What is UL certification? UL certification review, features

UL certification is a non-mandatory certification in the United States. It mainly tests and certifies product safety performance. Its certification scope does not include the EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) characteristics of products. If consumers buy products with UL marks and encounter adverse consequences due to product quality problems, consumers can complain to the seller, and the seller can easily get compensation from the insurance company. The certification cycle usually takes about 2 months.

About UL Certification

UL is the abbreviation of Underwriter Laboratories Inc., a global safety consulting and certification company. It is the largest private organization in the world engaged in safety testing and certification. It is an independent, for-profit, professional organization that conducts tests for public safety.

Product Application

1. Audio-visual equipment;

2. Cars;

3. Electronic components;

4. Household appliances;

5. Industrial control equipment;

6. Information technology equipment;

7. Lamps;

8. Medical devices;

9. Plastic;

10. Information equipment;

11. Wires and cables.

Certification categories

1. Listed

Generally speaking, the listing is only applicable to complete products and various devices and equipment that can be replaced or installed on site by qualified personnel. Products that fall under UL's listing service include household appliances, medical equipment, computers, commercial equipment, and various electrical products that function in buildings, such as power distribution systems, fuses, wires, switches, and other electrical components. Products listed by UL can usually be marked with the UL listing mark and the usage of the listing mark.

2. Recognized

Recognition service is a project in UL service. The products identified by it can only be used as components and raw materials in UL listed, graded or other recognized products. The recognized products are not complete in structure, or have certain restrictions on use to ensure the expected safety performance. In most cases, the tracking service of recognized products belongs to R category. The recognized products belonging to L category include electronic wire (AVLV2), processed wire (ZKLU2), wire harness (ZPFW2), aluminum wire (DVVR2), and metal flexible tube (DXUZ2). Recognized products are required to carry the recognition mark.

3. Classification

The classification service only evaluates the specific hazards of the product, or evaluates the products that implement other standards other than UL standards (including internationally recognized standards, such as IEC and ISO standards, etc.). Generally speaking, most classified products are not products used by consumers, but products used in industry or commerce. The classification mark in the UL mark indicates that the product has certain restrictions and specified ranges when it is certified by UL. For example, for chemicals such as solvents used in industry, only the range of fire that may occur when it reaches the ignition temperature is evaluated. The classification service and listing service of some products are the same, but generally only one or several aspects of the product are evaluated. For example, in the United States, medical X-ray diagnostic equipment such as medical X-ray diagnostic equipment must comply with US laws and regulations on radiation emission and beam accuracy nationwide, but because UL only regards X-rays as classified products, it only evaluates its mechanical properties, electrical properties and other non-radiation properties.

Multiple Listing, Multiple Recognition or Multiple Classification Services

When a UL applicant obtains the above-mentioned listing, approval or classification services, if its products are to be produced under the name of another company to meet sales needs, it can apply for multiple listings, multiple approvals or multiple classification services. In this case, the manufacturer that has obtained listing, approval or classification is allowed to use the name of another company in the product catalog, but the product must be consistent with the original listed, approved or classified product except for the company code, product code or other features that UL considers acceptable.

4. "AL" listing, approval or grading services

If the UL applicant does not want to obtain the listing, approval or classification service in the name of his own company, he can apply for the listing, approval or classification in the name of another trade name (usually a retailer or wholesaler), that is, "AL" listing, approval or classification service. The difference between it and multiple listing, multiple approval or multiple classification service is that its applicant is not the listee.

5. System certification services

As a member of the International Accreditation Council, UL is widely involved in ISO9000 quality system certification, ISO14000 environmental protection certification, QS9000 automotive industry quality system certification and AS9000 aircraft industry quality system certification services. A total of 116 factories in China have obtained UL's system certification, including 21 ISO9001 certification, 85 ISO9002 certification, 1 ISO14001 certification, and 9 QS9000 certification.

6. UL's other services

Such as certification services, inspection services, fact determination services, research services, etc.

Information required for UL certification

1. Company name and address;

2. Instructions for use, including product description, detailed usage, electrical ratings, etc.;

3. List of components and materials of the product, as well as the UL certification number (UL File No.) and diagrams that can illustrate the electrical or electronic circuit;

4. Materials or parts that may be replaced in the future.

significance

The significance of UL certification mark to enterprises:

1. The entire US market attaches great importance to product safety; when consumers and purchasing units purchase products, they will choose products with the UL certification mark.

2. UL has a history of more than 100 years, and its image of safety is deeply rooted in consumers and the government. If you do not sell products directly to consumers, middlemen will also require products to have UL certification marks to make the products sell well.

3. American consumers and purchasing entities have greater confidence in the company's products.

4. The UL certification mark is recognized by more than 40,000 federal, state, county, and city governments across the United States.

Origin and development history

-In the 1890s, a series of serious fires occurred in many cities in the United States, which were blamed on electrical equipment and electrical wires.

In order to prevent the tragedy from happening again, Mr. Williams Merrill founded the "Underwriting Electrical Engineering Bureau", the predecessor of the "National Fire Insurance Department Electrical Engineering Bureau" in 1894. UL had only two employees and testing equipment worth $350, and it wholesaled the first test report on March 24 of the same year.

-In 1901, the engineering bureau founded by Mr. Merrill was reorganized into Underwriters Laboratories Inc., and the testing field was expanded beyond electronics and motors.

-In the 1920s and 1940s, UL Camera was involved in various safety certifications.

-In 1960, UL published the first set of smoke alarm safety standards.

-In 1965, UL conducted safety certification for fire safety facilities for the first time.

-In 1966, UL published the approved component index.

-In 1985, UL released its 500th standard: UL 1459. More than 2.5 billion products manufactured in more than 40,000 factories around the world carry the UL mark.

-Since the 1990s, UL has established cooperative relationships with countries and companies around the world, and the speed of UL's globalization has further increased.