The UL mark is a certification mark issued by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) and is valid for the North American market. By displaying the UL mark on its product, the manufacturer demonstrates that it consistently complies with applicable standards. However, not all UL marks are the same. There are a large number of different product safety marks in North America and Canada that indicate different types of testing.
What symbols are used in the UL section?
The following section presents and explains symbols that are important in the UL field and, consequently, in control panel construction. To accommodate the specific Canadian market, an additional ‘C’ is added to the symbols. Products that are approved in both the United States and Canada are marked with both ‘C’ and ‘US’.
UL Listing
The UL Listed symbol is one of UL’s most commonly used certification marks. It confirms that UL has tested a representative sample of the product in question and verified its compliance with applicable safety requirements. These requirements are based on the safety standards developed and published by UL. The UL Mark can be found on a wide variety of products, including small electrical appliances, computers, ovens, heaters, fuses, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, life jackets, bulletproof glass, and many others.
UL Recognized
The UL Recognized Component symbol is rarely seen by consumers. It is used for components that are part of a larger product or system. These components are often difficult to access, or the product is incomplete when installed. The certification mark can be found on switches, power supplies, printed circuit boards, industrial control devices, and many other components. Since a recognized component is not a complete product, specific requirements apply to its certification.
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UL Classified
The UL classification mark is affixed to products that have been evaluated by UL only for very specific characteristics, such as with regard to a predefined hazard area, to eliminate certain risks, or for use under specific conditions. Typical products bearing this symbol include building materials and industrial equipment, diving suits, fire doors, protective gear for firefighters, and industrial vehicles.
Functional Safety
The UL symbol for functional safety is awarded to products that have received the UL Listed mark and have also been evaluated for functional safety. Functional safety refers to the aspect of safety that depends on the correct operation of safety-related control systems and software. This mark is not awarded very often, as it is limited to products used in applications requiring functional safety.
On-site inspections
This certification mark is awarded to products that have been tested directly on-site (field inspection) rather than in UL laboratories or at the manufacturer’s production site. If a product has been significantly modified since its manufacture or does not bear a certification mark, the building owner, the relevant regulatory authority, or any other person responsible for the product’s use may request that UL inspect that specific piece of equipment directly at the site of use.
Zusammenfassung
In the UL sector, there are various symbols that you should be familiar with in order to understand product safety and quality standards. These symbols represent different testing procedures and areas of application, including general safety certification, component approval, the classification of specific product characteristics, and functional safety testing. A thorough understanding of these symbols is crucial to ensuring the compliance and safety of products on the North American market.
