UL is the abbreviation of underwriter Laboratories Inc. UL safety testing institute is the most authoritative institution in the United States, and also a large private institution engaged in safety testing and identification in the world. It is an independent, non-profit, professional organization that makes experiments for public safety. It uses scientific testing methods to study and determine whether all kinds of materials, devices, products, equipment, buildings, etc. do harm to life and property and the degree of harm; Determine, compile and issue the corresponding standards and materials that can help to reduce and prevent the loss of life and property. At the same time, carry out the actual situation investigation business.

Logo introduction

UL is mainly engaged in product safety certification and business safety certification business, its ultimate goal is to obtain products with considerable safety level for the market, and make contributions to ensure personal health and property safety. As an effective means to eliminate technical barriers to international trade, UL also plays an active role in promoting the development of international trade. UL was founded in 1894. In the initial stage, UL was mainly funded by the fire insurance department. Until 1916, UL was completely independent. After nearly one hundred years of development, UL has become a world-famous certification body, with a set of strict organization and management system, standard development and product certification procedures. UL is managed by a Council composed of representatives of safety experts, government officials, consumers, education, public utilities, insurance and standards departments. Its daily work is handled by the president and vice president. At present, UL has five laboratories in the United States, headquartered in Northbrook, north of Chicago. Meanwhile, UL has set up corresponding laboratories in Taiwan and Hong Kong respectively. In the United States, for consumers, UL is the symbol of safety signs. Globally, UL is one of the most reliable qualified assessment providers for manufacturers.

Logo style

UL Mark is usually marked on the product and / or product package to indicate that the product has passed UL certification It meets the requirements of safety standards.

Use requirements

1. The minimum height of a registered trademark shall be 3 / 64 inch. 　  

2. When the outer diameter of UL Mark is less than 3 / 8 inch, the registered trademark symbol can be ignored if it is not clear and readable under naked vision. 　  

3. The marking can be directly and fixed on the same product by stamping, die making, ink printing, screen printing or similar methods. 　  

4. Acquisition of logo: manufacturer can reprint or obtain from UL authorized distributor. 　

5. Ulus logo (only us, no c): safety sign for products entering the U.S. market; Cul (only C, no US): safety sign for products entering the Canadian market; CULus logo: safety sign for products entering the U.S. market and Canadian market

Service Items

UL's product certification and test services can be divided into listing, recognition and classification.  

1. Listed:

Generally speaking, listing is only applicable to complete products and all kinds of devices and devices that are replaced or installed by qualified personnel on site. All kinds of products belonging to UL listing service 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. UL Listed Products can usually be labeled with UL name mark on each product. Usage of column name flag.

2. Recognized:

Accreditation service is a project of UL service. The products identified can only be used as components and raw materials on UL Listed, graded or other approved products. The approved products are incomplete in structure or have certain restrictions on use to ensure the expected safety performance. In most cases, the tracking service of approved products belongs to R category. Class L approved products include electronic wire (avlv2), processing wire rod (zklu2), wire harness (zpfw2), aluminum wire (dvvr2), and metal flexible pipe (dxuz2). Approved products are required to have approval marks.

3. Classification:

The classification service only evaluates the specific hazards of products, or evaluates the products that comply with other standards (including internationally recognized standards, such as IEC and ISO standards) other than UL standards. Generally speaking, most graded products are not products used by consumers, but industrial or commercial products. The classification mark in UL Mark indicates that the product has certain restrictions and specified scope when it is identified by UL. For example, for chemicals such as solvents used in industry, only the range of possible fire when they reach the ignition point temperature is evaluated. The classification service of 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 and other equipment should comply with the U.S. law and the provisions on radiation emission and beam accuracy. However, UL only takes X-ray as a classification product, so it only evaluates its mechanical properties Electrical performance and other non radiative properties.

4. Multiple listing, multiple recognition or multi rating services:

When a UL applicant obtains the above listed, recognized or graded services, and its products are to be produced in the name of another company to meet the needs of sales, it can apply for multiple listing, multiple recognition or multi classification services. In this case, the manufacturer who has been listed, recognized or graded is allowed to use the name of another company in the product list, However, in addition to the company code, product code or other features that UL considers acceptable, the product must be consistent with the original listed, approved or graded products.

5. "Al" listing, recognition or rating service:

If the UL applicant does not want to obtain listing, recognition or classification services in the name of his company, he can apply for listing, recognition or grading in the name of another trade name (usually a retailer or wholesaler), that is, "Al" listing, recognition or grading services. It is different from multiple listing, multiple recognition or multi classification services in that the applicant is not a listed person.

6. System certification service:

As a member of the International Accreditation Committee, UL is widely involved in ISO9000 quality system certification, ISO14000 environmental protection certification, QS9000 automotive industry quality system certification and as9000 aircraft industry quality system certification services. In China, 116 factories have obtained UL system certification; Among them, 21 are ISO9001, 85 are ISO9002, one is ISO14001 and nine are QS9000.

7. UL's other services:

Such as certification service, inspection service, factual judgment service, research service, etc.

technological process

The application for UL Mark includes the following steps:

1. Applicant to submit relevant company and product information

Written application: you should ask ul to test your products in writing.

Company information: provide detailed and accurate name, address, contact person, postal code, telephone number and fax number of the following units in both Chinese and English.

(a) . application company: the company that applies for product testing and is responsible for all engineering service costs

(b) Listed company: a company whose name is listed in various product catalogues published by UL company

(c) Manufacturing factory: the manufacturer and producer of the product

Product information: product information should be provided in English.

(a) Product Name: provide the full name of the product.

(b) Product model: list in detail all the product models, varieties or classification numbers that need to be tested.

(c) The intended use of the product: for example: home, office, factory, coal mine, ship, etc.

(d) Parts list: detailed list of components and models (classification number), rated value and name of manufacturer. For insulating materials, please provide the name of the raw material, e.g. Ge polycarbonate, Lexan type 104. When the parts have obtained UL certification or approval, please prove the specific model of the parts, and indicate its UL file number (E). Electrical performance: for electronic and electrical products. Provide electrical schematic diagram (circuit diagram) and electrical performance table.

(f) Structure diagram: for most products, it is required to provide the structure diagram or explosion diagram and ingredient list of products.

(g) Product photos, instructions for use, safety and other items or installation instructions.

  2. Make decisions based on the product information provided

  When the product information is complete, UL engineers will make the following decisions based on the data: UL standard, engineering cost, test time, sample quantity, etc., and inform you in writing, and send the formal application form and tracking service agreement to your company. The application form indicates the cost limit, which is the maximum engineering cost estimated by UL according to the test items. Without the written authorization of your company, the cost limit cannot be exceeded.

3. Application company remittance, return application form and sample

UL certification

The applicant shall sign the application form and tracking service agreement, and return the form to UL company. At the same time, the sample shall be sent by bank remittance at the post office or by express mail. Please give proper description of the sample (such as name and model). Please send the application form and sample separately. For each application project, UL will specify a unique project number (Project No.) and indicate the project number and the name of the applicant company when remitting, sending samples and application forms for ul to check.

4. Product testing

After receiving the application form, remittance and experimental samples signed by your company, UL will inform you of the completion time of the experiment plan. Product testing is generally conducted in UL laboratories in the United States, and UL can also accept the audited third-party test data. The samples will be returned or destroyed according to your request.

If the product test results meet the requirements of UL standard, UL company will issue a test report and follow-up service details (follow up service procedure) the test report will detail the test situation, the target of the sample, the product structure and the safety signs suitable for the use of the product, etc. the detailed tracking service rules include the description of the product and the instruction for UL regional inspectors. A copy of the test report will be sent to the applicant company, and a copy of the tracking service rules will be sent to each manufacturer Factory.

5. Applicant authorized to use UL logo

In China, the UL regional inspector contacts the production plant for the first factory inspection (IPI). The Inspector checks the storage of your products and their parts in the production line and warehouse to confirm whether the product structure and parts are consistent with the tracking service rules. If required by the rules, the regional inspector will also conduct a witness test, When the inspection results meet the requirements, the applicant is authorized to use the UL Mark.

After IPI, inspectors will visit the factory from time to time to check the product structure and conduct witness tests. The frequency of inspection is determined by the product type and production volume. Most types of products are inspected at least four times a year. The inspector's inspection is to ensure that the products continue to comply with UL requirements. Please inform UL before you plan to change the product structure or components, For minor changes, UL can quickly modify the tracking service details so that inspectors can accept such changes without repeating any experiments. When UL considers that the product changes affect its safety performance, the application company needs to re submit samples for necessary testing.

The cost of the tracking service is not included in the cost of testing.

If the test result of the product fails to meet the requirements of UL standard, UL will inform the applicant of the existing problems. After the applicant improves the product design, he can re submit the product for inspection. You should tell UL engineer what improvements have been made to the product, so that he can decide that the above is the step of applying for UL certification.