Introduction to Various Certifications

UL [North America]

UL is the abbreviation of Underwriter Laboratories Inc. in the United States. The UL Safety Testing Laboratory is the most authoritative in the United States and one of the larger private institutions in the world engaged in safety testing and appraisal. It is an independent, for-profit professional institution that conducts tests for public safety. It uses scientific testing methods to study and determine whether various materials, devices, products, equipment, buildings, etc. are harmful to life and property and the extent of the harm; determines, compiles, and publishes corresponding standards and materials that help reduce and prevent losses to life and property, and at the same time conducts fact-finding research business. UL certification is a non-mandatory certification in the United States, mainly focusing on the testing and certification of product safety performance, and its certification scope does not include the EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) characteristics of products.

UL Certification

In short, it is mainly engaged in product safety certification and the business of operating safety certificates. Its ultimate goal is to obtain products with a considerable safety standard for the market and contribute to ensuring personal health and property safety. In terms of product safety certification as an effective means to eliminate technical barriers to international trade, UL also plays a positive role in promoting the development of international trade.

UL is mainly engaged in product safety certification and the business of operating safety certificates. Its ultimate goal is to obtain products with a considerable safety standard for the market and contribute to ensuring personal health and property safety. In terms of product safety certification as an effective means to eliminate technical barriers to international trade, UL also plays a positive role in promoting the development of international trade.

UL was founded in 1894. In the initial stage, UL mainly relied on funds provided by the fire insurance department to maintain its operation. It was not until 1916 that UL became completely self-sufficient. After nearly a century of development, UL has become a globally renowned certification institution with a complete set of strict organizational management systems, standard development, and product certification procedures. UL is managed by a council composed of representatives from safety experts, government officials, consumers, the education sector, public utilities, the insurance industry, and standard departments. The daily work is handled by the president and vice presidents. Currently, UL has five laboratories in the United States, with its headquarters located in the town of Northbrook, north of Chicago. At the same time, corresponding laboratories have been established in Taiwan and Hong Kong respectively. In the United States, for consumers, the UL mark is a symbol of safety. Globally, UL is one of the most trusted providers of conformity assessment for manufacturers.

Logo Style

The UL mark is usually marked on the product and/or product packaging to indicate that the product has passed UL certification and meets the safety standard requirements.

The types of UL product certification and testing services mainly include Listing, Recognition, and Classification.

Service Content

Listing (LISTED):

Generally speaking, listing is only applicable to complete products and various devices and installations that can be replaced or installed on-site by qualified personnel. Various products covered by UL listing services include: household appliances, medical equipment, computers, commercial equipment, and various electrical products used in buildings, such as power distribution systems, fuses, wires, switches, and other electrical components. For products listed by UL, the UL listing mark can usually be marked on each product. Regarding the usage of the listing mark.

Recognition (Recognized):

The recognition service is a project within UL services. The products identified can only be used as components and raw materials on UL listed, classified, or other recognized products. The recognized products are not complete in structure or have certain limitations in their usage to ensure the expected safety performance. In most cases, the follow-up service for recognized products falls under the R category. The recognized products belonging to the L category include electronic wires (AVLV2), processed wires (ZKLU2), wire harnesses (ZPFW2), aluminum wires (DVVR2), and flexible metal conduits (DXUZ2). Recognized products are required to carry the recognition mark.

Classification (Classification):

The classification service only evaluates the specific hazards of the product or evaluates products that comply with other standards (including internationally recognized standards such as IEC and ISO standards) other than UL standards. Generally speaking, most classified products are not consumer products but products used in industry or commerce. The classification mark in the UL mark indicates that there are certain restrictive conditions and specified scopes when the product is identified by UL. For example, for chemical products such as industrial solvents, only the range of potential fire hazards when the product reaches its flash point temperature is evaluated. The classification service for some products is the same as the listing service, but generally, only one or several aspects of the product are evaluated. For example, in the United States, medical X-ray diagnostic equipment must comply with national laws and regulations regarding radiation emissions and beam accuracy across the country. However, since UL only classifies X-rays as classified products, it only evaluates aspects such as their mechanical performance, electrical performance, and other non-radiation performance.

Multiple Listing, Multiple Recognition, or Multiple Classification Services:

When a UL applicant, after obtaining the above-mentioned listing, recognition, or classification services, wants to produce the product under the name of another company to meet sales needs, they can apply for multiple listing, multiple recognition, or multiple classification services. In this case, the manufacturer that has obtained the listing, recognition, or classification is allowed to use the name of another company in the product catalog, but the product, except for the company code, product code, or other characteristics that UL deems acceptable, must be consistent with the originally listed, recognized, or classified product.

"AL" Listing, Recognition, or Classification Service:

If a UL applicant does not want to obtain listing, recognition, or classification services in the name of their own company, they can apply for listing, recognition, or classification in the name of another business name (usually a retailer or wholesaler), that is, the "AL" listing, recognition, or classification service. The difference between it and the multiple listing, multiple recognition, or multiple classification services is that the applicant is not the listed entity.

Certification Process:

The applicant prepares the prototype --- prepares the corresponding materials --- arranges the test --- evaluates the test and materials --- completes the report --- arranges the factory inspection --- obtains the certificate.

UL [North America]

UL Certification

Logo Style

Service Content

KC(SAFETY) [South Korea]

IDA (RF) [Singapore]

SONCAP(Safety) [Nigeria]

PSE [Japan]

CE Mark [European Union]

SIRIM (RF) [Malaysia]