The Importance of UL in the United States

UL is an independent U.S. organization that tests products for compliance with safety requirements based on its own standards. UL is one of 19 government-recognized testing laboratories in the United States (Nationally Recognized Test Laboratory). But what accounts for UL’s prominent position in the U.S.?

Relation to UL

Having a UL-certified control cabinet on a machine makes it much easier to operate the system in the United States. This makes it immediately clear to both the operator and an inspector that the requirements for occupational safety, fire protection, and workplace safety have been met in accordance with standards.

Why is UL so important in the United States?

OSHA, NRTL, UL – Anyone dealing with UL, the U.S., and occupational safety there for the first time will be confronted with a multitude of acronyms that can be confusing and perplexing for someone familiar only with European conditions. But essentially, the matter is quite simple. In the U.S., too, there are government agencies that issue occupational safety regulations and others that enforce them.

The top occupational safety and health agency in the United States is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which reports directly to the U.S. Department of Labor. It is the responsibility of the local authorities (Authorities Having Jurisdiction, AHJ).

What does UL have to do with U.S. occupational safety and health?

Of course, U.S. law also imposes numerous requirements regarding the safety of machinery, equipment, and systems. Verifying compliance with these requirements represents a significant burden for the relevant local authorities. For this reason, their inspectors often rely on the certification marks issued by NRTLs in their work. UL is the best-known government-recognized testing laboratory in the U.S., and its UL labels are the most widely accepted. This may also be due to the fact that UL is the oldest of these institutions.

The Origins of UL in the United States

UL was founded in Chicago in 1894. At that time, electric lighting was becoming widespread in the United States, as were electrically powered devices and systems. The relatively primitive electrical installations, which were often not carried out by qualified professionals, combined with a lack of fire protection and fire suppression systems, led to numerous fires. These fires not only claimed many lives but also placed a significant financial burden on insurers.

UL Expands Its Product Line

Underwriters Laboratories’ initial goal was simply to reduce the hazards posed by electricity and fire. Consequently, the first product to bear a UL mark was a fire extinguisher. Over time, UL has continually expanded its scope of operations. Today, UL offers services in nearly all major industries, ranging from the automotive industry to the energy sector and the chemical industry, as well as healthcare and financial services. However, product certification remains its most important focus.

The UL Mark as a Certification Mark in the United States

To this day, however, UL’s best-known service is the testing of materials, components, and devices using representative samples to verify compliance with UL standards. If a manufacturer’s product meets UL’s standards, it is permitted to bear the coveted UL mark. In this context, theterm “UL approval” is often used. However, this term is somewhat misleading, as it suggests that products for the U.S. market must be “approved” by UL.

Is the UL label required in the U.S.?

As mentioned, UL is a private, government-recognized service provider, not a government agency. UL therefore has no authority to approve or reject products. Failure to meet the requirements simply results in the denial of UL certification. However, the lack of UL certification can effectively amount to a ban on a product in the U.S., as many American customers—as well as retailers and insurance companies—insist on it.

The Role of UL Certification in Exporting to the U.S.

Certification by Underwriters Laboratories is therefore strongly recommended for products intended for export from Europe to North America. Our experience has shown that for plant engineers and manufacturers of complex machinery, it often makes the export process considerably easier if at least the system’s control cabinet has UL certification. This is because inspecting the control cabinet during the on-site regulatory acceptance inspection is the most time-consuming part of the process.

UL in the U.S. and internationally

Reflecting the global significance of UL certification for exports to the U.S., UL maintains offices in 104 countries. In Germany, UL Solutions Deutschland (formerly UL International Germany GmbH) has ten locations, including Stuttgart, Neu-Ulm, and Munich. German companies that wish to have their products certified by UL therefore do not need to travel to the U.S.; instead, they can make initial contact within their own country.

UL’s New Brands in the U.S. and Around the World

Since mid-2022, Underwriters Laboratories has been operating in the U.S. and internationally under three different brands, each representing a different division of UL LLC. We’d like to take a brief look at these to help exporters who are contacting UL for the first time get their bearings.

Zusammenfassung

UL is the leading government-recognized testing laboratory in the United States that tests materials, components, and finished products for a fee. This prominent position stems from the high visibility and widespread recognition of the UL label in North America. If the test specimens meet UL standards, they may bear the corresponding UL label. This label is not required by law, but it is of great practical importance for marketing products in the United States.