thrid party outside the contractual arrangements with the clients. Nor does LabTest accept any such financial support.

LabTest services are available to all applicants that meet the terms and conditions covered by the policies of the program. Following is a summary of the major elements of the program.

Initial Request

The client submits to LabTest a “Request for Quotation” for the testing and evaluation of their products. Typically, this is accompanied by information on the product such as sales literature, photos, instruction manuals, schematics, etc.

Application for Certification

Upon review of the information provided, an application package is sent by LabTest to the client containing the following:

“Quotation” letter indicating the standard(s) to be used in the evaluation, service deliverables, estimated fee and the amount of preliminary deposit (if required), and product samples needed.
The name and location of the laboratory where testing will be performed (if testing is subcontracted)
Copy of “Application for Certification”
Copy of “Service Agreement”
Requirements concerning “Initial Factory Inspection”

Application for Certification: Click Here

Evaluation Fees

The fee indicated in the quotation letter is based on a review of the documentation provided. The estimate covers one evaluation of the product and does not cover any

retesting or re-evaluation that may be necessary as a result of failure, nor does it cover testing of individual components/subassemblies used within the product to determine compliance with the applicable component standards.

Project Initiation

Upon acceptance of the quotation, the client provides to LabTest the following:

Completed and signed “Quotation”
Completed and signed “Application for Certification”
Completed and signed “Certification Agreement”
A “Purchase Order” covering the expenses noted in the quotation
A “Preliminary Deposit” (if required)
The required number of “Product Samples” and
The requested technical documentation

Sample Selection

Test samples required to be submitted to LabTest for certification evaluation should be selected at random, either directly from production or from warehoused stock. In the event that samples are prototypes, LabTest reserves the right to verify compliance on production samples.

Project Management

Upon receipt and verification of the submitted materials, the following major activities are initiated:

A “Project Engineer/Manager” is assigned to process the work. This person will act as the LabTest contact person with the client, and will be responsible for all activities associated with the project and the investigation of the product.
A “Project Number” is assigned to the specific project, and a unique “Client Number” is assigned to first time clients, identifying the client in question.

Project Flow Chart: Click Here

Testing

Testing and evaluation of a product is mostly performed at LabTest’s own laboratory(s). In some cases, testing may be subcontracted to an external independent laboratory qualified by LabTest. In such cases, the client will be informed to obtain the approval. LabTest remains fully and completely responsible for the outcome of testing, for the integrity of all test data generated by the subcontracted lab, and for final certification of the product.

Testing can also be conducted at the client’s facility under one of the following LabTest service options. Details on these service options are available to clients upon request.

Witness Testing
Supervised Manufacturer Testing
Testing at Manufacturer’s Premises

Standards and Interpretation

The product is tested and evaluated to the current edition(s) of the relevant national and/or international standard(s).

If a question arises concerning the interpretation of a requirement in a standard as applied to a product, members of LabTest engineering team (Chief Engineer), or the relevant “Standards Writing Committee” will be consulted to help resolve the interpretation issue.

Complaints, Appeals, and Disputes

LabTest has established an “Complaints, Appeals and Disputes Procedure” which is available to all clients upon request. The appeal procedure allows the client to present their views at successive levels of LabTest management should agreement not be reached at the project manager level.

Compliants, Appeals, and Disputes Form: Click Here

Acceptance of Test Data

Client shall provide test data from an ISO 17025 accredited testing laboratory, holding a valid accreditation certificate from an ILAC member accreditation body. Acceptance of the test data will be determined upon review of the test data.

Certification and Listing Agreement

Before certification is granted, the client must sign a “Certification and Listing Agreement ” with LabTest. This Agreement forms a legally binding contract between LabTest and each of the parties responsible for the manufacture of the product and the use of the LabTest Certification Mark(s).

The Agreement defines the duties and responsibilities of all parties, and establishes legal control by LabTest over the use of the LabTest Registered Certification Mark(s).

Initial Factory Inspection

Prior to granting certification, LabTest will perform an “Initial Factory Inspection” (IFI) to determine if the factory:

Has the necessary quality control procedures and the means to manufacture the certified product(s) in question on a continuing basis within the parameters specified in the Certification Documentation.
Can perform the required “Production Line Testing”, and has the adequate test procedures and test equipment.
Has the necessary procedures to control the LabTest Certification Mark as stipulated in the Certification and Listing Agreement.
Has adequate procedures for recording test failures, customer complaints, and the associated corrective actions.

The IFI is performed by a LabTest Field Representative at each manufacturing site where the LabTest Certification Mark/Label will be applied prior to shipping products with the Certification Mark. In some instances, the IFI may be combined with the first “Factory Surveillance” visit. To initiate the IFI, clients shall complete and submit the “Request for Initial Factory Inspection” form.

Follow-up Factory Inspections

Products certified by LabTest are subject to a “Factory Inspection Program” consisting of unannounced inspection visits to the factory where the product is manufactured and the LabTest Certification Mark(s) is applied. The appearance of the LabTest Certification Mark on the product is the means to indicate that the product is certified and is being manufactured under the terms of the Service Agreement.

The purpose of the inspection visits is to ensure that:

The certified products are manufactured in accordance with the Certification Report;
The required production line tests are being conducted;
Established production control procedures are still being followed.

The client must pay for the costs of on-going factory inspections and an “Annual License Fee”

Findings Report/Letter

Upon completion of evaluation, LabTest will issue a “Findings Report” containing the outcome of investigation and the status of compliance. The report will include any

constructional features or test results that do not comply with the applicable standards, as well as any other certification conditions that the client must meet. LabTest will attempt to complete the entire test/evaluation program before formally reporting its findings. The client must respond to all the items indicated in the Findings Report before continuing to proceed with the next step(s).

Resubmission for evaluation

In the event that test failures or constructional deficiencies are encountered during the investigation, the client may be required to provide improved sample(s) of the product for re-testing and re-evaluation. In such cases, LabTest will provide the client with new estimate(s) of the retest/re-evaluation costs.

Certification

When the tested/evaluated product is found to be in compliance with the applicable standards, and the client has fulfilled all the terms and conditions of certification, LabTest will issue a “Certificate of Compliance” (CoC) and Authorization Letter granting the client the authority to display the LabTest Certification Mark(s) on complying products. LabTest will also issue a “Certification Report” which provides a detailed description of all the important and critical features of the certified product.

Certification Mark

The LabTest Certification Mark(s) are the property of LabTest Certification Inc. and must be procured solely through LabTest Certification Inc. The client is authorized to incorporate the Certification Mark as an integral part of the product or nameplate as per the instructions LabTest provides in the Certification Report, Certificate of Compliance, and Authorization Letter.

Use of LabTest’s name, logo or Certification Mark on products, brochures, advertising/sales literature, etc. which indicates or implies that a product is certified by LabTest is not permitted until the client receives written authorization from LabTest to do so.

Click her for LC Mark Designations

Project Invoicing

Typically, projects are invoiced upon completion of the work involved. For projects whose scope is such that work may extend over several months, progress invoicing on monthly and work completed basis will occur. Payment terms are set at start of each project.

Standards

Periodically, standards are updated or revised to incorporate new requirements which may necessitate retesting of certified products to determine compliance with the new requirements. In such cases, LabTest may request that the client identify which certified products are to continue to be certified, and a determination will be made as to the samples required for re-evaluation.

Directory of Certified Products

After granting of certification, LabTest will include the product in the LabTest “Directory of Certified Products” which is published regularly.

For information on the LabTest Certification Program contact us at: Click Here

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