Molly Ayala
In the electrical field, there are various standards and certifications that products must adhere to in order to ensure their safety and compliance. Two commonly referenced markings in electrical product listings are SA and UL. SA, or Supplement SA, is a document outlining the requirements for components used in industrial control panels. On the other hand, UL, short for Underwriters Laboratory, is an organization that develops standards and tests products across various categories, including electrical products, to ensure they meet safety requirements. While UL is a well-recognized standard, it is important to note that there are other certification bodies, such as CSA, CE, and RU, that also play a role in ensuring product safety. Understanding these markings and certifications is crucial for engineers and manufacturers to navigate the electrical industry's landscape and provide safe and compliant products to consumers.
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What You'll Learn
UL sets standards and tests products to ensure they meet safety requirements
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is a renowned global safety certification company that develops and maintains standards to promote safe living and working conditions. UL sets standards and tests products to ensure they meet safety requirements. The UL certification is a globally recognised mark of safety, quality, and compliance. It is a broad term for the various safety certifications offered by the company.
UL was founded in 1894 in Chicago and is the oldest and largest third-party testing laboratory in the United States. The company develops and maintains standards that provide a clear framework for evaluating and achieving product safety. These standards are used by manufacturers, regulators, and consumers to ensure product safety and reliability. UL offers over 20 certifications, including UL Listed and UL Recognised Components.
The UL Listed Mark is a tier of UL approval for standalone consumables that have undergone rigorous testing. It indicates that a product meets nationally recognised standards for sustainability and safety and is free from reasonably foreseeable risks of electric shock or fire. UL Listed products have also been tested for electrical safety, mechanical safety, durability, resistance, and longevity.
UL standards are applied to a diverse array of products across industries, including electrical and electronic devices, appliances, industrial equipment, and fire and security devices. For example, UL 2580 is a standard for batteries used in electric vehicles, ensuring they meet rigorous safety and performance standards. UL 2900 plays a significant role in software cybersecurity for network-connected products, while UL 416 covers refrigerated medical equipment.
UL's comprehensive solutions also focus on product safety and performance in the e-mobility value chain, including fire safety, electric shock prevention, functional safety, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) immunity. The company provides research, testing, certification, and compliance services to help manufacturers understand and mitigate safety risks associated with innovative battery and charging technologies.
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UL is a Standards Development Organization (SDO)
In the United States, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the authority responsible for publishing the American National Standards for electrical products. ANSI has designated UL as a Standards Development Organization (SDO), which means UL is responsible for developing these standards. UL sets standards for various product categories and tests products to ensure they meet those standards. This process involves testing and validating product labels to ensure they meet construction requirements and are permanent. For instance, UL 969, considered the benchmark for durable safety labels, includes adhesive-attached labels and in-mold labels that provide information or instructions.
UL's role as an SDO involves creating the standards that electrical products are tested against to ensure their safe operation. While UL acts as an SDO, it is not the only organization that can test and certify products. In fact, there is no requirement for product certification to be performed by the SDO responsible for overseeing the development of the standard. Any qualified lab can be selected by a manufacturer to test and certify a product before it goes to market. This competitive marketplace helps manufacturers get their products to consumers faster and more economically, while still ensuring rigorous testing.
In the U.S., the safe installation of electrical products is generally assured by conformance to NFPA 70 of the National Electrical Code (NEC). While the NEC is not a mandatory standard, it has been adopted as law in almost every state or locality. The NEC's parameters allow independent testing labs to judge the suitability of electrical equipment according to American National Standards. Notably, while certain sections of the NEC require specific types of electrical equipment to be listed, there are no sections mandating that products be UL-listed.
UL's status as an SDO accredited by ANSI demonstrates its expertise and authority in setting standards for product safety. By undergoing UL testing and certification, manufacturers can ensure their products meet the rigorous standards required in the marketplace. UL's role as an SDO promotes competition and innovation while prioritizing the safe operation of electrical products.
