Relation to UL
To determine whether a product has been tested by UL, the first and quickest way is to check whether the product bears a UL certification mark. The UL certificate also makes it immediately clear whether the product is approved for the U.S. and/or Canadian markets and whether manufacturer-specific regulations must be followed when using the product.
What is a UL certification?
The UL certification is a seal of approval issued by Underwriters Laboratories Inc . (UL) and is valid for the North American market. It indicates that a product or component complies with the applicable UL standard and thus meets all local and state safety regulations.
The Role of the UL
The UL organization was founded in 1893 by William Henry Merrill in Chicago. Today, it is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. The German branch of Underwriters Laboratories, UL Solutions Deutschland, is located in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt and serves as the regional headquarters for Europe and Latin America.
UL is committed to making the world a safer place for consumers and workers. To this end, it has developed more than 1,300 safety standards to date. In addition, UL tests and certifies products, components, materials, systems, and equipment itself. If the tested products or systems comply with the prescribed standards, they receive a UL certificate in the form of a test seal. This remains valid as long as the standards are met.
The UL organization is listed on OSHA’s list of Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is a North American federal agency responsible for ensuring safe workplaces, including by establishing and enforcing standards and regulations.
Product Testing
Not all products are tested for UL certification; only a representative sample of the product is tested. If these products comply with applicable standards or other requirements regarding potential risks of fire, electric shock, and mechanical hazards, all products of the same design are granted UL certification, including those that were not tested. Approximately 20 billion products worldwide receive the UL safety mark each year.
Products that require UL certification generally fall into the following categories:
- IT
- Household Appliances
- Cables and Wire
- Alarm Systems
- Electronic Devices
- Electrical Components
- Equipment for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres
- Firefighting and Protective Equipment
The Most Common UL Certifications
By displaying the UL mark on its product, the manufacturer demonstrates that it consistently complies with applicable standards. However, not all UL certifications are the same. There are a large number of different product safety symbols in North America, each indicating a different type of testing.
The UL Listed Mark
For this certification, representative samples of a product are tested. If they meet UL’s applicable safety requirements, they are awarded the UL Listed mark. The UL Listed mark can be found, for example, on
smoke detectors,
- Fire extinguishers,
- Sprinkler systems,
- Computers,
- Electrical appliances,
- Stoves, heaters,
- Fuses,
- Life jackets and
- bulletproof glass panes
to find.
The Recognized Component Mark
This certification does not apply to finished products. It exclusively tests and evaluates components and materials that are subsequently used in a product or system. If the product already bears the UL Listed label, the component may be used without the entire product having to be retested.
Examples of products bearing the UL Recognized Component mark include
- Switch
- Power Supplies
- Printed circuit boards and
- Industrial Control Panels
In addition, there are thousands of other components and materials for which the “Recognized Component” certification mark is used.
The Certification Mark for Functional Safety
The UL Mark for Functional Safety is a globally recognized symbol of quality and safety. To be awarded this mark, a product must comply with the requirements of the UL Listed Mark and have passed rigorous testing.
The Limited Production Certification
Another certification commonly used for custom-made products and small production runs is the Limited Production Certification. This provides maximum assurance when exporting a system to the United States or Canada if the acceptance testing has already taken place in Germany.
Questions about UL?
Our experts are here to help you, whether you need a quick answer or detailed information.
The UL Classification Mark
Products bearing the UL Classified label have been tested and evaluated only for very specific characteristics. For example, they may have been tested with regard to a predefined hazard area to rule out certain risks, or for use under specific conditions. Products with the UL Classified mark are just as safe as products with the UL Listed mark. However, there is a restriction: they may only be used in certain areas or situations.
Examples of products that bear the UL classification mark include
- Building Materials
- Industrial Equipment
- Industrial Vehicles
- Fire doors,
- Protective equipment for firefighters and
- Diving suits.
The UL Mark for Functional Safety
Functional Safety: The UL Mark for Functional Safety is awarded to all products that have been tested in accordance with both the requirements of the UL Listed Mark and those for functional safety. Functional safety refers to the aspect of safety related to the correct operation of safety-related control systems and software. Only products used in functional safety applications bear this mark.
On-site inspections
The UL “On-Site Testing” label is awarded to products that have been tested directly at the site of use. If a product does not bear a certification mark because it has not been tested either in testing laboratories or at the manufacturer’s production site, or if it has been significantly modified since manufacture, the building owner, the relevant regulatory authority, or any other person involved with the product may request that the product be tested directly at the site of use.
Relationship Between UL and CE
While UL sets the standards for the North American market, CE, a European regulatory authority, establishes specifications for European machinery and equipment. CE stands for Conformité Européenne, which translates to “European Conformity.” This is because CE refers exclusively to European conformity. The “EU certificate” consists of the so-called EU Declaration of Conformity and the CE mark. There is no corresponding declaration of conformity in UL-certified control panel manufacturing. The UL certificate always consists solely of the affixed UL mark.
Due to the different power grids in North America and Europe and the many differences in the electrical and electronic sectors, CE marks are not valid on the North American market, and UL marks are not valid on the European market.
Zusammenfassung
The term “UL certificate” or “UL certification” refers to the Underwriters Laboratories certification mark. It confirms that a product, component, or material complies with the applicable standards and regulations in North America. To obtain a UL certificate, a representative number of products or components are tested for potential risks of fire, electric shock, and mechanical hazards. The most common certifications are the UL Listed certification, the UL Recognized Component certification, the UL Classified certification, as well as the Functional Safety and Field Evaluation certifications. Unlike the certification system in the EU, which consists of the EU Declaration of Conformity and the CE mark, UL certification consists solely of the UL test seal affixed to the product or component.
