National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program

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]

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