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UL 508A Supplement SA outlines specific component requirements
UL 508A is the UL standard for the construction of industrial control panels. UL 508A Supplement SA outlines specific component requirements for industrial control panels. The document details the requirements for components used in these panels and replaces what was previously covered in Supplement SA of the second edition of UL 508A and Appendix C in the third edition.
The UL 508A standard covers panels intended for general use and operating at a voltage of 600V or less. All components inside these panels must meet a defined Short Circuit Current Rating (SCCR) for the application, and the panel must be marked with the appropriate SCCR.
To achieve a UL label, panel builders must meet the requirements of UL 508A. This includes following the construction requirements and recommendations outlined in the standard. Upon successful inspection by a UL field representative, the panel is permitted to bear the UL label.
The UL 508A Supplement SA document will be updated as needed to reflect changes in the use of components in panels. Previous versions of the document may be used until UL Solutions provides notification that they are no longer in use. This ensures that the requirements stay current and relevant to the evolving nature of industrial control panels.
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UL labels are rigorously tested for permanency
In the United States, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the authority responsible for publishing the American National Standards for electrical products. ANSI has assigned Standards Developing Organization (SDO) status to UL to develop these standards. UL sets standards for different product categories and tests products to ensure they meet these standards.
The testing on UL label construction and adhesives includes environmental testing for exposure to high humidity, occasional water exposure, elevated temperatures, sunlight, and chemical agents. The labels are also visually examined to look for curling, wrinkling, shrinkage, or loss of adhesion around the perimeters. Evaluating legibility, resistance to defacement, and adhesion are also part of the testing process.
Compliance with UL 969 label standards is determined by visually examining the samples for evidence of curling, wrinkling, shrinkage, or loss of adhesion. Compliance also includes an evaluation to assess legibility, resistance to defacement, and minimum adhesion performance. UL 969 labels are adhesive-attached labels (pressure-sensitive, heat-activated, or solvent-activated) and in-mold labels for use as permanent nameplates or markers that provide information or instructions.
It is important to note that while UL sets standards and tests products, there is no requirement for product certification to be performed by the SDO responsible for overseeing the development of the standard. Any qualified lab can be selected by a manufacturer to test and certify a product before it goes to market, as long as they adhere to the American National Standards.
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UL is not a mandatory standard
Underwriters Laboratories (UL Solutions since 2022) is an independent US organization that certifies products for the US market. UL is a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) that tests products against a specific performance standard. However, it is not the only NRTL, and there are several other NRTLs that manufacturers can approach.
UL Standards for Safety are not needed to determine code compliance, even if the installation code indicates that a product must comply with a specific UL Standard. The Guide information in UL ProductiQ®, or in UL’s published product directories, usually identifies the standard(s) used to investigate and certify products in a particular product category. This information can assure code officials that a product was evaluated against the appropriate product standard, which is often referenced in a model code or regulation.
UL Listed products are those that have been tested by UL to nationally recognized safety and sustainability standards. UL Listed products are required to carry a marking to identify the Listed company. This identification can consist of the company name, a trade name or trademark, or the Listee’s UL file number.
The UL Certified Mark is an additional mark that one can affix to a component or device, allowing producers to bundle multiple UL certifications into a single mark. However, this mark cannot be switched with the UL Recognized Mark, which is given to components that do not have a specific user function on their own and are commonly incorporated into larger systems.
Unlike the European CE marking, the UL mark is not mandated by law. Manufacturers agree to follow the CE regulations by using the CE mark, and CE-marked products are not required to be third-party certified. Devices that will bear the UL mark, on the other hand, must be independently certified by UL.
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Frequently asked questions
UL stands for Underwriters Laboratory and is a Standards Development Organization (SDO) that sets standards for different product categories and tests products to make sure they meet the standards.
SA refers to the specific component requirements for industrial control panels.
UL labels are used to ensure permanent construction and adhesion to products. They undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet the necessary standards.
UL is a US-based SDO that develops American National Standards, whereas CSA is a Canadian SDO that develops Canadian National Standards.
No, UL labels are not required for all electrical products. However, certain products, such as electric ornaments and power supply cords, require a UL hologram label.
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