North America Product Safety (UL) Certification

UL is a body that publishes product-safety standards in North America and certifies against them. A product carrying the UL mark means it has been tested and listed by an NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory). There is no federal 'product certificate' requirement in the US; the requirement comes through occupational-safety legislation, local electrical codes, and insurers' acceptance conditions.

• Manufacturers selling electrical products into the US and Canada
• Manufacturers of industrial equipment and panels
• Manufacturers of components (cable, power supply, plastic material)
• Firms making project-based sales in North America

There is no federal CE-like requirement, but it becomes effectively mandatory. Electrical equipment used in the workplace is expected to be approved by an NRTL under OSHA rules; the National Electrical Code (NEC) and local building inspections also require a listed product. An unlisted product can be rejected during a site inspection or fall outside insurance coverage.

• Determining the relevant UL standard
• Type testing: electrical safety, heating, mechanical strength, fire
• Verifying whether critical components are UL Recognized
• Material flammability classification (UL 94, etc.)
• Factory audit and the Follow-Up Service
• Marking rules and defining the scope of the listing
• Verifying the continuity of production through periodic factory visits

1. 1Application and Product DescriptionThe product family, model list, technical specifications and target market are determined. The applicable standard and certification route become clear at this step.
2. 2Technical File ReviewDesign documents, the bill of materials, critical-component certificates and the instructions for use are examined.
3. 3Product TestingThe tests the relevant standard requires are carried out. The test report is the fundamental basis for the certification decision.
4. 4Factory AuditIf the scheme requires it, the continuity of manufacturing and factory production control (FPC) are verified on site.
5. 5Issuing the Certificate and MarkingOnce conformity is verified, the certificate is issued; the marking rules for the product and packaging are applied.
6. 6Follow-up AuditsDepending on the scheme, periodic factory audits and/or follow-up testing on samples taken from the market are carried out.

The validity period varies by scheme: some product certificates are indefinite and rely on periodic factory audits, while some schemes (e.g. country market marks) require annual or per-shipment renewal. Every design change to the product requires the certificate to be reviewed.

• The list of product models and variants
• Technical drawings, diagrams and the bill of materials
• Certificates for critical components
• The instructions for use and a sample label
• Existing test reports, if any
• Production-site details

There is no fixed list price; the cost is calculated based on the following variables and provided in writing in the quote.

• The number of models and variants in the product family
• The test scope the applicable standard requires
• Whether a factory audit is required
• The number of target markets and whether each requires separate testing
• Whether existing test reports can be accepted

Product certification is carried out under ISO/IEC 17065; The tests that form the basis for certification are carried out in laboratories with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. The two scopes are separate. Recognition between accreditation bodies is provided through IAF and ILAC agreements.

The scope under which this scheme can be offered varies according to your product and activity; it is confirmed in writing at the quote stage.

• ETLNorth America Product Safety
• CSACanada Product Safety
• FCCRadio/EMC
• Energy StarEnergy Efficiency
• WaterSenseWater Efficiency
• CEEU Product Conformity
• UKCAUnited Kingdom Conformity
• ENECElectrical Product Safety