Field Labeling

Relation to UL

Field labeling allows the system to be checked for compliance with standards directly at the installation site.

What is field labeling?

In the United States and Canada, “field labeling” refers to the process by which experts from an accredited testing laboratory conduct an individual acceptance inspection of an industrial facility, followed by the issuance of a label certifying the successful evaluation. The seal of approval issued as part of this process significantly facilitates the granting of an operating permit by the authorities.

Is field labeling required?

Unlike in Europe, where a declaration of conformity in the form of the CE mark is mandatory for manufacturers of electrical equipment and components, neither such a declaration nor testing by an independent laboratory is required in the United States. The only factor relevant to obtaining an operating permit is the decision of the locally competent authority (Authority Having Jurisdiction, AHJ). In practice, however, a Field Inspection Label can go a long way toward ensuring that an operating permit is granted relatively quickly and without major complications .

AHJ inspectors are familiar with the relevant labels and know they can rely on UL’s strict standards.

U.S. companies are, of course, aware of this and therefore usually require UL certification or UL acceptance of the finished system as part of a field evaluation in their specifications.

Please note: Certification is mandatory in Canada!

Occupational safety laws in the U.S. and Canada are very similar in many areas. However, there is one important exception regarding the requirement for certification of equipment and products. In Canada, these may only be placed on the market if they have been certified by a recognized testing laboratory. Alternatively, field labeling is also permitted; a self-declaration, however, is not sufficient. The regulations there are therefore even stricter than in Europe. However, UL certifications and labels intended for the U.S. are recognized in Canada just as much as the country’s own CSA labels.

Here’s How Your Album Gets a Label

In a field labeling process, a system is inspected by inspectors from a recognized testing laboratory (Nationally Recognized Test Laboratory, NRTL) prior to official acceptance by local authorities. For this purpose, the system is set up at its installation site in operational condition and then tested for compliance with all relevant safety standards. In doing so, the testing laboratories follow their own sets of standards (UL standards, etc.), which are, however, designed to cover all legal requirements arising, for example, from the National Electrical Code (NEC) or NFPA 79.

If any defects are discovered during the inspection, the inspection engineers will list them accordingly. If no defects are found or if they have been corrected, the inspection seal will be issued, and the AHJ inspector may proceed with the acceptance.

That’s why a preliminary acceptance inspection can be a good idea in Germany

If the system fails the on-site inspection, the client receives a defect report that it must address. This can be particularly problematic when a German plant engineering company has to correct defects in a system located in the United States. To avoid these complications, it may be advisable to conduct a so-called pre-field evaluation at the production site in Germany. This is a preliminary acceptance process used to verify that the system complies with all relevant standards. However, no certification mark is issued as part of this process.

Field Labeling: How to Do It Faster and More Cost-Effectively

Both the pre-acceptance testing in Germany and the field labeling process in the U.S. are quite time-consuming and, since the costs cannot be spread across a large number of production units, also quite expensive. However, the process can be significantly shortened. For most industrial machines and systems, the most complex component is the control cabinet; it often accounts for up to 70 percent of the inspection effort . That is why it makes sense to use a UL-certified product for the control cabinet. This way, it is immediately apparent—both during UL testing and during the regulatory inspection by the competent authority—that the control cabinet meets legal requirements, and the inspectors can focus on the rest of the system.

What is the difference between a field label and a UL label?

In principle, a UL label and a field inspection label are intended to serve the same purpose: they assure local decision-makers that the machine or system in question has already been tested in accordance with UL’s strict standards, and that they can therefore grant operating approval with confidence. However, the two methods differ significantly in how this goal is achieved.

UL Label

A UL label—often colloquially referred to in German as a “UL approval” —is a certification mark that confirms that a specific product or component complies with the relevant UL standards. The corresponding certification can only be applied for by the manufacturer and applies to all units of the product manufactured, provided they are not modified without authorization. During production, manufacturers are generally required to use only components that themselves have UL listing in the construction of their product.

Field Inspection Label

In field labeling, on the other hand, only a specific piece of equipment or machine is inspected at its place of use to verify compliance with standards. This type of inspection can be requested by either the manufacturer or the buyer. A key advantage is that such a system can also incorporate devices and components that do not have their own UL certification. These parts of the system are assessed during the inspection and, provided they comply with the standards, are subsequently covered by the certification as well.

Zusammenfassung

” Field Labeling ” refers to the inspection of an industrial facility by testing engineers from a private but government-recognized laboratory to verify compliance with applicable safety regulations. If the facility passes the inspection, it is awarded a corresponding inspection seal (label). This label can significantly facilitate the facility’s approval by local authorities.