NAICS 334515

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments to support the collection, analysis, and publication of U.S. economic statistics. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget with the United States, Canada, and Mexico, it replaced the Standard Industrial Classification in 1997; the most recent edition is the 2022 NAICS. ¹

NAICS 334515 covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing instruments for measuring and testing the characteristics of electricity and electrical signals. Official examples include circuit and continuity testers, voltmeters, ohmmeters, wattmeters, multimeters, and semiconductor test equipment. Cross-references clarify that electronic support equipment for navigational/radar/sonar systems falls under 334511 and communications-signal test equipment is classified in Industry Group 3342. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 334515 overview
• G2X — NAICS 334513
• G2X — NAICS 334516

What this NAICS covers

• Instruments that measure electric potential, resistance, current, and power (e.g., voltmeters, ohmmeters, ammeters, wattmeters). ²
• Circuit and continuity testers used to assess electrical paths and shorts. ²
• Multimeters combining multiple electrical measurement functions. ²
• Semiconductor testing instruments and systems for evaluating device characteristics. ²
• Integrating meters and counters for measuring characteristics of electricity and electrical signals. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Boundary guidance (inclusions/exclusions)

• Included: electrical and electronic test instruments such as multimeters, volt/ohm/watt meters, continuity/circuit testers, and semiconductor testers manufactured as end products. ²
• Excluded: electronic monitoring/evaluating/support equipment for navigational, radar, or sonar systems (classified in 334511). ²
• Excluded: equipment for measuring and testing communications signals (classified in Industry Group 3342). ²
• Related but distinct: instruments for measuring/controlling industrial process variables (classified in 334513). ²

Frequently asked questions

• What products are explicitly listed under NAICS 334515?

  Census identifies circuit and continuity testers, voltmeters, ohmmeters, wattmeters, multimeters, and semiconductor test equipment as examples. These represent instruments that directly measure or test electrical characteristics, rather than process-control devices or communications-signal analyzers, which are classified elsewhere under NAICS cross-references. ²

• How does NAICS 334515 differ from 334513?

  334515 focuses on instruments for measuring and testing electricity and electrical signals. 334513 covers instruments that measure, display, or control industrial process variables such as temperature, pressure, and flow, including controllers and recorders used in process environments. ⁵

• Does 334515 include semiconductor test systems?

  Yes. Semiconductor testing instruments and systems are explicitly cited as examples within this industry, covering equipment designed to evaluate device characteristics and performance parameters of semiconductor components during development, production, or quality assurance. ²

• Are communications-signal test sets classified in 334515?

  No. Equipment used to measure or test communications signals is classified under Industry Group 3342 (Communications Equipment Manufacturing), not in 334515. This reflects NAICS boundary rules distinguishing communications-signal equipment from general electrical measurement instruments. ²

• Which PSC aligns with electrical/electronic measuring and testing instruments?

  PSC 6625 is titled “Electrical and Electronic Properties Measuring and Testing Instruments.” PSCs describe the products or services being purchased, while NAICS classifies the supplier’s primary industry; agencies commonly map 6625 to buys involving multimeters, oscilloscopes, and related testers. ⁴

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 334515 overview: https://app.g2xchange.com/naics/334515
• Census NAICS industry description for 334515 (definition and cross-references). ²
• Census guidance: NAICS codes and understanding industry classification (structure and use). ⁶
• Census implementation timeline for 2022 NAICS (adoption and program transition schedule). ³

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — Frequently Asked Questions about Industry and Occupation (NAICS replaced SIC in 1997; most recent is 2022 NAICS): https://www.census.gov/topics/employment/industry-occupation/about/faq.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS Sector 31–33, Manufacturing (includes 334515 description and cross-references): https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect31-33.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau — The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (transition timeline and context): https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
4. Acquisition.gov — PGI 208.7006 Coordinated Acquisition Assignments (PSC 6625 label): https://www.acquisition.gov/dfarspgi/pgi-208.70-coordinated-acquisition
5. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 334513 description (industrial process measurement/controls): https://www2.census.gov/econ2012/Reference_materials/htm%20files/33451300.htm
6. U.S. Census Bureau — Economic Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/guidance/understanding-naics.html