- Home
- Accreditation
- Field Evaluation Body Accreditation Program
Field Evaluation Body Accreditation Program
The A2LA Field Evaluation Body (FEB) Accreditation Program is for organizations that evaluate electrical equipment that is utilized, modified, one-of-a-kind, or limited production (that is not listed or field-labeled under a certification program) to ensure that it complies with applicable codes or standards.
When an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) makes the determination that a piece of equipment in the field has been modified or refurbished or is not labeled appropriately they look to an approved FEB to evaluate the equipment, determine if the equipment complies with the applicable codes or standards, and then appropriately label the equipment. FEBs only perform electrical equipment evaluations at the request of the AHJ, and in order to receive this request, the FEB must meet the AHJ’s requirements for approval. While these requirements can vary between AHJs, accreditation is almost always an acceptable option.
While FEBs and Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) both deal with product safety, an FEB works primarily in the field at the point of installation. An NRTL typically works at the point of manufacture instead. These are two different processes with different competency requirements.
A2LA has two options for accreditation under the FEB program to make the process as simple as possible. The decision of which program is best for your FEB will be based on the requirements of your AHJ and the recognitions you would like to have.
- Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020, ILAC P15, and NFPA 790 and 791 falls under the A2LA ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) Scope of Recognition and offers global recognition to the FEB.
- Accreditation to NFPA 790 and 791 Only: This option is not covered under the ILAC MRA.
Program Requirements
- NFPA 790 - Standard for Competency of Third-Party Field Evaluation Bodies
- NFPA 791 - Recommended Practice and Procedures for Unlabeled Electrical Equipment Evaluation.
- A2LA also offers accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020 Requirements for the Operation of Various Types of Bodies Performing Inspection
- ILAC P15-Application of ISO/IEC 17020 for the Accreditation of Inspection Bodies, in conjunction with NFPA 790 and 791.
FAQs
Answer
A2LA assigns a dedicated accreditation officer to…
Answer
An A2LA assessment includes a thorough examin…
Answer
The most important factor in determining the …
Answer
Yes, however, under A2LA’s multilateral recog…
Answer
Terms such as "quality system registration" or "a…
Answer
In general, a well-prepared applicant can com…
Answer
The requirements for which a CAB is normally asse…
Answer
A2LA is one of the most transparent organizations…
Answer
Conformity assessment accreditation is defined as…
Answer
The list of specific tests, types of tests, calib…
Answer
The introduction to ISO/IEC 17025 notes that accr…
Answer
Laboratories that intend to apply in the near fut…
Answer
A2LA now publishes all proficiency testing (PT) r…
Answer
A2LA's general Metrological Traceability Policy r…
Answer
There are five accreditation bodies (ABs) in the …
Answer
Exceptions to the A2LA Traceability Policy ca…
Answer
In general, A2LA's assessors will cite labora…
Answer
Before assigning any assessor, A2LA will submit a…
Answer
Following your on-site assessment, the process ca…
Answer
All A2LA staff, assessors, and technical experts …
Answer
A quality management system (QMS) is a compilatio…