B. The
applicant laboratory shall maintain a follow-up inspection program to confirm
that the manufacturer is providing the controls, inspections, and tests
necessary to assure that all current manufactured extinguishers will meet the
laboratory's testing standards. This follow-up inspection shall occur no less
than once each six months for the first two years and once each year
thereafter.
1. The application by a testing
laboratory for recognition by the State Fire Marshal as a "nationally
recognized testing laboratory" shall not be on any particular form but shall
include all of the information and material requested in Subparagraphs below:
a. the address and telephone number of the
main facility and all branch offices;
b. a current organizational chart showing the
relationship between administration, operation, and quality control;
c. resumes of the education and experience of
key personnel;
d. a floor plan of
the main facility and all branch offices indicating location of the equipment
used for testing portable fire extinguishers;
e. a list of all equipment used to test
portable fire extinguishers, identified by manufacturer, model number and
serial number; detailed plans and specifications shall be submitted on any
testing equipment fabricated by the applicant;
f. procedures for selecting, receiving,
storage, handling, and shipping of test specimens;
g. test standards and procedures most
frequently used;
h. method and
frequency of test equipment calibration;
i. procedure for safekeeping of records and
files;
j. copies of all data sheets
and test report forms;
k.
facsimiles of all contracts executed between the testing laboratory and
portable extinguisher clients;
l.
procedure for periodic updating of the report;
m. method of distributing test reports and
certifications, including an indication of who may obtain copies of the final
reports and how the reports may be obtained;
n. a copy of the laboratory's partnership
agreement, if a partnership, or of the articles of incorporation, if a
corporation, and a copy of any by-laws;
o. a list of all the portable fire
extinguishers presently listed by the testing laboratory showing the
manufacturer and the model number;
p. copies of the test reports on all listed
portable extinguishers which must be in sufficient detail to provide for
complete verification and evaluation of the operations and objectives, and must
include the signature of personnel performing the test and must also include
the name of the supervisory engineer;
q. whether the applicant testing laboratory
has been recognized as a "nationally recognized testing laboratory" by any
other state or by an organized, voluntary recognized organization such as the
National Voluntary Laboratory Association Program and whether recognition by
any other state or organization has been denied;
r. how long the applicant testing laboratory
has tested portable extinguishers;
s. a notarized statement of independence
which shall state that, with reference to the laboratory's testing of portable
fire extinguishers:
i. there are no
managerial affiliations with any producer, supplier, or vendor;
ii. changes in any major test
equipment;
iii. establishment of a
new branch office or facility at which portable fire extinguishers are to be
tested;
iv. changes in principal
officers, key supervisory personnel, or key testing personnel in the
company.
