Guardian offers a listing and labeling program for: building products such as fire door assemblies, adhesives, floor/ceilings, expansion joints among others (for timed fire endurance and flame spread); record protection equipment; solid fuel heating appliances of all kinds (safety and performance). The first step in Guardian's Listing & Labeling program is a request for Listing application form. The application has to be completed and submitted to Guardian by the applicant. When applicant's request for application form is received, Guardian will email, fax or send the application form to you. You will complete the application for Listing and return it to Guardian via email, fax or regular mail.
After completed form is received, an informational memo regarding the Program will be sent to you along with sample documentation used in the program. The basis for acceptance into the program is successful testing to applicable test standards issued by: UL; ASTM; NFPA; CSA; ULC or standards evaluated as equivalent and/or applicable. The product test report must be issued by an acceptably accredited testing laboratory. This means a test laboratory accredited as such by an accreditation agency that is a signatory member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation's (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA). Guardian is one of the test laboratories with this type of accreditation status through ANSI/ASQ/ACLASS. To check the status of other test laboratories, you can go to the test lab web site to see which accreditation agency accredits them as a test lab. Then go to: www.ilac.org/documents/mra_signatories.pdf to be sure the test lab has been accredited by an MRA signatory member. Either a product test report done by Guardian can be used to evaluate the suitability of a product listing, or a test report done by an appropriately accredited laboratory can be used as the basis for an engineering evaluation leading to product listing. Once a test report evaluation or an engineering evaluation has been completed, the next steps in the Listing program can begin.1. Guardian will conduct an initial facility inspection (of manufacturing plant or distribution center*). In some instances the manufacturer will have been inspected by an appropriately accredited Inspection Agency. Again, as explained above, this is dependent on the Accreditation status of the Inspection Agency. If the status is acceptable, Guardian can evaluate the inspection report to ensure that it meets Guardian inspection criteria. If so, the report will be accepted if inspection has occurred within the appropriate time frame.
2. Guardian will issue a Listing and Labeling Agreement. This is a contractual agreement between the Guardian and the Listee. It spells out the responsibilities of both parties. Abrogation by the listee of their responsibilities may lead to withdrawal of product listing. In essence, the quality of the product being manufactured must meet the criteria of the test standard to which it was tested. Normative documents are the test standard and the test report along with Guardian issued documentation. If a standard issuing body makes a public declaration that it has made major and significant changes to their standard, and they provide general information on what and for which sections those changes apply, Guardian may advise the client that the listed product needs to be re-tested for continuation of their listing. However, barring such notification, the listing will remain in effect as long as the manufactured product meets the test standard criteria to which it was tested, and it is being manufactured according to the test report construction and materials data. Test standards do not have an end date. Test reports show: when the test was conducted, the test standards used; how the test was conducted; how and with what materials the test sample was produced. In connection with the Listing, Factory inspections must be carried out at least once in every 12-month period, more if necessary. The basis for inspections is the Test or Evaluation report and the applicable test standard. The product being manufactured must demonstrably be of the same quality as the sample tested. The materials and procedures used in the manufacturing process will be checked to ensure the quality of the product. If any non-conformities are found during an inspection & they remain unresolved, the product listing may be withdrawn. Web site Listings show an issue date. Withdrawn listings are shown on a separate page. 3. Guardian will issue a Factory or Distributor* Inspection Manual (FIM, DIM) to client. The client's written quality control program will be submitted to Guardian for approval. If approved, it will become part of the FIM to be used by the Guardian Inspector . If program is deemed inadequate, client must submit changes for approval & supply evidence of their implementation.4. Label design must be submitted for approval if applicable. Listee also may choose to use Guardian open stock labels.
All orders for label printing must be submitted to Guardian, Labels must be sequentially numbered with serial numbers. There will be a certification fee for each label used.Some products are not amenable to individual labeling. Set quarterly fees may be assigned for unlimited product quantities, or lineal feet of product sold may be used for certification fee basis. Labels for this category of product do not have to have serial numbers.
5. Guardian will issue a Certificate attesting to the fact that the product has been listed. Guardian's President makes the final decision on product acceptability after reviewing all the pertinent documentation.6. Product will be listed on Guardian's web site.
7. Factory Inspection Supervisor will set up a schedule for future inspections & follow up on any non conformities.* A Machiner/Distributor Labeling program differs in some aspects from a Manufacturer's Labeling program. There must be a "Letter of Authorization" from the manufacturer to the Distributor/Listee giving distribution rights for the products involved. Also the details of the machining process allowable must be on record. Distribution Center inspection involves storage, product inspection procedures, shipping & packing, and label control checking.