Recognition of A2LA programs include formal written agreements between A2LA and users of accredited laboratories, officially documented endorsements of A2LA programs, and informal acceptance between A2LA and various parties. Below are listed the Federal agencies, State agencies, and private sector parties with whom A2LA has some type of formal written agreement of recognition or documented endorsement in 2003.
- The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) formally recognizes A2LA as a laboratory accreditation body working in cooperation with the EPA National Lead (Pb) Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP) to accredit lead (Pb) testing laboratories. Laboratories seeking to be listed on the NLLAP approved list must comply with the additional Environmental Lead (Pb) Program Requirements.
- The U.S Federal Aviation Administration recognizes A2LA as an "evaluation authority" as specified in ASTM C1077 "Standard Practice for Laboratories Testing Concrete and Concrete Aggregates for Use in Construction and Criteria for Laboratory Evaluation", Sections. 3.1.1.1 and 11, and as a "national authority" as specified in ASTM D3666, "Standard Specification for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Testing and Inspecting Road and Paving Materials", Section 8.1.5, Note 8.
- The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires that manufacturers and suppliers of personal computers and computer peripherals who intend to use a "Declaration of Conformity" on their products must have the products tested by an accredited Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) laboratory. A2LA is one of the approved accreditation bodies under this program. Laboratories seeking to be listed with the FCC by virtue of their A2LA Electrical (EMC) accreditation must also meet the technical requirements contained in FCC Part 15 and 47 CFR parts 2 & 15.
- The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and A2LA have signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recognizing the equivalence of the A2LA and the Naval Shipyard Laboratory Accreditation Program (NSLAP) and agreeing to accept data from laboratories accredited in either system. This program is open only to government facilities accredited in the environmental field of testing.
Florida
The State of Florida Building Commission has formally recognized A2LA accredited laboratories as meeting the requirements for testing laboratories that conduct tests on products related to its new system for product approval under the new Florida building code. The new system is meant to ensure that safe products and technologies are used in building construction and also to encourage new products and technologies that can increase safety or meet safety requirements through less expensive means. Criteria has been established for approval of public and private entities that test, evaluate and certify panel walls, exterior doors, roofing products, skylights, windows, shutters and structural components as well as new and innovative building products. This approval may be obtained through either local jurisdictions for local approvals or the Florida Building Commission for statewide approval.
Georgia
A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes an agreement between the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and A2LA. The purpose of this MOU is to formally recognize A2LA as a laboratory accrediting agency for commercial laboratories, accredited by A2LA for environmental tests, to be recognized as approved under the EPD's Rules for Commercial Environmental Laboratories.
Kentucky
Under Kentucky statute KRS 224.60-130(2)(a), the Office of the Petroleum Storage Tank Environmental Assurance Fund has established criteria to accredit laboratories that contract with owners or operators of underground storage tanks (UST) to perform analytical testing related to Kentucky's underground storage tank program. All UST owners and operators are required to have certainty types of analytical testing performed at an A2LA accredited laboratory to be eligible for Fund participation, pursuant to statute 415 KAR 1:140. This program covers certain parameters and methods as noted in the specific program requirements and falls under A2LA's Environmental program. This program was initiated in 1999.
New Mexico
A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes an agreement between the New Mexico Environment Department and A2LA whereby the State of New Mexico will certify laboratories to perform compliance testing for drinking water samples based on the laboratories' A2LA accreditation.
Washington
The State of Washington references A2LA it its Procedural Manual as an acceptable third party accreditation program for non-potable water testing laboratories.
Wyoming
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division (WDEQ/WQD) Leaking Aboveground and Underground Storage Tank (LAUST) Program Policy Number 35 requires that laboratories performing work for the program must be A2LA accredited under the "Wyoming LAUST Remediation Program." The scope of the program covers specific EPA methods for laboratories that are registered with the State of Wyoming and authorized to do business in Wyoming. To be certified by the LAUST Remediation Program to perform analytical testing related to the program, laboratories must provide evidence of their current accreditation from A2LA to the WDEQ/WQD.
Automotive Industry
- A2LA is formally recognized by GM as an approved third party laboratory accreditation body that suppliers to GM may use in order to meet the requirements of General Motor's GP-10 accreditation program.
- A2LA has signed an MRA with the "Big Three" for administration of an Automotive EMC laboratory accreditation program. Laboratories seeking to be recognized under this program in the Electrical field of testing must meet the additional program requirements of the Automotive EMC Program Requirements.
- A2LA's Calibration Accreditation Program has been recognized within QS-9000:1998 Third Edition as one option that commercial and independent calibration facilities serving the automotive industry can select in order to satisfy the portion of Clause 4.11.2.b.1 which requires accreditation of calibration facilities serving the automotive industry.
United States Golf Association
A2LA's Putting Green Materials Testing Program for soils and turf is formally recognized by the United States Golf Association (USGA)
Safety Equipment Institute (SEI)
SEI administers third-party certification programs to test and certify a broad range of safety and protective products. Safety and protective products certified by SEI must periodically undergo compliance testing to specified standards at independent testing laboratories that have been evaluated and awarded contracts by the SEI Board of Directors. In an effort to minimize redundant assessments, SEI has agreed to rely on the laboratories' A2LA assessments in place of SEI evaluations. The agreement between A2LA and SEI was signed on May 7, 2002. SEI is accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 65: 1996 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).
