Ask a LED Tech Articles – Certifications

What are all those letters and what do they mean? Should I care? Seeing logos, emblems and groups of letters all mean something, but some mean very little to the casual observer. Others are good to see and are very reassuring. Let’s take a few moments and look at the more common ones. CE – This marking indicates that it meets the minimum standards necessary for that product to be sold in the European market. RoHS – This mark is certifying that the product has no Hazardous Substances. It stands for “Restriction of Hazardous Substances. This is often seen on LED products because they do not contain mercury or emit ultraviolet UL- This mark indicates that Underwriters Labs has certified that the device has met its safety criteria. If the mark is preceded by a small “C” then it is certified for Canada and if followed by a small “US” then it complies with US standards. Underwriter Laboratories, Inc., is a private company. UL Listed is a safety certification that is nationally recognised to indicate a product has been inspected and tested to perform safely. RU – This is a stylised mark and the “R” is reversed and followed by the “U”. It means that the components inside the device are UL Recognized. That is not the same as UL Listed as above. It applies to components that meet applicable standards but they may need to be incorporated in specific ways in order to be safely used. For example, a UL Recognised switch may require an enclosure, faceplate, and proper assembly. ETL – is a mark of safety certification very much like UL above. ETL stands for Intertek Listed. It is often the preferred choice of manufacturers and as a result is gaining popularity. Energy Star – This is the ultimate seal of approval in our country. The Department of Energy and The Environmental Protection Agency share the responsibility for this emblem being on certain products that are considered to be not only safe but efficient. Most manufacturers are responsible but that doesn’t mean that all of them are. Standards are put into place after professional groups strive to ensure that minimum safety and quality guidelines are met and to do that, these groups form associations and advise those in education and government what those minimum standards should be. Eventually, these standards are written into laws such as what might be found in city codes for electrical standards. Building inspectors and fire marshals are responsible for ensuring that those codes are met. Often the laws will require that products must have third party certifications such at UL and ETL. We at TheLEDLight.com are careful in what we offer so that our customers can be assured of safe and reliable products. Any device we offer that “touches” high voltage will be RU, ETL or UL listed. And, we always recommend that you employ a qualified electrician whenever line voltage is involved in your project.

By: John Cody

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