The Light Direction Blog: (by Frank Grobmeier)
… Now I know my ABC’s, won’t you sing along with me… I’m going to guess that most of you reading this blog were taught your alphabet at a very young age. And that lesson has proven to be critical as we navigate the big waves of life. For those of us in the lighting and electrical industries there’s another critically important set of letters, that if we don’t understand them, can prohibit us from getting permits, get us in hot water with inspectors, violate the National Electrical Code, and even get our job sites shutdown without warning.
That little alphabet sticker on various products that states either UL, ETL or CSA can mean the difference between a successful job and a complete bust. They’re incredibly recognizable, but what do they really mean? Today, we’re going to examine these standards, reveal what they mean, explore why they’re important, and compare their differences.
Every electrical code in the United States and Canada requires an electrical safety certification, which is usually listed as either UL, ETL or CSA. But are they all the same? Yes, sort of… let me explain…
UL LISTINGS:
If the product you’re using on your job comes with a UL Listed mark, it means that the product has passed Underwriter Laboratories’ (UL’s) safety requirements for use by consumers and businesses. Underwriter Laboratories is a national testing lab (NRTL) recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). As an NRTL, UL devises, publishes, updates and maintains minimal standards that certain types of products, such as lighting fixtures, should maintain.
When a product has been UL Listed, a representative sample has been tested and found to meet all relevant UL published standards for electrical safety.
If the product bears a UL “Recognized” mark it means the product(s) are a component of a larger product.
ETL LISTINGS:
Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL) was actually started by Thomas Edison to test light bulbs for safety back in 1896 under the name, Lamp Testing Bureau. They expanded to include the safety testing for a wide variety of electronic components and is currently a division of Intertek Testing Laboratories.
ETL, like UL, is an OSHA recognized NRTL, but unlike UL they do not publish their own standards; instead, they test products and components according to published standards from other NRTL’s such as UL.
Products that are ETL tested have been tested at an ETL laboratory and found to meet all applicable published standards for safety.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UL and ETL Listings:
In the U.S. there is NO difference between UL and ETL, other than the bodies that issue the listing. Because ETL tests products to previously published UL standards for safety, the products marked ETL Listed meet the exact same criteria as those marked UL Listed.
If you are in Canada, the same ETL mark as the U.S. is accepted; however, UL has a special ULC mark that applies to products sold in the Canadian market. The ULC mark is equivalent to the UL mark and the ETL mark.
Another mark, set of standards and listings in Canada and the U.S. is the CSA mark.
CSA LISTINGS:
Originally known as The Canadian Standards Association (CSA), CSA is now a private testing body and is a nationally recognized testing lab in both the U.S. and Canada, as well as globally. They develop standards of safety for both mechanical and electrical products.
CSA is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada and since 1992 has been an OSHA accredited NRTL.
Much like UL and ETL marks, there are different types of marks which mean different things. For example, the general CSA mark (the CSA logo) means that the product meets the standards for Canada only. The CSA/US mark (CSA Logo with “US” at the bottom) means the product meets the standards for the U.S. market. The C/CSA/US mark (CSA logo with a “C” on one side and “US” on the other side) means the product is certified to US and Canadian standards and meets both electrical codes.
WHICH DO I CHOSE?
When it comes to choosing between UL, ETL and CSA, it isn’t a matter of which one is better or more important than the others. In fact, OSHA recognizes all three as NRTLs. Rather. they differ in the jurisdiction they cover, and even then, there are several overlaps.
The UL, ETL and CSA/US are acceptable for use in the U.S.; The CSA, ETL and UL/C mark are good for Canada. And the C/CSA/US, C/UL/US and ETL marks are acceptable in BOTH the U.S. and Canadian markets.
It’s hard to fathom that a little sticker on a product can carry so much weight and power, but it does. It’s incumbent upon us as professionals in the lighting and electrical industry to have a competent working knowledge and understanding of our ABC’s.