NIST Delays Implementation Date For Fastener Quality Act Regulations Until June 1999

The Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology announced in today’s Federal Register that the implementation date of regulations under the Fastener Quality Act of 1990 will be extended until June 1, 1999. These regulations require fastener manufacturers to submit their fasteners for testing by laboratories accredited by various accreditation organizations. The delay follows the passage of Public Law 105-234 (signed by President Clinton on Aug. 14, 1998) amending the FQA.

In the meantime, NIST will continue to offer strictly voluntary accreditation to qualified fastener testing laboratories as well as allow voluntary compliance with other provisions of the regulations.

NIST will post updates on FQA developments periodically on the World Wide Web at http://www.nist.gov/fqa. Additional information—including the text of the original legislation and amendments, a fact sheet on frequently asked questions, answers to inquiries submitted to industry and the current list of accredited testing laboratories—is available at the same website.

As a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Technology Administration, NIST promotes economic growth by working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements and standards through four partnerships: the Measurement and Standards Laboratories, the Advanced Technology Program, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Baldrige National Quality Program.