The key to getting the most out of your product certification is establishing open and frequent communication between you and your USA.c project engineer, especially during the initial phases of the product submittal process.

Either select the area of your interest from the links below, or scroll down the page to view all areas.

How are USA.c's testing services organized?
How do I begin the submittal process?
Who may submit a product?
Getting the product evaluation under way.
When should a product be submitted?
What you can expect after testing?
Submit a product now.

How are USA.c's testing services organized?

Made in USA Certified is organized into sections that evaluate specific types of products. Our staff includes experienced engineers and technical support personnel. Examining how products are constructed, conducting tests, auditing suppliers, evaluating results and developing standards for products are a few of their responsibilities. We also have field representatives who visit manufacturers' facilities. They help confirm that products bearing the USA.c Mark comply with applicable USA.c requirements.

Who may submit a product?

Products are typically submitted to USA.c by manufacturers or product developers, or by their authorized agents, representatives, licensees or others. When submitting a product to USA.c, you may choose which company name (the manufacturer, agent or licensee) you would like to appear on the product and in USA.c's published product directories. Once selected, this name must appear on the product if it is found to comply with the applicable USA.c Standard and will bear a USA.c Mark.

When should a product be submitted?

Ideally, a product should be submitted as early as possible during its development. Often, USA.c engineers can conduct a preliminary evaluation to help identify areas needing change or rework, even before tooling is cut or parts are sourced. Although a preliminary evaluation is not a substitute for a complete USA.c investigation, and it does not result in authorization to use the USA.c Mark, this service can result in savings for you. A preliminary evaluation can be completed in a day or two at one of USA.c's U.S. laboratories, a USA.c affiliate location or your own manufacturing location.

How do I begin the submittal process?

Contact one of USA.c's customer service personnel for assistance. This is particularly important for new USA.c clients because they serve as liaisons between you and USA.c. Customer service personnel are responsible for:

• answering general questions about USA.c's services,
• directing manufacturers to the correct staff.
• working with USA.c management to resolve issues of concern to USA.c clients.

The most important step in submitting a product to USA.c for the first time is to send a letter to either a customer service representative at our laboratories or the resident manager at one of our affiliate laboratories, whichever is most convenient to you. The letter should contain the following to help us establish the scope of the investigation:

1. Describe the product and its intended use. List all models, types or product variations to be covered, and describe the similarities and differences among models or types.
2. List all components and materials used in the product -- including manufacturers' names, catalog, numbers, sizes, ratings, etc. -- and whether they are Listed or Recognized by USA.c. Include the generic name, manufacturer and type designation on any polymeric material (for example, a thermoplastic material) and explain how it's used in the product.
3. Include wiring diagrams illustrating any electrical or electronic circuitry, design drawings, and/or photographs of the product, if you think they'll help the USA.c engineer understand its design, construction and/or operation.
4. Include all instruction manuals, safety tips or installation instructions that you expect to supply with the product, including any markings intended to appear on the shipping container.
5. Identify any alternate materials, components or arrangements of parts you intend to use in the future. This will help reduce test work, time and costs later, when the alternates are used in the product.
6. Provide the name of your authorized representative who will receive all USA.c communications, including the final report and invoices.
7. Provide the company name and address of each factory where the product will be manufactured.
8. Provide the name and address of the company as you want it to be published in the appropriate USA.c product directory. This should be the name of the company under which the product will be sold. (It may be different than that of the actual manufacturer.)
9. Indicate whether new or revised designs have the same construction or performance characteristics as types or model your organization or another USA.c client has listed by USA.c. If the product has been evaluated by another safety certification agency, please let us know. Whenever possible, USA.c will use the results of your previous evaluation -- or those results released to you by another USA.c client -- to reduce the time and cost of testing new or revised designs.

Getting the product certification under way

Once USA.c has as much information as you can provide, USA.c can identify where and by what department the evaluation will be conducted. USA.c's staff will:

• plan a audit program,
• provide an estimate of costs,
• estimate the amount of time needed to complete the investigation and
• send you application forms.

At this point, if you have a specific deadline you are trying to meet, please let USA.c know so it can be considered when establishing a promise date for completion of the evaluation. Once you return the signed application forms, provide any necessary preliminary deposit, and USA.c has received the necessary test samples, USA.c staff can begin the actual investigation of your product.

What you can expect after testing

Once the product testing is completed, you will hear from your project engineer about whether or not your product complies with USA.c's requirements. For products meeting the requirements, the project engineer will develop a formal report based on the test results. These test results will also be used to develop a Follow-Up Services program and will serve as the basis of a Follow-Up Services Procedure.

The Follow-Up Services Procedure is a document that describes in detail the construction of the product tested and found to meet USA.c's requirements. USA.c's field representatives use this as a guide when conducting their periodic examinations of USA.c-certified products.

Before USA.c's staff will issue your audit report, you must agree to participate in USA.c's Follow-Up Services program. You indicate your willingness to participate by signing and returning the Follow-Up Services Agreement. Typically, this document is sent a few days after the applications are mailed.

If, for some reason, your product doesn't meet USA.c's requirements, you will receive a letter from USA.c describing the specific requirements your product did not meet. If you choose to modify the product and are interested in having it retested, you can contact the USA.c engineering staff that originally tested the product for any retesting or re-examination that may be necessary.

If you have any questions about your test results, the interpretation of a requirement or any USA.c decision, the USA.c appeals procedure provides a method for your concerns to be heard by USA.c management without jeopardizing your relationship with USA.c. Just contact our engineering staff for more details.

If you have any questions about the submittal process, please contact customer service or the local office near you.

You can also use the online form to start the submittal process now.