The DMIA Source Hotline frequently is asked to provide sources of supply for UL certified labels and tags. In addition to the questions about possible vendors, members often ask about what all the different markings mean. The following list briefly describes each Underwriters Laboratories (UL) mark and its purpose. You can visit Underwriters Laboratories on the web at www.ul.com.

If you would like to obtain sources of supply for UL certified vendors, please contact the Source Hotline at DMIA. You can email a request to sourcehotline@dmia.org.

There are several types of UL Marks, described below. Each has its own specific meaning and significance. The only way to determine if a product has been certified by UL 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.

The UL Mark on a product means that UL has tested and evaluated representative samples of that product and determined that they meet UL's requirements. In addition, products are periodically checked by UL at the manufacturing facility to make sure they continue to meet UL requirements.

The UL Marks are registered certification marks of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. 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.

This is one of the most common UL Marks. If a product carries this Mark, it means UL found that samples of this product met UL's safety requirements. These requirements are primarily based on UL's own published Standards for Safety. This type of Mark is seen commonly on appliances and computer equipment, furnaces and heaters, fuses, electrical panelboards, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems, personal flotation devices like life jackets and life preservers, bullet resistant glass, and thousands of other products.

UL Listing vs. Recognition. What's the difference?— Find out in this brief article from UL's Code Authority Newsletter.

This mark is applied to products for the Canadian market. The products with this type of mark have been evaluated to Canadian safety requirements, which may be somewhat different from U.S. safety requirements. You will see this type of Mark on appliances and computer equipment, vending machines, household burglar alarm systems, lighting fixtures, and many other types of products.

UL introduced this new Listing Mark in early 1998. It indicates compliance with both Canadian and U.S. requirements. The Canada/U.S. UL Mark is optional. UL encourages those manufacturers with products certified for both countries to use this new, combined Mark, but they may continue using separate UL Marks for the United States and Canada.

This mark appears on products which UL has also evaluated. Products carrying this mark have been evaluated for specific properties, a limited range of hazards, or suitability for use under limited or special conditions. Typically, products Classified by UL fall into the general categories of building materials and industrial equipment. Examples of types of equipment Classified by UL include immersion suits, fire doors, protective gear for fire fighters and industrial trucks.

This Classification marking is used for products intended for the Canadian marketplace. It indicates that UL has used Canadian standards to evaluate the product for specific hazards or properties. Examples of C-UL Classified products include air filter units, firestop devices, certain types of roofing systems, and others.

UL introduced this new Classification Mark in early 1998. It indicates compliance with both Canadian and U.S. requirements. The Canada/U.S. UL Mark is optional. UL encourages those manufacturers with products certified for both countries to use this new, combined Mark, but they may continue using separate UL Marks for the United States and Canada.

These are marks consumers rarely see because they are specifically used on component parts that are part of a larger product or system. These components may have restrictions on their performance or may be incomplete in construction. The Component Recognition marking is found on a wide range of products, including some switches, power supplies, printed wiring boards, some kinds of industrial control equipment and thousands of other products. Products intended for Canada carry the Recognized Component mark "C."

This new UL Recognized Component Mark, which became effective April 1, 1998, may be used on components certified by UL to both Canadian and U.S. requirements. Although UL had not originally planned to introduce a combined Recognized Component Mark, the popularity of the Canada/U.S. Listing and Classification Marks among clients with UL certifications for both Canada and the United States has led to the new Mark.

The International "emc-Mark" appears on products meeting the electromagnetic compatibility requirements of Europe, the United States, Japan, Australia, or any combination of the four. In the United States, some types of products can't be sold without proof of compliance to U.S. electromagnetic compatibility requirements. The types of products that are subject to EMC testing include medical and dental equipment, computers, microwave ovens, televisions, radios, transmitters, and radio-controlled equipment.

The UL EPH mark appears on products that have been evaluated to Environmental and Public Health Standards. The "Classified" version is used for products complying with ANSI/NSF Standards and other food equipment hygiene codes and requirements. Examples include Food Service and Meat and Poultry Plant Equipment and Drinking Water Additives. The "Listed" version is typically used for products complying with UL's own published EPH Standards for Safety.

The UL Food Service Product Certification Mark is UL's Classification Mark with specific reference to the appropriate NSF International standard. In addition, at the manufacturer's option, a supplemental Mark can be applied as shown. Equipment bearing the Mark is not limited to electrical products, but also includes gas appliances and non-powered equipment. These products are commonly found in commercial food establishments, institutional food services and other locations.

A Field Evaluated Product Mark is applied to a product that is thoroughly evaluated in the field instead of UL's laboratories or the manufacturer's facility. If a product has been significantly modified since its manufacture or the product doesn't bear any third-party certification mark, a building owner, a regulatory authority, or anyone else directly involved with the product can request that UL conduct tests in the field on the specific piece of equipment. Products that meet appropriate safety requirements are labeled with a tamper-resistant Field Evaluated Product Mark.

The UL Registered Firm Mark is a mark you will never see on a product. Instead, it indicates that a particular facility has passed UL's evaluation to management system standards and is used in promotion and marketing by companies with management system programs audited by UL. The standards UL uses are the ISO 9000 series of quality assurance standards; QS-9000 and TE Supplement, the quality standards developed by the Big Three U.S. automakers for their suppliers; ISO 14001, the standard covering environmental management systems, AS9000 for aerospace quality management systems, TL 9000 for telecommunications quality management systems and SA8000 for social accountability management systems.

The UL Marine mark appears on products which have been evaluated specifically for marine use. Products bearing this Mark have been evaluated to UL's published Marine Safety Standards and other applicable standards and codes. These requirements address hazards that can occur as a result of exposure to harsh marine environments such as vibration, shock (impact), ignition protection, water ingress and salt spray corrosion common on pleasure craft and boats. Examples of the type of equipment suitable for the UL Marine Mark include alternators, battery chargers/power inverters, navigation lights, and fuel tanks, filters and pumps.

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