Field Labelling

Field Labelling

What is Field Labelling?

Field Labelling is a method for certifying specific items of equipment against mandatory North American safety regulations.

The Field Labelling process involves the assessment of a specific item of equipment at its final installation location in the US by a Nationally Recognised Test Laboratory (NRTL).  The assessment is against the applicable US safety standards, such as NFPA79.  If the NRTL finds that the equipment meets those standards, it will issue a Field Label as confirmation.  That Field Label can be submitted to the relevant local authority (known as the Authority Having Jurisdiction or AHJ) as evidence that the equipment is safe and can be put into use.

Field Labelling is a quick and cost-effective way of certifying single items of equipment for use in North America.  It is most applicable to:

• Single items of equipment which are too large or heavy to be submitted for lab testing.
• Systems comprising multiple items of equipment that will only be assembled and commissioned at the final installation location.
• Equipment produced in very low volumes, where it is not cost effective to pursue alternative certification options for the US market.

What Are The Benefits of Field Labelling?

There can be a number of benefits to using Field Labelling, including:

• It can save both time and money by avoiding the need to ship equipment to and from test laboratories.
• It's quick, with final in-situ assessments often being completed in two or three days.  With most NRTLs employing multiple assessors based across the USA, lead times can also be relatively short.
• There are no ongoing surveillance costs and Listing fees.  A Field Label indicates that the equipment was compliant at time of assessment and providing the equipment is not altered it should remain compliant.