CONTACT:
Gladys Miller
Third-Party QA and
   Product Certification
(210) 522-2424
E-mail: gmmiller@swri.org

KEY TERMS:
quality assurance
directory of listed
products
certification
follow-up inspection
inspection agency
inspections
listing and labeling
listing mark
NRTL
third-party
certification

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has two programs to assist manufacturers to obtain product certifications, evaluation reports, or type approvals:

• Third-party production control

• Third-party quality assurance

Products, materials, and assemblies in good standing in these programs are published in the Directory of Listed Products. This directory is online and available for you to search by category, client name, product name, listing and labeling number, or test method to verify that a product has been approved and listed.

• Directory of Listed Products

The listing and labeling program ensures the product that reaches the consumer is similar to the product that has been approved through testing activities that begin when the samples are being prepared for testing and continue for the life of the Program.

Listing and Labeling Procedures

To document the manufacturing and preparation of the test sample, our third-party inspector is present when the test samples are being prepared. The samples are marked by the inspector, and we verify these markings when the samples arrive at the lab.

Only manufacturing facilities found to have a production and quality system that guarantee the continued production quality of the product are accepted in our Program.

Listing and Labeling Documentation

After successful test results are obtained, a Quality Control (QC) Manual or Follow-Up Procedure (FUP) Document is prepared. This Manual or Document describes the product, the manufacturing process, and all critical aspects that, if changed, could affect the performance of the product. The information contained in the Manual or Document is verified through a visit to the manufacturing plant.

The official implementation of the program takes place after controlled copies of the QC Manual or FUP Document are issued to authorized holders, the use of the SwRI label is authorized, and the product is added to the SwRI Directory of Listed Products.

Follow-Up Inspections

Third-party inspectors in the vicinity of the manufacturing plants visit the plants at prescribed intervals to verify the products continue to be made as described in the QC Manual or FUP Document and that only authorized labels are used.

Following is a list of some of the entities that use this Program in support of their product certification / approval programs:

• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

• General Services Administration (GSA)

• International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC-ES)

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)

• United States Coast Guard (USCG)

• State of Florida Department of Community Affairs

• Miami Metro–Dade County

The SwRI Product Certification Program covers materials and products found in the construction, telecommunications, transportation, petrochemical/chemical, and manufacturing industries, including aboveground storage tanks for flammable liquids and fire extinguishing agents and systems.

Please e-mail Gladys Miller or call (210) 522-2424 for more information about Third-Party Quality Assurance and Product Certification.

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