Do you need UL cetrification to get licence to operate a US facility 2

[lepido]

Dear users,
We are designing a new chemical plant in Europe that will be built in US. Use of flamable liquids (i.e. acetone) are used in the process. We are straggling to figure out what are the requirements and the codes that we need to comply to and for which we need certification/stamp in order to get permission to operate. I am asking for some help on this.

What I have understood so far is that we need to have certification about
--fire hazards/ ATEX-meaning we need certification according NFPA or NEC for electrical instruments. Is this correct?
--Pressure vessels- certification according ASME (?)
--General operational and health Hazard- certification according OSHA 29CFR 1910 (??)
--??

Can UL provide all these stamps? What does it mean that the installation must comply with UL codes?
What I have understood is that we have to buy for example motors of electrical components that are UL certified (which of the UL or NEC stamps??). but this doesn't make a UL certified installation. Does UL provide a certification for the total installation or for unit operations? Do they do the auditing? The same question applies for operational hazards of course.

Does "meeting UL requirements" have the same meaning as having a "CE marking" in Europe for an installation (not standard components)?

Thank you in advance and sorry for the many questions!

 

[davidbeach]

UL is much more about what you sell than how your factory is constructed. You need a conversation with the various AHJs (Authorities Having Jurisdiction) and the insurance underwriter. No answer you get here can begin to compare with what you'll get from them. By the time you're done with the underwriter, the AHJs ought to be a piece of cake.

 

[lacajun]

Here are some links that will help you:

http://osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.search_form?p_doc_type=STANDARDS&p_toc_level=1&p_keyvalue=1910

http://www.epa.gov/osw/laws-regs/regs-haz.htm

You'll need to contact the city, county, and state governments to get their requirements. Local Fire Marshals will have to do inspections of buildings.

I've only worked for self-insured companies. But, I was always required to purchase equipment with a US approval, from UL or FM. It didn't matter which one just had to be one of those. We never recognized a foreign certification. Which certifications are recognized will be up to the local governing body. I've been told some recognize CE or CSA and others will only recognize UL or FM.

OSHA has what they call Nationally Recognized Testing Labs, of which UL and FM are two that review products for safety and issue product certifications based on their investigations. Here is the list:

http://osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/nrtllist.html

You can look at their websites to understand their functions beyond insuring.

I can't answer the question of processes/plants being stamped. I've never heard of that or seen stamps on drawings beyond the Professional Engineer's stamp. I'm sure others more knowledgable will be able to provide a better answer.

At various times, I've had to work with ISA, IEEE, ANSI, ASME, ASTM, API, OSHA, RCRA, EPA, etc. standards. All plants were built to those standards. If you deviate, you should have a clearly defined reason, with all applicable standards listed, and a paper trail for the deviation.

You may want to take a liberal interpretation of some of OSHA 1910.xx while doing what is necessary. Whatever you begin, you'll need to maintain forever, which is why some take a liberal interpretation rather than a stringent one. Documentation can be overwhelming. That is the way I was trained. It may be different now. You'll have to make that call.

Here's wishing you never receive a visit from the US Chemical Safety Board.

http://www.csb.gov/

Good luck!

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC