Underwriters Laboratories®
UL Standards
Millions of products and their components are tested to UL's Standards for Safety,
resulting in a much safer environment for consumers. With more than 1000 Standards
for Safety, UL provides online access, e-mail notifications of updates, and a collaborative
standards development system.
Overview
Underwriters Laboratories® partners with manufacturers to provide safe products
to consumers through UL testing, certification and follow-up audits. Because the
UL Mark is so important, manufacturers must submit a design layout of the UL Mark
to a UL label center for review to verify that all required information is in an
acceptable format. UL maintains a database of suppliers who are authorized by UL
to print labels with the UL Mark.
UL Marking
There are many types of UL Marks, each with its own specific meaning. The only way
to determine if a product has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories® is
to look for the UL Mark on the product itself. In a few instances, the UL Mark may
be present only on the packaging of a product. Some products certified by UL are
components that are intended to be used in the manufacture of a complete listed
product. These components cannot bear the UL symbol, but may use a special Recognized
Component Mark.
The UL Mark on a product means that UL has tested and evaluated representative samples
of that product and determined that they meet UL requirements. Under a variety of
programs products are periodically checked by UL at the manufacturing facility to
make sure they continue to meet UL requirements. The UL Marks may be only used on
or in connection with products certified by UL and under the terms of written agreement
with UL. In addition to these marks, UL also provides access to the marks required
in a number of other key world markets.
Standards of Business Conduct
For more than a century, UL has provided industry-leading technical expertise and
quality service, building a reputation for integrity and independence along the
way. UL built this reputation by maintaining the highest legal and ethical
standards. Our commitment to quality and service has earned us the confidence of
consumers, industries and safety professionals worldwide. The UL Standards of Business
Conduct reflect our company's values, our commitment to high legal and ethical standards
and inform UL employees of their obligation to ensure that UL maintains its hard
earned reputation. Because UL works so hard to keep consumers safe and manufacturers,
code authorities and retailers informed, UL offers a number of publications, technical
documents, directories and other resources to provide up-to-date information. UL's
commitment to testing and certification is recognized globally, and UL's rigorous
safety standards have resulted in millions of safer products.
The role of UL Councils
UL's Councils provide valuable advice to support UL's mission of public safety,
health and protection of the environment. Council members assist and advise UL in
the establishment of safety requirements that reflect realistic considerations of
expertise, field experience and practical judgment. UL Councils currently serve
in the areas of Electrical, Environmental & Public Health, Fire, Security Systems,
Follow-Up Services and Consumer Advisory.
