Do you want to know about the UL certificate?
Are you unaware of the importance of the UL certificate? Underwriters’ Laboratories or UL is known for testing and evaluating the components and products that are used to certify the mark on the manufacturer’s profile.
The products which are applicable for the UL certification will ease your journey. Different products require different types of certification for being functional. Knowing about UL certificate will give you more chances to make your business away from any issues.
In this blog, you will learn about the UL certificate, the importance of the UL certificate in importing and exporting products from China. Along with that, you will know about the type of UL certificate and its advantages.
Table of Content
Chapter 1: What is UL Certificate and Why is it Important?
Chapter 2: What Are the Types of UL Certification?
Chapter 3: How to Get a UL Certification?
Chapter 4: FAQS about UL certificate
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: What is UL Certificate and Why is it Important?
UL certificate shows the competency of the manufacturers and service providers, hence, it is a differentiation benchmark for the companies.
Buyers prefer certified sellers because this is one important way they can find out if a supplier is genuine or not. A UL certificate is one quick way of checking the reliability of a company.
In this chapter, we will discuss the basics of the UL certificate and keep you updated on all the crucial information about it.
1. What is a UL certificate?
UL (Underwriter Laboratories) is one of the oldest companies providing safety certifications to products around the world. Their procedure of certifying the products is based on facilities, systems, and processes according to industry-wide standards.
Due to this reason, they have widened the area to issue the 20 different UL certificates for a vast range. UL has issued some specific marks for a country, and you will not observe them in the United States and vice versa.
2. Why UL certificate is important?
Having the UL certificate is important because it shows the competency of the manufacturers or the service provider. In the market, buyers are always searching for a supplier or company which offers well-equipped and qualified products.
Customers always want to know how their suppliers consider their own products. Although UL certificate is not a necessary document for some markets, it still shows that the suppliers are taking time in products verification.
UL certification shows that the company or organization is valid and it meets all the local and federal safety requirements. As a supplier, you should ensure that you have the best products with safe customer reviews.
3. What are the requirements of a UL certificate?
UL requirements can vary from type to type. Products are submitted to the UL to be certified. After labeling products, UL will start the evaluation and testing. Various factors decide the approval of the labeled product.
Generally, the following points are kept in mind by the UL label standards for the testing and approval process.
- The material used is labeled itself or not.
- Can it resist natural disasters?
- Can it resist heat, humidity, and oils?
- The measured area where can print the label.
- The printing’s appearance, clearness, clarity, and dominancy.
4. What are the differences between CE and UL certificates?
You might have found some similar logos to UL in different countries. In the EU, the CE organization is similar to UL, they only differ due to location.
Like UL, CE provides the advantage of selling the products in the EU with their assigned logo. The only reason why the companies are trying to be CE certified is that they want to expand their business in EU countries which improve the growth ratio.
There are still some differences in CE marks and UL listing. UL listing is optional in the U.S., but the CE mark is not optional in Europe. The CE mark is crucial to be available on the products which are involved in construction.
5. Which types of products come under UL certification?
UL sets standards for electronics safety and offers testing, evaluation, certification, and auditing services. Some basic examples of UL electronic products are:
- UL 1642 – Standard for Lithium Batteries
- UL 20 – General-Use Snap Switches
- UL 2595 – General Requirements for Battery-Powered Appliances
- UL 2089 – Standard for Vehicle Battery Adapters
- UL 1740 – Standard for Robots and Robotic Equipment
- UL 879A – Standard for LED Sign and Sign Retrofit Kits
Chapter 2: What Are the Types of UL Certification?
The UL certificate can be categorized into different types like UL listed, UL recognition, and UL classification.
In this chapter, we will discuss the types of UL certificates and also inform you about them in detail.
1.Types of UL Certificate
UL can be applied to the product or manufacturer.
a. UL listed
UL listed is the key to verify that the manufacturer’s product meets the UL standards.
UL has the policy to keep a check on the supplier, but it cannot test each batch or SKU. If you want to initiate the business, then UL listed supplier will be the best option for you.
b. UL recognition
UL recognition is applied to complex components and complex products like machines. The UL recognition permits the supplier to put the label on the product’s parts also.
c. UL classification
UL classification is a verification that the product is following UL standards.
2. What is UL Recognized? What does it focus on?
UL recognition does not offer the seal on end products that focuses on machinery. The UL recognition makes sure that the product is following the UL standards. And it is commonly seen in electronic industries.
It makes sure the efficiency and the authenticity of the products by taking security measures to protect the product from liquid or chemicals.
3. What is UL Listed? What does it focus on?
The UL-listed seal is present on many consumer products and is highly recognizable. It shows like a “UL” in the black circle. The UL listing mark is seen on products like:
- Heaters
- Furnaces
- Life jackets
- Smoke detectors
- Sprinkler systems
- Electrical appliances
- Bullet-resistant glass
- Computer equipment
- Carbon monoxide detectors
The product that is going to be UL listed should be stand-alone and meet all the safety measures. This UL listing ensures the consumer buys the products from the market.
If you find a product that is sealed by UL standards, then it means that it follows all the testing procedures to get the UL certified.
A UL-listed product focuses on the safety of items under normal wear and tear. It benefits both the consumer and manufacturers.
4. What is the difference between the UL listed and UL recognized?
UL recognition is not applied on products. It focuses more on parts of the machinery.
It also certifies that the products in machines are also following UL standards and is common in factories of circuit boards or the power supply.
