Domestic Recognition of A2LA Programs

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.

- 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.

- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has formally recognized A2LA as competent to accredit testing laboratories to meet the technical requirements for acceptance by European Union Member State Governments under the EMC Annex of the U.S. - E.U Mutual Recognition Agreement.  NIST has also recognized A2LA as an authorized body under the provisions of Phase I of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) MRA.

-  The National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) has recognized A2LA as a proficiency testing oversight body/proficiency testing provider accreditor (PTOB/PTPA).  By virtue of this recognition, A2LA is able to conduct assessments to the stringent NELAC requirements and offer accreditation that covers all of the NELAC fields of proficiency testing. 

-  The Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, in a letter and attached safety evaluation report (SER) issued to the Arizona Public Service Company, approved a requested change to the quality assurance (QA) program of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Units 1, 2 and 3.  The change provides for acceptance of A2LA accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 as a means of qualifying calibration laboratories to provide commercial-grade calibration services to the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station.  The accreditation process is accepted in lieu of a supplier audit, commercial-grade survey, or in-process surveillance. 

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 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 in 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) Storage Tank Program Policy Number 35 requires that laboratories performing work for the program must be A2LA accredited under the "Wyoming Storage Tank Remeditation (STR) Laboratory Accreditation Program Requirements." 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.

Texas
The Texas Department of Health now recognizes accreditations granted by A2LA to laboratories performing preparation and analysis of mold associated with mold-related activities that affect indoor air quality.

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 laboratory's 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).

Bluetooth

- A2LA has signed an MoU with the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). Bluetooth has established a Qualification Program to test and qualify products using Bluetooth wireless technology to be certified as Bluetooth compliant pursuant to the specifications for such Products as determined by Bluetooth. As part of the Qualification Program and according to the Bluetooth Qualification Program Reference Document, the Bluetooth Qualification Review Board (BQRB) administers the recognition of Facilities as Bluetooth Qualification Test Facilities (BQTF's), based on accreditation by A2LA. Laboratories seeking to be recognized under this program in the Electrical field of testing must meet the additional program requirements of the Bluetooth SIG.

Cellular Telephone and Internet Association (CTIA)

- A2LA is recognized by the Cellular Telephone and Internet Association (CTIA) to provide laboratory accreditation services in support of CTIA's certification program to verify conformance of wireless products to established industry standards.

SBC

SBC has issued SBC-TP-76200 Network Equipment Power, Grounding, Environmental and Physical Design Requirements, Issue 5, which formally recognizes A2LA for the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation of Network Equipment Building Systems (NEBS) testing laboratories.

Aerospace Industry

-  Boeing:  Boeing’s document, D1-4226 (NADCAP Information Revision EJ) under the heading “Exceptions When NADCAP Accreditation is Not Required” states:  “NADCAP accreditation for MTL is not required for companies holding ILAC recognized accreditations for the applicable test methods.”

-  General Electric (GE):   With the incorporation of ISO 17025 in S-400, GE allows more flexibility in the approval process.  Subsequent to initial approval by GE, a laboratory can get recertified for GE work by (1) a GE on site audit, (2) a SNECMA or AIRBUS audit, (3) an ISO 17025 performed per GE additional requirements by NADCAP recognized accreditors, e.g., A2LA, etc., or (4) a PRI-NADCAP audit. 

-  Hamilton Sundstrand:  Has made a formal announcement to waive their NADCAP mandate for material test labs accredited by A2LA.

-  Pratt & Whitney:  Has made a formal announcement to waive their NADCAP mandate for material test labs accredited by A2LA.