SGS Supports Compliance for Custom-Built Electrical Equipment in the US
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / AGILITYPR.NEWS / July 15, 2025 / SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, has published a Consumer Compact article addressing the challenges US businesses face in achieving compliance for custom-built, modified or imported electrical equipment.
Under OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.399, all electrical equipment used in the workplace must be ‘acceptable,’ meaning certified, listed or labeled by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). This mandate ensures safety and code compliance but can pose challenges for equipment that falls outside traditional production models.
This article outlines the primary certification pathways recognized by OSHA: product certification for high-volume items, listing for compliant products under audit programs and field evaluations for custom or one-off equipment. It explains how limited production certification (LPC), labeling through accredited Field Evaluation Bodies (FEBs) and key standards like NFPA 79 and 790 provide flexible but robust routes to compliance.
The piece also highlights the growing role of cybersecurity in electrical equipment approval. With updates to NFPA 79 introducing mandatory cybersecurity controls for network-connected machinery, businesses must adopt proactive strategies to avoid costly disruptions and meet modern safety expectations.
Read the original Consumer Compact article, ‘Safety Meets Customization: Navigating Field Equipment Approval in the US.’
SGS solutions
As an OSHA-accredited NRTL and Field Evaluation Body, SGS provides end-to-end compliance services across the US. From design review to final inspection and labeling, we help ensure alignment with OSHA and NEC requirements. Our experts work with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) to reduce delays and support safe installations, while also guiding clients through evolving standards, including NFPA 79 and its new cybersecurity provisions. In the end, it’s trusted because it’s tested.
Learn more about SGS US Field Evaluation Services.
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About Us
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.
Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.
SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).
Contacts
Ben Christie
ben@sugarloafmarketing.comSugarloaf Marketing, Broad Oak, UK
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www.sugarloafmarketing.com