Underwriters Laboratories, Kiwa Announce Strategic Market Access Alliance

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) announced a strategic alliance with independent certification organization Kiwa to offer streamlined testing and certification of plumbing products across North America and Europe.

The agreement offers UL and Kiwa customers simplified, world-class testing processes and certification standards across continents for plastic pipe, faucets, pipe fittings, rubber seals and various other plumbing products.

“Access to Kiwa’s sophisticated testing facilities provides UL with new capabilities for testing plumbing products abroad,” UL Global Water and Food Business General Manager Hank Lambert said. “By accepting Kiwa testing reports for certification, UL is streamlining the global certification process, making it easier and more economical for manufacturers to reach both North American and European markets.”

Plumbing industry manufacturers who take advantage of this alliance will benefit from UL and Kiwa’s combined global reach, trusted brand reputations and breadth of certification capabilities. Combining the most stringent testing requirements in North America and parts of Europe, the alliance eliminates the costly and redundant certification and surveillance procedures currently needed for compliance with a patchwork of country-specific regulatory frameworks.

Both organizations will manage applications for certification and client inspections will be coordinated by geography, providing customers a cost-effective and efficient process with one primary contact.

UL and Kiwa will perform product specification reviews on an ongoing basis to monitor for North American and European conformity after the initial certification is made.

UL and Kiwa will exhibit together during International Water Week at Aquatech Amsterdam on Nov. 1 to 4, providing global manufacturers with information on the services and benefits that will be provided through the unique alliance.

Source: MSL Washington