What Does 'UL Listed' Mean and Is It Important?

Let's say that some of your customers are starting projects and come across electrical devices that say something about being UL listed. They might see the UL Listed seal of approval on them and assume that it's an important label. And they would be correct indeed. A UL-listed device is a manufactured product that meets specific safety standards after undergoing rigorous testing. These are things that business owners will keep in mind when ordering IP boxes to protect their electronic devices.

Important questions your business may ask are: What does it mean for a device to be UL listed? What are the guidelines for getting a device UL listed? How do you correctly advertise it on a product? And is there a difference between being UL recognized and UL listed? It is important that businesses know exactly how to address these questions.

What Does UL Listed Mean?

UL, formerly known as Underwriters Laboratories, is a global independent safety science company that has been in operation since 1894. Founded by Henry Merrill Jr. that year as the Underwriters' Electrical Bureau, it was an electrical testing company that tested devices against a set of standards for safety and functionality.

Today, UL is a leading test facility in the United States that also tests electrical devices made in Canada. The goal of the organization is to make sure that electrical devices are safe to be used. A device labeled as a UL-listed enclosure has met high testing standards.

Difference Between NEMA and IP

Electronic devices will have various ratings attached to them, such as NEMA and IP. NEMA and IP are two acronyms that stand for similar things. However, there are differences.

NEMA ratings mean that a device meets the standards set by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. For example, 20 types of ratings exist to describe the enclosure's ability to keep internal explosions contained, hold up against solid objects and be fully immersed in water.

NEMA codes get grouped together in specific ways. There are groups for non-hazardous outdoor applications, non-hazardous indoor conditions, and hazardous indoor conditions. Regardless of their rating, all devices that fit these categories need to have a clearly labeled rating placed on them.

IP ratings are different. Ingress Protection (IP) codes determine a device's ability to withstand dust or water immersion. For example, you will see an IP rating on the box for the iPhone 14. It describes protections against solids, liquids and dust/debris. You will see 'IP' followed by one or two numbers and possibly another letter. These indicate solid particle protection, liquid ingress protection and other relevant information (such as 'h' for 'high voltage device').

IP ratings are important for items that could be used in dusty or wet environments. The ratings let the products' owners know whether they should be using their electronic devices there, or if they should keep them somewhere safer.

What's the Difference Between UL-Recognized and UL-Listed Devices?

First, a product should not be labeled "UL approved" since "approved" is not a term that UL uses. In fact, the company identifies this as an incorrect term. In order for something to be UL listed, it has to be a stand-alone product that performs a specific function that has been tested against UL's safety standards for this particular type of device.

"UL recognized" is a term used for something that is a component within a larger system. One example would be a power supply since it has no inherent function for the user but is a core component in a larger system. That is why power supplies are almost always listed as "UL recognized." These power supplies will include their own internal components that also require UL recognition. 

Why It Is Important for a Product to Be UL Listed?

Having electrical devices UL listed (or UL recognized) is important. This lets their users know which devices are of high quality and which are worth passing up when they are shopping. Would you buy something that did not have a UL listing when the device next to it is UL listed?

Since the National Electrical Code (NEC) requires that devices have a UL listing when applicable, seeing this label on the packaging lets you know that the device has been rigorously tested in either the United States or Canada. The device will not be an item that could malfunction unexpectedly.

Why Should Businesses Provide UL-Listed Products?

A lot of products used in the home can be UL listed. Batteries, kitchen appliances, smoke alarms and even parts for cars can be UL-listed products. Even gas meters can be UL listed.

A key part of the certification process is determining a product's fire and electrical safety. Consumers don't want to buy something that they suspect could cause a house fire or electrical shock. That is why having products UL listed is critical. Currently, over 1,500 standards have been put into writing.

A lot of seemingly harmless things get UL listed, too. Personal care items and makeup can be UL listed, as can furniture and packing materials. There is seemingly no end to the products that can be UL listed.

UL certifies personnel, whole facilities and manufacturing processes. It keeps expanding as technology evolves, so manufacturers have to evolve along with all of it in order to sell high-quality products.

How UL Certification Provides Peace of Mind

Peace of mind is what UL certification is really all about. Businesspeople searching for a well-crafted junction box will see the UL-listed label on the item's packaging and know that what they're getting has been tested against rigorous safety standards. 

Businesses also get peace of mind from knowing that they are selling devices that are safe for their customers to use. They do not have to worry about potential lawsuits or investigations from faulty devices causing harm to consumers and their property. That is why it is so important to get UL certification for each device that qualifies and to get them all appropriately retested by the UL.

What if Something With a UL Listing Malfunctions?

People who experience an unexpected malfunction should immediately turn off their electricity, unplug the device and then contact UL to let them know exactly what happened. UL will then investigate the device that malfunctioned, contact the manufacturer if they determine it necessary and potentially put out a notice for the public.

Does this mean that this product is a bad one? Not necessarily. The point of getting a faulty item UL inspected is to determine what caused the incident and whether it is something that could exist in all of the products manufactured within that product line or was just a one-time occurrence.

Also, if you happen to see a product with a UL label that looks as if it might be counterfeit, report it to UL so that they can review that manufacturer's standing and get them to stop using the fake label.

Showcase a Strong Track Record

Many manufacturers who have products that are currently UL listed have had this designation for quite some time on those specific pieces. This lets the public know that these manufacturers take safety very seriously and are putting out high-quality products time and time again. Being one of those manufacturers is just as important as being a conscious consumer who knows what it means to be UL listed.

Manufacturers get the benefit of having ongoing third-party UL verification. UL will send a local field representative to visit a manufacturer at least four times every year. They do so in order to ensure that the UL label is being applied only to products that meet UL's strict requirements. The UL company does not announce or schedule their inspections, so manufacturers will not be able to prepare for these visits. 

An entire product will need to be retested if the UL-listed part of the design has been changed for any reason. The certification process will have to be performed again so that the new component is up to UL's standards for safety.

Getting a Device UL Listed Is Worth It

Manufacturers must go through a lot of checks to get a product UL listed. That little label they get to display on their devices, though, is worth it. A product with the UL mark on it has undergone rigorous testing and is verified as being safe for use in various buildings and vehicles. The people who buy these products can do business and go about their everyday lives without having to worry if their product is going to malfunction and harm them, their associates or their property. That is why having a UL-listed product is so important. 

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