In our previous articles, we looked at different certifications such as CSA certification, and NFPA 70: certification. Today we will dive deep into UL certification.

There are times when seeing a logo or mark on a particular product gives you renewed belief and confidence in its authenticity. The truth is that these aren’t just seals or logos. They convey useful information and tell us that a particular product or component has been fully certified.
Some builder and manufacturers aren’t sure of the importance of this seal and why they need them. The truth is that it is very difficult to blame them. They simply don’t know what these seals stand for and that is what we will be addressing in this article. We would be opening the eyes of manufacturers on how these seals benefit them and what they actually mean.
The truth is that it isn’t inexpensive to certify a product. However, it is important to state that a certified product is one that has been seriously tested for safety and security. If you want to maintain the loyalty of your customers and workforce, do not compromise on the safety and security of your products. It is often the difference that exists between catastrophic failure and long-term success.
It is not uncommon to see UL marks on home appliances and industrial equipment such as electrical panels, furnaces, alarm systems, glass, sprinklers, fire extinguishers, circuit breakers, and some other products and components.

It isn’t every product that will appear on this list but there is an incentive to do so. In this article, we will be discussing the importance of UL certification for both businesses and consumers. We will also be explaining how UL Recognized and UL Listed are different so that you can make informed decisions.
What does UL Certification mean and why is it important?
UL is an acronym for Underwriters Laboratories. It is a third-party certification company founded in 1894. UL was founded in Chicago and they are responsible for ensuring the safety and security of products in the manufacturing industry. They so not only test and certify products, they also set industry standards that manufacturers and builders must comply with when innovating new products. For instance, about 14 billion UL marked products made it into the global marketplace last year. UL is basically a safety organization responsible for setting standards for new products in the industry. They check and test these products to ensure compliance with the set standards. When a product is properly tested, things like proper wire size and maximum permissible current are confirmed. UL testing also helps to confirm that the building and construction of a product follows the best safety standards.

There is a misconception that the Underwriters Laboratories tests all products by themselves. Actually, they don’t. They sometimes give a builder or manufacturer the authority to test the product by themselves using the UL stamp. Their role will simply be to follow up with this manufacturer to ensure proper guidelines are followed and complied with. This is one of the benefits of UL certification to businesses and manufacturers.
UL approval is broken down into various tiers. Actually, there are three tiers – UL listed, UL classified, and UL recognized. Although there is so much similarity between these tiers, some differences still exist. Knowing these basic distinctions will help you to figure out what is best for your business. It will also give you insight if you are just a consumer of UL products. Therefore, knowing the difference is very important.
In this text, we will focus on the two most basic differences you should know about, i.e. UL listed vs. recognized.
UL Recognized, what does it mean?

The fact that there is no seal of approval to end products is the biggest difference existing between UL recognition and UL classified or certified. The focus of UL Recognition Service is more on parts and machinery that make other products. Therefore, UL Recognition Service is less consumer-facing. In simpler terms, what UL Recognition service does is to certify that a component that exists within a larger mechanism meet UL standards. It is commonly found in factories as circuit boards or power supplies for powering other machinery. It guarantees the safety and efficiency of machinery that workers and employees use. It also gives companies the necessary impetus to strive for more sustainable practices. Since UL Recognized focuses on components, Underwriters Laboratories ensure the equipment is properly housed. To shield the product from chemicals or liquids during the processing of production and manufacturing, additional installation precautions are put in place. It is relatively easier to attain UL Recognized stamps than UL Listed stamps. The reason is that manufacturers are at liberty to choose which components are certified within a bigger system. You can apply UL Recognition certification to any component part. It can also be applied to barrier materials. You would have to get a UL Listed approval seal if you want the UL logo on a stand-alone product.
UL Listed, what does it mean?
UL Listed is a very common term. The seal is very recognizable and can be found in so many consumer goods. The main difference between UL Recognized and UL Listed isn’t in the certification itself. The discrepancy is in the type of product being certified as well has the impression the consumer has of it. While UL Listed is for standalone products, UL Recognition is for components. Although they are both industry standards for safety and security, they are not used for the same products and they aren’t used in the same capacity. This explains why it is easier for people to recognize UL Listed since it ensures the safety of consumer-ready products that can be found in the market. UL Listed certification involves more testing. Therefore any product with this seal has been rigorously tested by UL and has been approved to meet nationally acceptable safety and sustainability standards. Also, a product with this seal is reasonably free from risk of fire and electric shock. It also guarantees the longevity and safety of household items under normal wear and tear subject to frequent use. This is of immense benefit to both the business and consumer.
Difference between CE and UL certification
There are some logo seals that are similar to the UL in other countries and one of such is CE. CE is an organization that sets standard for the electronic industry in the EU. CE is an acronym for” Comformite Europeenne” which is a French word that translates to “European Conformity”. The only difference between UL and CE is the country it is old or manufactured. With CE, companies can sell anywhere within the European Union.
Why should I buy UL products or get UL certified?
UL certification and recognition is attractive for businesses because it gives consumers renewed confidence in the product when they see the UL stamp on it. For instance, a consumer may decide to buy a circuit breaker because it carries the UL mark.
Due to UL certification, a company can innovate its safety standards and adopt industry best practices. When a manufacturer is certified by UL, it shows that the business is committed and dedicated to the safety of its final product consumers. UL certification is also useful for insurance purposes.