The safety and efficiency of the products are possible only when it has UL recognition because it is applicable only when it follows the UL standards.
It also proves that precautionary measures are also taken during manufacturing to secure the products from liquid or any sort of chemicals.
The UL recognition stamp can be attained easily as compared to the UL listed. Because mostly, the selection of materials is from certified companies.
According to industry standards, UL recognition is less rigid and easier to be accomplished. Any material or component can receive UL recognition.
Chapter 3: How to Get a UL Certification?
If you are confused about the process of getting UL certification and want to know the detailed process, then this chapter is a must-read for you.
1. Different certifications that UL can do for your business
UL certificate helps to demonstrate compliance, transfers confidence and reduces the risk in international markets. It builds the reputation, identification of the manufactures among the same community.
Following are different certifications that UL can provide your business.
a. Facility certification:
UL has the power to keep an eye on the adherence of operation with applicable health safety standards. It will also review all the plans, build a team to check on security issues, evaluate the components and products and on-site performances also.
b. Process certification:
UL can work with the supplier to check whether the business processes are following the applicable standards as well as requirements.
c. Personnel certification:
UL’s personnel certification is provided to the performer with documents highlighting all the effects and safety measures to perform their task.
d. System certification:
UL has set the system certification that helps to evaluate the linkage between the individual processes and products together.
e. Product certification:
The product certification issued by the UL represents that a product is tested and follows all the applicable standards.
2. Steps of getting a UL certified
There are some simple steps to get the UL certification. You will know how you get UL listed in the steps given below.
a. Visiting the UL official website:
First, scroll down the UL website on google and search the “Contact Us” page. On his page, you will get access to all the links to relevant information forms that are also added for you to submit the product sample for UL testing.
b. Submitting the sample product:
The next step is to submit the sample product for UL testing. The individual or the organization will pay the shipping cost and handling cost of sending the sample of the product.
You have to pack the sample product in a way so that there will not be any damage to the product during the shipping process.
c. Paying the testing fee:
Once your sample product is delivered to the UL, then the evaluation will start anytime. The evaluation process depends on the testing result.
It shows whether the product meets ANSI and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards or not.
After product testing, the UL will announce the result that either product is following standard requirements or is rejected. You will pay the fees to the UL’s administration in any case.
d. Receive your UL certificate:
After the complete testing and verification, your product will be declared safe, and your UL certificate will also be issued. With this, you will be permitted to add the UL logo or your products.
Audits will have a check on you to verify that your product is following the relevant guidelines and remains compliant with fixed standards.
3. What are the markets that UL certification covers?
UL certification is a confirmation paper that declares the safety of your products and follows the UL regulations. The basic market covered by the UL certification is:
- UL 1642, for Lithium Batteries
- UL 110, Standard for Sustainability for Mobile Phones
- UL 50, for Enclosures for Electrical appliances
- UL 1492, for Audio/Video Products and Accessories
4. What are the criteria for listing UL products?
The product is said to be UL listed only when UL tested the products’ samples and evaluated them to meet specific requirements.
It depends on the UL’s nationally recognized and published Standards for security. Sometimes, UL evaluates the product’s compliance with other requirements, that are:
- Functional safety
- Efficient energy
- Applicable for security, signaling, and plumbing
- Applicable for marine environments
- Used in gas-fired equipment
The appropriate version of the UL listed mark is added to the product upon packaging. Products that have the variations in UL listed mark cannot use the promotional badge.
5. How much does it cost to get a UL certificate?
The cost of certification is based on the product category, the number of product samples available for certification, the scope of certification, and other factors.
According to the estimate, it will cost you $5,000 to $50,000. UL informs you about the expected cost of certification when they receive the information. For further details, you can contact local UL branches or the accounting department.
Chapter 4: FAQS about UL certificate
1. Do you need UL Certification to import products?
According to law, it is not mandatory to have UL compliance when you are importing products. Importers take measures to ensure the safety of products, select the products that follow the UL standards is one of the ways.
2. How do I know if a supplier can produce UL-certified products?
Many manufacturers are familiar with the UL standards in China, and few are UL listed in Shenzhen. They usually try to refer to the EU directives or UL standards.
Many electronics manufacturers are following the UL standards.
You can verify their compliance with UL by asking them to provide the test report or the UL certificates. It is an easy and safe way to check the supplier as these documents are offered by the UL only.
3. How long does it take to get a UL product certified or listed?
Starting from the day when you have started a functional prototype. It takes six months normally to complete all the procedures. It can take months and years too. Before the availability of a prototype that is compliant with UL standards.
4. Is UL certification valid in Canada and USA?
The UL has developed more than 1,500 standards in countries like USA and Canada. The UL is officially recognized as American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in the USA.
In Canada, it is recognized as a Standards Development Organization by the Standards Council of Canada.
5. Why get UL Certified or buy UL products?
Why do you think UL certification and recognition are important in your business? UL has worked for a year to build trust and reputation among the community. This will act as a charm for the buyer to purchase products from that supplier.
If you see two products side by side, customers will buy the one that will be UL listed and meet all the safety requirements. Hence, the UL mark on any product is a powerful marketing tool for your business growth.
Conclusion
Whenever the customer sees the UL label on the product, he believes it to be tested and verified before. The businessmen protect their investment by working on authenticating and getting the UL label for easy and potential growth.
In this blog, we have discussed some major points regarding the UL certificates. We hope this blog helped you with your business ventures. If you still want some questions to be answered you can contact us, we will be glad to help you.
