GANA to explain new CPSC certification rules in January Webinar

On Jan. 28, the Glass Association of North America, Topeka, Kan., will host a Webinar to explain new certification and labeling requirements imposed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, according to a Jan. 4 release.

On Feb. 9, 2009, the CPSC postponed the date for compliance with the CPSC’s new certification rules, applicable to architectural glazing materials installed in hazardous locations, until Feb. 10, 2010. Those rules require, for the first time, manufacturer certifications of compliance with CPSC 16 CFR 1201, the federal safety standard for architectural glazing materials, to include the business address and telephone number of the safety glazing materials fabricator and the identity of and contact information for those responsible for maintaining testing records. On Dec. 17, 2009, the CPSC expressly declined to extend this compliance date for architectural glazing materials beyond Feb. 10, 2010, according to the release.

To assist GANA members, particularly temperers and laminators, GANA will host the free one-hour Webinar at 12 p.m. EST (11:00 a.m. CST). During the Webinar, GANA General Counsel Kim Mann will provide an overview of the existing certification requirements and lead a discussion of the new requirements, including the use of electronic means (i.e. Internet Web site postings) to certify compliance. John Kent, administrative manager of the Safety Glazing Certification Council, Sackets Harbor, N.Y., will follow up with a discussion and illustration of one technique and method, incorporating the new permissible electronic certification format, that SGCC members will begin using Feb. 11, 2010 to comply with the new CPSC certification rules, according to the release.

“It may be easy for glass fabricators to forget about or overlook the CPSC and its testing and certification-of-compliance requirements. Don’t!” said Mann, in the release. “On Feb. 11, 2010, new, expanded CPSC certification requirements, applicable to glass and glazing materials going into doors and shower/tub enclosures and part of 16 CFR 1201, will take effect. The new required information the CPSC adds to its existing certification language won’t fit on most laminators’ and temperers’ logos.”

Mann will wind up the Webinar with insights into a new rule making proceeding CPSC announced it will initiate later in 2010 to define and prescribe the parameters of a “reasonable testing program.” (Certificates of compliance must be issued on the basis of a “reasonable testing program,” an as-yet undefined concept.) This rule making proceeding could result in new regulations mandating safety-glass fabricators to undertake expensive, burdensome testing as part of their reasonable testing programs in order to comply with the certification requirements of 16 CFR 1201.

To register for the free Webinar, click here. The Webinar will be recorded and offered as a download to the glass and glazing industry the following week for $4.95.