ALI
Certified Lifts
What is the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI)?
Fulfilling the roles as both a Nationally Accredited Standards Developing Organization and a Nationally Accredited Product Certification Body, both credentialed by the American National Standards Institute, ALI is an association comprised of responsible automotive lifts manufacturers serving North America. ALI’s mission is to promote the safe design, construction, installation, service, and use of automotive lifts.
What is Product “Certification”?
Certification is a system whereby an independent, third-party organization determines that a manufacturer has the ability to produce a product that complies with a specific set of standards. Certification further authorizes the manufacturer to use the controlled label of the third party on listed products representing the certified model. Certified products undergo periodic re-evaluation and are required to be produced within the requirements of a documented quality program. The program is audited quarterly, regardless of the Authorized Production Facility’s location, to ensure continued compliance with the applicable standards.
ALI sponsors a Certification Program for automotive lifts. Over 98% of all certified lifts are certified under this program.
ALI (Automotive Lift Institute) contracts with Intertek Testing Services (ETL), a global product testing, inspection, and certification organization, to fill the role of Certification Program Administrator. ALI has taken the additional step of obtaining accreditation for this program from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This assures absolute independence and unquestionable integrity for the program.
Product evaluations, to determine electrical and mechanical compliance in accordance with appropriate standards, are conducted by approved Authorized Testing Laboratories. Currently, ETL (Intertek Testing Laboratories) and MET Laboratories are authorized to conduct testing on ALI’s behalf after a Program Participation Agreement has been executed. Both ETL and MET Laboratories are recognized in the United States by the Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL’s) for products classified as garage equipment.
Key certification considerations:
- ETL (Intertek Testing Laboratories) is the only NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) that administers the ALI Automotive Lift Certification Program,
- There are no conditional, temporary, or partial certifications,
- The lift is certified and bears a third-party certification label or it is not certified,
- It is fraudulent to use the ALI/ETL Certification Label, or reference the Certification Program, on products that are not manufactured in compliance with all requirements of the applicable standards,
- Certification extends to options and accessories,
- Use of non-certified options or accessories on a certified lift will void the certification of the lift,
- Certification of a lift after installation is not appropriate as structural design elements, such as material composition and required stress calculations, cannot be validated,
- There is a procedure for investigating field reports alleging noncompliance or failure of certified products,
- The ALI Certification Mark, the MET Mark, and the ETL Mark are registered with the U.S. and Canadian Governments and are vigorously defended (by legal means if necessary) and
- Membership in ALI is not required to participate in the ALI Automotive Lift Certification Program.