Frequently Asked Questions - Testing and Certification
Frequently Asked Questions - Testing and Certification
CSA International is accredited by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). We test to the same American industry standards as other accredited laboratories, regardless of who authored or published the standard. CSA marks are recognized and accepted throughout America by federal, state and local authorities.
In America’s voluntary certification system, you are free to choose which third-party certifier you will use for product certification. State and municipal regulations may specify that the certification organization must be a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), but they do not specify which NRTL or which mark to use. CSA International is a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, accepted throughout America by federal, state and local authorities, and so the CSA mark is always a wise choice.
The manufacturer submits appropriate technical documentation and a prototype of the product to CSA International. The product is then tested to determine whether it meets specific standards that apply to that type of product in the market in which it is intended to be sold.
The CSA mark appears on a wide variety of qualified products manufactured for consumer, commercial and industrial uses. Examples include: gas and electrical appliances; HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems and components; lighting products; home entertainment products; industrial controls and switchgear; electro-medical and laboratory equipment; plumbing products; recreational vehicles; process controls; power supplies; sport and personal safety devices; and information technology equipment.
In America, organizations are accredited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) to test and certify electric and gas products to the applicable U.S. standards and codes. Because these NRTLs meet the same qualifications and use the same standards, their certification marks are regarded as equivalent by regulatory authorities. Thus, the CSA mark and other qualified marks are considered to be equivalent.
In North America, many municipalities, states and provinces have laws, codes or regulations that require certain products to be tested to a specific standard or group of standards by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL). However, the laws do not specify which NRTL a manufacturer must use, or which product certification mark must appear on the product.
Make a note of the manufacturer and model number, then check the online Directory of CSA-Certified Products.
CSA International provides testing and certification for a wide range of product and service sectors, including the following...
We test and certify products to a wide range of regional, national and international standards, including standards written or administered by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA), National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and others.