Inspector will only acept UL as a testing lab.

[captain blue beer]

Hello all, just when you think you've heard it all they come up with another one.
i have an inspector who is refusing to acept ETL as a testing lab. I've sent him the OSHA registry of Listed National Testing Labs with ETL on it.
now he's referring back to art. 100. " Included in a list published by an organization that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction" and he's not accepting ETl as a testing lab because they have looked for UL symbol for the last 18 years and not going to change now? this is a 100,000 sq ft assisted living going to cost per fixture went from 5.50 each to 17.95 if i can find them at that. i've done everything i know to do does anyone have any advice. i don't have time to appeal the city council, but there's nothing in the city ordinances that specifies "only UL listed equipment."

 

[roger]

I know this won't help but the inspector is a moron.

 

[jaggedben]

Does he realize that the standard is the same, regardless of the lab?

I would be trying to appeal to someone above him.

 

[infinity]

This inspector is clueless but does he have the authority to accept or reject whatever he wants? Maybe he does. Save yourself any further aggravation by going over his head.

 

[HEYDOG]

Hello all, just when you think you've heard it all they come up with another one.
i have an inspector who is refusing to acept ETL as a testing lab. I've sent him the OSHA registry of Listed National Testing Labs with ETL on it.
now he's referring back to art. 100. " Included in a list published by an organization that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction" and he's not accepting ETl as a testing lab because they have looked for UL symbol for the last 18 years and not going to change now? this is a 100,000 sq ft assisted living going to cost per fixture went from 5.50 each to 17.95 if i can find them at that. i've done everything i know to do does anyone have any advice. i don't have time to appeal the city council, but there's nothing in the city ordinances that specifies "only UL listed equipment."

If nothing else, I would contact ETL and have them send you documentation that they are a recognized testing laboratory. I would get in contact with someone there that is involved in the certification process that may have ran into this issue before!

 

[gadfly56]

Hello all, just when you think you've heard it all they come up with another one.
i have an inspector who is refusing to acept ETL as a testing lab. I've sent him the OSHA registry of Listed National Testing Labs with ETL on it.
now he's referring back to art. 100. " Included in a list published by an organization that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction" and he's not accepting ETl as a testing lab because they have looked for UL symbol for the last 18 years and not going to change now? this is a 100,000 sq ft assisted living going to cost per fixture went from 5.50 each to 17.95 if i can find them at that. i've done everything i know to do does anyone have any advice. i don't have time to appeal the city council, but there's nothing in the city ordinances that specifies "only UL listed equipment."

The list has to be published by an organization acceptable to the AHJ. Ask him for the organization, and the list. Watch him squirm.

 

[tom baker]

NRTL is the term to look up. ETL would love to help you on this, UL is ok but they are not the only show in town

 

[kwired]

I think many HVAC units are only listed by ETL, particularly mini splits and other similar units, does this guy reject nearly all of those?

 

[fishin' electrician]

Never met an inspector that is also the AHJ.

Met plenty that think they are, but they were always sorely mistaken.

 

[ptonsparky]

NRTL is the term to look up. ETL would love to help you on this, UL is ok but they are not the only show in town

I can see an inspector receiving mail with all sorts of legal terms that basically say he has HUA and he should remove it promptly.

 

[Strathead]

Never met an inspector that is also the AHJ.

Met plenty that think they are, but they were always sorely mistaken.

This... Have you requested a meeting with his boss? The actual AHJ?

 

[kwired]

This... Have you requested a meeting with his boss? The actual AHJ?

The boss isn't normally the actual AHJ either. The organization they work for is. Any jurisdiction rules normally need to be a consensus of multiple members in some fashion and not just a decision by one member.

Now and then something might come up and on the spot decision possibly gets made, if this were one of those cases then the boss might actually be the one that knows the real answer to the problem though. If he doesn't have an answer, in a well run organization he is probably talking to others before making a decision.

NEC defines NRTL, and that definition includes more than just UL. If an AHJ wants to only accept certain ones, they really should have documentation of that in their rules somewhere.

 

[coffeebean]

New Jersey has a list of seventeen NRTLs and ETL isn't one of them.
N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.6

 

[don_resqcapt19]

The boss isn't normally the actual AHJ either. The organization they work for is. Any jurisdiction rules normally need to be a consensus of multiple members in some fashion and not just a decision by one member.

Now and then something might come up and on the spot decision possibly gets made, if this were one of those cases then the boss might actually be the one that knows the real answer to the problem though. If he doesn't have an answer, in a well run organization he is probably talking to others before making a decision.

NEC defines NRTL, and that definition includes more than just UL. If an AHJ wants to only accept certain ones, they really should have documentation of that in their rules somewhere.

I have said that many times, but taking a new look at the Article 100 definition, I am not sure.

Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
An organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure. (CMP-1)

I thought it had something to do with the adoption of and amending a code, but the definition doesn't say that.
Maybe the code needs different definitions...one of the "adopting authority" and one for the inspecting authority and/or inspector.
[/QUOTE]

 

[LarryFine]

Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
An organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure. (CMP-1)

In my opinion, it's stated that way to cover the possibilities. It does not give the NEC the ability to empower an individual inspector with greater authority than his jurisdiction does.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

In my opinion, it's stated that way to cover the possibilities. It does not give the NEC the ability to empower an individual inspector with greater authority than his jurisdiction does.

But there is nothing about the legal authority to adopt and amend. It is my opinion that is the only function of an AHJ.

 

[wwhitney]

New Jersey has a list of seventeen NRTLs and ETL isn't one of them.
N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.6

ETL is what the mark looks like, but the company name is Intertek.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Dennis Alwon]

@captain blue beer have you tried to contact the person in charge for the state. In NC we have a head engineer whose office and job it is is to make official interpretations. NC also has listed the NRTL's that they will accept.

 

[captain blue beer]

The boss isn't normally the actual AHJ either. The organization they work for is. Any jurisdiction rules normally need to be a consensus of multiple members in some fashion and not just a decision by one member.

Now and then something might come up and on the spot decision possibly gets made, if this were one of those cases then the boss might actually be the one that knows the real answer to the problem though. If he doesn't have an answer, in a well run organization he is probably talking to others before making a decision.

NEC defines NRTL, and that definition includes more than just UL. If an AHJ wants to only accept certain ones, they really should have documentation of that in their rules somewhere.

exactly and I've read the city of Ridgeland MS city ordnances and there's nothing, i have ETL engineering working on it, But in TN the Dept of Comerce and insurance was their governing board, i can't find that MS inspectors have one. thanks for your reply

 

[captain blue beer]

@captain blue beer have you tried to contact the person in charge for the state. In NC we have a head engineer whose office and job it is is to make official interpretations. NC also has listed the NRTL's that they will accept.

've read the city of Ridgeland MS city ordnances and there's nothing, i have ETL engineering working on it, But in TN the Dept of Commerce and insurance was their governing board, i can't find that MS inspectors have one. thanks for your reply