UL authentication

UL is a shorthand for Underwriter Laboratories Inc. UL safety test institute is the most authoritative organization in the United States, and also a large non-governmental organization engaged in safety test and appraisal in the world. It is an independent, not-for-profit, professional organization that conducts experiments for public security. It uses scientific testing methods to study and determine whether various materials, devices, products, equipment, buildings, etc. are harmful to life and property; it determines, compiles and issues corresponding standards and materials that are helpful to reduce and prevent the loss of life and property, and it also carries out factual research.

Basic introduction

UL is short for Underwriter Laboratories Inc. UL safety test institute is the most authoritative organization in the United States, and also a large non-governmental organization engaged in safety test and appraisal in the world. It is an independent, not-for-profit, professional organization that conducts experiments for public security. It uses scientific testing methods to study and determine whether various materials, devices, products, equipment, buildings, etc. are harmful to life and property; it determines, compiles and issues corresponding standards and materials that are helpful to reduce and prevent the loss of life and property, and it also carries out factual research. In a word, it is mainly engaged in product safety certification and operation safety certification business. Its ultimate purpose is to obtain goods with a considerable level of safety for the market, and to contribute to the guarantee of personal health and property safety. As an effective means to eliminate technical barriers in 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 mainly relied on the fire insurance department to provide funds to maintain its operation. Until 1916, UL was fully independent. After nearly a hundred years of development, UL has become a world-renowned certification body, with a set of strict organizational 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, and its daily work is handled by the president and vice president. At present, UL has five laboratories in the United States, with its headquarters in Northbrook town in the north of Chicago. At the same time, UL has set up corresponding laboratories in Taiwan and Hong Kong. +

Certification significance

The significance of UL certification mark for enterprises:

1. The entire U.S. market attaches great importance to product safety; when consumers and purchasers purchase products, they will choose products with UL certification mark.

2. UL has a history of more than 100 years. The image of safety is deeply rooted in consumers and the government. If you don't sell the products directly to consumers, the middlemen will also require the products to have UL certification marks to make the products sell well.

3. American consumers and purchasers have more confidence in their products.

4. The federal, state, county and municipal governments of the United States have more than 40000 districts, all of which recognize UL certification marks. Three

Authentication steps

Applicant submits relevant company and product information

Written application: you should ask UL company to test your company's products in written form.

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

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

(b). Listed companies: companies listed in various product catalogues published by UL

(c) production plant: manufacturer and producer of products.

Product information: product information shall be provided in English.

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

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

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

(d) parts list: detailed list of parts and models (classification number), rating and manufacturer's name of the products. For insulating materials, please provide the name of the raw material, for example: Ge polycarbonate, Lexan type 104. When the parts have been UL certified or recognized, please prove the specific model of the parts and indicate the UL file number (E). Electrical performance: for electronic and electrical products. Provide electrical schematic diagram (circuit diagram) and electrical performance table.

(f). Structure chart: for most products, the structure chart or explosion chart, ingredient list, etc. of products shall be provided.

(g) product photos, instructions, safety and other items or installation instructions.

Make decisions based on the product information provided

When the product information is complete, UL engineers will make the following decisions based on the information: UL standard, engineering cost of test, test time, sample quantity, etc., notify 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. Application company remittance, return application form and sample

UL certification

The applicant shall sign the application form and follow-up service agreement, and send the form back to UL company. Meanwhile, send the samples through bank remittance, post office or express mail. Please give proper description (such as name and model) to the samples sent for inspection. Please send the application form and samples separately. For each application project, UL will designate a unique project number (Project No.) to indicate the project number and the name of the application company when remitting, sending samples and application forms, so as to facilitate UL's check.

Product testing

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

If the test results of the products meet the requirements of UL standards, UL will issue a test qualification report and a follow up service procedure test report, which will detail the test conditions, the indicators achieved by the samples, the product structure and the safety signs suitable for the use of the products. A description of the product and instructions for UL regional inspectors are included in the tracking service details. A copy of the test report shall be sent to the applicant company, and a copy of the tracking service details shall be sent to each production plant.

Applicant is authorized to use UL Mark

UL regional inspectors in China contact the production plant for initial production inspection (IPI). The inspectors check your products and their parts in the production line and warehouse storage to confirm whether the product structure and parts are consistent with the tracking service rules. If required in the rules, the regional inspectors will also carry out visual experiments, when the inspection results are consistent with the tracking service rules When required, the applicant is authorized to use the UL logo.

After IPI, inspectors will come to the factory from time to time to inspect the product structure and carry out visual experiments. 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. Inspectors' inspection is to ensure that the product continues to conform to UL requirements. Before you plan to change the product structure or components, please inform UL first. For small changes UL can quickly modify the tracking service rules so that inspectors can accept the changes. When UL considers that the change of the product affects its safety performance, it needs to apply for the company to resubmit the sample for necessary testing.

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

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, the product can be handed over again for inspection. You should tell UL engineer what improvements the product has made so that they can decide [2]

UL inspection rules, certification review and follow-up inspection

The inspection of UL inspectors is basically mechanical operation. According to different products, the inspection basis of inspectors includes bulletin, procedure, fuii (if any, included in the detailed rules) and UL standard (if required in fuii).

