The Value of Accreditations for our Motors and Drives Lab

In 1997, our motors and drives test lab became the first in the world to achieve accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 for electric motor efficiency testing through the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST’s) National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP; Lab Code: 200081-0). Over nearly three decades, NVLAP has expanded to include 13 laboratories globally, but our lab remains the only independent (i.e., non-manufacturer-based) one to be NVLAP accredited in the Western Hemisphere.

Being NVLAP accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 indicates that our lab has demonstrated the ability to operate a laboratory quality management system and that we have the technical competence to test to the standards defined in our accreditation scope. The quality management system documents specific procedures for a range of topics, including impartiality, corrective actions and calibration. These procedures create the framework for us to provide dependable, high-quality service, producing test results that our clients can trust. With our equipment calibrated by ISO/IEC 17025 accredited vendors to meet the accuracy requirements of our test standards, we have established metrological traceability of our measurement results, further increasing confidence in our work.

We have tested thousands of induction motors to the standards in our scope of accreditation, showcasing the repeatability not only of the standards but also of the procedures set in place by our quality management system. In 2023, we added two new standards to our scope — IEC 61800-9-2 and IEC 60034-2-3 — expanding our offerings to include synchronous motors and inverter-only motors in response to their inclusion in U.S. Department of Energy regulations.

In addition to testing, we provide certification services as a Certification Body of electric motor efficiency recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy and Natural Resources Canada. Our Certification Body is accredited to ISO/IEC 17065 by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). Beyond purely allowing certification of electric motor efficiency in both the U.S. and Canada, having two accrediting bodies enhances the continual improvement we strive for.

Our Certification Body Energy Efficiency Verification Services are reviewed by external auditors, internal auditors, company management and an independent impartiality committee. Having people with varying backgrounds and areas of expertise inspect our program gives valuable opportunities to refine and improve it. We’ve seen growth and increased buy-in from staff as we enhance our work, as well as fewer findings by external auditors. Following the framework setup to meet ISO/IEC 17065 requirements, our Certification Body team prides itself on helping manufacturers ensure their model listings meet the relevant regulations.

Thanks to our accredited test lab and international Certification Body, we serve as a one-stop shop for electric motor manufacturers seeking to meet energy efficiency regulations in major North American markets.