Occasionally, a public health inspector may come across a piece of food equipment in the field that isn't certified. While such non-certified products are frequently rejected, sometimes there may not be an equivalent unit currently certified. To help address this type of situation, NSF International has developed a Field Service Inspection program.
At the request of the equipment owner or manufacturer, an NSF field auditor can visit the location where the equipment is installed to conduct on onsite inspection. While the auditor cannot actually certify the equipment since it is already in the field, in lieu of certification NSF can evaluate the equipment against the requirements of the applicable standard and issue a report identifying any items of noncompliance. In addition to sending a copy of the report to the requestor, NSF will also send a copy of the report directly to the designated local health official for their records. The regulator can then review the report to help them make a determination whether to accept the equipment, accept it with corrections to the items of noncompliance, or reject the equipment entirely.
For further information about this program or to request a field service inspection, contact Dyan Sturdy, Business Development Manager - Food Equipment Program, at 1-800-NSF-MARK (800-673-6275) (ext. 5795) or via email at foodequipmentinfo@nsf.org.
