Safety products need to be tested and approved before they’re sold to the public. One of the organizations responsible for testing and approving these kinds of products is Underwriters Laboratories, a non-profit testing facility headquartered in Northwood, Illinois. This organization runs a range of diagnostic tests to make sure these products are up to industry standards. UL classified products tend to be some of the safest and most reliable safety products on the market. Learn more about this important distinction and how products become UL classified.
What Is UL Classification?
Underwriters Laboratories is a non-profit, third-party testing facility that evaluates a range of safety products, including but not limited to medical device testing equipment, fire testing equipment, home electronics, food service and plumbing equipment, and information technology equipment. Unlike other testing companies, UL has no vested interest in the financial success of any of the products it’s responsible for testing. This ensures every product is fairly evaluated.
Once UL approves a product, it then needs to be evaluated by state, local and federal government agencies like OSHA. UL will even make unannounced visits to companies whose products the organization has already approved to make sure they’re still up to UL standards. If a product fails to pass these tests a second time, UL will remove its UL classification.
UL Classification vs. UL Listed
UL classified is not to be confused with UL listed. These represent two different approval processes. UL listed means the product passes all of UL’s requirements under the applicable Standard. Thus, the product can bear the official UL Listed mark. UL classified means the product has only been evaluated for specific properties, with regard to a limited range of hazards, or for use under certain conditions. UL certified products are just as safe as UL listed products, but they should only be used in certain situations. If a product is UL listed, it can be used in a range of different environments. UL listed products have all the same safety features as UL classified products, but UL listed takes the examination process one step further.
Why Choosing UL Classified Products Is Important
Companies and organizations need to know that the safety products they’re using meet certain industry standards. If companies use products that fail to meet these standards, they could put some of their employees at risk. Safety products are designed to save lives and keep people safe in hazardous situations. If this safety equipment fails, the person using it may be injured or may even lose their life due to the company’s negligence. This will lead to hefty government fines and legal fees and may even permanently damage the company’s reputation.
That’s why companies choose UL listed or classified safety products. These products have been tested to make sure they work the way they’re supposed to, protecting the company’s employees from a range of hazards and potentially dangerous situations.
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