If the inspector visits the factory and the factory is producing UL products or has UL products in stock, the inspector will take samples in one of the following ways:

1. Extract each part from the production line plus a complete product from the warehouse.

2. Extract all parts from the warehouse plus the complete products on the production line.

3. Extract the complete product from the warehouse for splitting.

The specific quantity of sampling depends on the detailed rules, fuii (follow-up inspection instructions), sap (standard attachment) or direct order from UL laboratory. Inspectors do not necessarily inspect all products in each inspection, but they will try to inspect all product categories or models within one year or at least two years.

Generally speaking, UL's requirements for the factory production system are not too high. It only requires measuring the instruments and equipment once a year, keeping the factory's own inspection records, and having certain control means for non-conforming products.

During inspection, the on-site representative (UL inspector) will focus on the product itself. They will check the structure, components and assembly of the product one by one according to the above inspection basis. For parts related to product safety, the general rules will indicate that the requirements are UL certified products, and the manufacturer and model will be indicated; for injection molded parts such as shell and shield, the rules will generally indicate the raw material and size requirements. The site representative will check the above items and the UL Mark specified in the detailed rules.

Field test

In addition, if the detailed rules or fuii or standards require on-site testing of products, the on-site representative will require the factory inspector to conduct corresponding tests, while the on-site representative will witness. If the detailed rules also require samples to be sent to UL for tracking test, the factory shall cooperate with the inspector to make corresponding samples. After the inspector has written the sample label, provided the address and sealed the samples, the factory shall send them to the corresponding UL laboratory.

If the products produced by the factory fully meet the requirements of UL's corresponding inspection standards, and there is no other violation of the tracking service agreement, the inspector will issue an inspection report; the factory representative shall sign the report after confirming the accuracy of its contents; one inspection is completed. If there is any inconformity with the inspection standard during the inspection, the inspector will issue a change notice and take corresponding measures according to the specific situation.

Remove UL Mark

For the unauthorized products using UL Mark, the inspector will ask to remove the UL Mark; for the products not meeting the UL requirements, the inspector will ask the factory to remove the UL Mark or rework them to meet the requirements; if the factory disagrees with the above treatment opinions, the UL Mark can be temporarily retained, but the shipment must be stopped, the inspector will inform the corresponding laboratory of the situation, and UL will make a reply decision Whether the UL Mark can be kept; if there are only some small problems that do not affect the safety of the product, the inspector will make a decision of temporary acceptance and report it to the corresponding laboratory; if there are some obvious standard errors, such as typing errors or unit errors, it does not affect the qualification of the factory products, but as the UL document processing, the inspector will also issue changes Notice. In general, unless it is the responsibility of UL company, the inspector will ask the factory to explain the non conformance to the corresponding laboratory, and UL will make the corresponding response according to your explanation.

Final decision

Of course, the inspector's judgment is only temporary, and the final decision is certainly made in UL laboratories. If the factory disagrees with the inspection method, it can fully report to the corresponding laboratory. At this time, the inspector is obliged to provide the corresponding contact person and contact method. After confirming that the contents recorded in the change notice are correct, the factory representative shall sign on the notice.

UL factory inspection

UL regional inspectors in China contact the production plant for initial production inspection (IPI). The inspectors check 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 in the rules, the regional inspectors will carry out witness test. When the inspection results meet the requirements, the applicant is authorized to use UL Mark.

After IPI, inspectors will come to the factory from time to time to check the product structure and carry out witness tests. The frequency of inspection is determined by product type and production volume, and most types of products are inspected at least four times a year (the cost of tracking service is not included in the test cost).

Certification examination

Before the first batch of UL certified products are shipped, they must be inspected by the local provincial CCIC authorized by UL. We also need to follow up the inspection every year.

Brief introduction of follow-up inspection

As an integral part of UL certification, in order to ensure that UL's listing and approved products continue to comply with UL's standards and requirements, UL has developed a 'tracking inspection' system. "Tracking inspection" means UL sends field representatives from all over the world to the local factory production site to track and inspect UL's products. Its purpose is to check the production process, inspection process and products of the factory against the UL standards and tracking inspection rules, so as to ensure that the manufacturer's production process, inspection process and products always meet the requirements of UL.

Basis of follow-up inspection

After the site representative arrives at the factory, the inspection is mainly carried out according to the "follow up inspection rules". "Follow up inspection rules" is prepared by UL engineering department after testing the samples submitted for inspection. This document includes a comprehensive description of the product, as well as photos, instructions, etc. It also specifies various tests that the manufacturing plant often needs to do during production, some of which require 100% of the products to be tested, such as voltage withstand test. Some inspections can be carried out by sampling. At the same time, it also specifies the test items that must be spot checked when the site representative inspects in the factory. The site representative shall judge whether the inspection results are qualified according to the details and regulations of such tests.

Classification of follow-up inspection products

The review is divided into first review and quarterly review. The cost of the first review is relatively higher. UL's follow-up inspection is divided into R and l categories. Class L service is mainly used for products related to life safety, such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, fire doors and some products of considerable production, such as electrical equipment, wires and breakers. For L-class products, the manufacturer must directly order the label from UL and stick it on the product. R services are mainly used for electrical equipment, such as fans, televisions, hair dryers, ovens and other products usually produced by corresponding assembly lines.

Matters needing attention

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

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

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

4. Access to logo: the manufacturer can reprint it or obtain it from the UL authorized dealer.