The UL Mark can help offer confidence in a product, but the enhanced and smart UL Mark may lead to some confusion for those unfamiliar with these variations. This article addresses frequently asked questions to help enhance clarity and help prevent confusion.
Question: I have seen some products with UL Marks that say “UL Certified” instead of “Listed” or “Classified.” What is this Mark and what does it mean?
Answer: These Marks are enhanced UL Marks. UL Solutions developed the enhanced Mark and smart Mark system to help our customers provide additional information to the marketplace. The smart Mark is similar to the enhanced Mark, but it includes an optional QR code pointing scanners to a certification page displaying additional details about the product. An explanation of the different sections in the enhanced and smart Marks is below:
1. BASIC UL CERTIFICATION MARK:
The basic UL Mark consists of the familiar UL lettering within a circle, the word “CERTIFIED” that describes the service UL Solutions delivered and the registered trademark symbol.
2. ATTRIBUTES:
To describe the scope of UL certification, the following attributes may now appear in the enhanced and smart UL Marks. One or more of these attributes may appear in the module of the Mark. In addition, the following attributes are used in conjunction with the SAFETY attribute within the module: health effects, FS (for functional safety), performance, marine, sanitation, security, energy and signaling.
3. COUNTRY CODES:
The enhanced and smart UL Mark design uses a two-digit International Organization for Standardization (ISO) country code to indicate the geography whose standards are used for certification. Certifications for multiple geographies will use multiple country codes in the Mark. In some cases, depending on the certification program, a country code may not be used. Please refer to the appropriate certification documentation for more information.
| US | United States |
|---|---|
| CA | Canada |
| AU | Australia |
| CN | China |
| CO | Colombia |
| EU | Europe |
| JP | Japan |
| SG | Singapore |
| UK | United Kingdom |
4. UNIQUE ID: UL certification Marks may have a unique identifier or file number located in a module; some certification Marks also have a product identity adjacent to the certification Mark. This aids with traceability and provides more information about a product’s certification. This information can be verified on the UL Product iQ® database by entering the identifier/file number in the keyword search field. This will link you to the certification information, including the product category guide information and certification record.
5. QR CODE: For those customers opting to use the smart version of the enhanced UL Mark or badge, a QR code is embedded in each. When scanned using a smart device, the QR code links a user to additional information regarding a certification.
Question: When did UL Solutions start using this Mark?
Answer: We launched the enhanced Mark in 2013.
Question: Does “Certified” on a product label mean the same as “Listed?”
Answer: Yes. “Certified” is a general term encompassing “Listed” and “Classified” and meeting the definition of “listed” in all model codes, so it carries the same meaning as our traditional Listed or Classified Marks.
Question: Are the current Listing and Classification Marks still valid?
Answer: All current variations of our Listing and Classification Marks remain valid as an indication of certification.
For more information, please visit the Marks and Label Hub. Access to the Marks and Label Hub is available to all regulators at no cost, but registration is required.
Authors:
Tom Lichtenstein, Senior Regulatory Engineer — Codes and Regulatory Services
Distinguished Member of Technical Staff — William Henry Merrill Society
Jonathan Roberts, Senior Regulatory Engineer — Codes and Regulatory Services
Distinguished Member of Technical Staff — William Henry Merrill Society