Want to know about selling UL labels? You’ve come to the right place.
Consumers know—if a product has an electrical cord but doesn’t carry a UL label, it’s not something they want to plug in. That’s what UL labeling is all about—ensuring consumer confidence and safety. As a print distributor, your job is to help your customers provide buyers with that confidence. Oh, as a side benefit, it protects them from liability and negative PR fallout, too.
What’s in a UL Certification?
“UL” stands for Underwriters Laboratories. UL labels are a subcategory under electrical labels, and this certification signifies that products have met certain safety standards and are safe to use. The UL certification mark is one of the most widely recognized and trusted symbols for product safety. It appears on more than 22 billion products each year and is commonly found on electrical components, electronics (outdoor and industrial), household appliances, lighting equipment, cooking equipment, control boxes, and many other applications.
In order to become UL-certified, manufacturers must undergo a rigorous approval process to determine whether their products can withstand the forces of use and misuse. Each series of tests is designed to assess the product’s compliance.
- First is a performance test, which evaluates how well the product functions under normal conditions.
- Second is an endurance test, which assesses the product’s ability to withstand repeated or prolonged use.
- Third is a safety evaluation to check for potential hazards and risks associated with the product’s use.
If the product passes all of these tests, it is certified by the UL Lab and given the coveted UL certification.
What’s in a UL-Certification Label?
Once a product is UL-certified, it must be labeled with a UL certification label—and just “any old” label won’t do. The label must adhere to the product regardless of the chemical composition of the substrate (typically various types of plastic or metal) and the environmental conditions to which it will be exposed. It also must be marked with cautions, safety requirements, hazards, warnings, electrical ratings, and installation instructions, and these labels must remain adhered throughout that product’s entire lifecycle.
UL labeling provides consumers with peace of mind. It provides peace of mind for your customers, too. Don’t let them be like this guy: This major appliance manufacturer was fined by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for selling microwaves that did not have a UL-certified label. The company had been using an unapproved labeling system, and the microwaves were being sold with incomplete or inaccurate information. The result? Major fire risk. After an investigation, the CPSC determined that the risk of fire was, in fact, low and that there were no reported incidents, but the company was still fined $1.8 million for violating consumer safety laws.
Companies that show up in the headlines with UL non-compliance issues have serious PR fallout, too. Not to mention the potential for lost contracts. What retailer wants to stock their shelves full of products from a manufacturer with a major UL non-compliance incident?
How to Choose a UL-Certified Label
When choosing a UL-certified label for your product, there are a variety of factors to consider:
The type of product: UL labels are a sub-category of durable labels, so they must be carefully matched against the type of product to ensure the right match between the substrate and the adhesive. Not every adhesive will stick to every substrate. (This is where our years of R&D experience come in handy.)
Environmental conditions: UL labels must be long-lasting, durable, and able to withstand moisture, UV, gasoline splash, and corrosive chemicals.
Durability: UL labels must be able to remain on the product for a lifetime, even through the harshest environmental conditions.
Wise is a UL Authorized Label Supplier with more than twenty years of experience as an industrial label manufacturer. Our familiarity in the UL inspection process in label manufacturing and our knowledge of materials allow us to help you offer the ideal label construction for your customers on a short lead time. Because UL continuously inspects our work, we assist companies in fully complying with UL’s requirements.
Want to Learn More About UL-Certified Labels?
Want to learn more about UL-certified label solutions? Check out or UL labels page here. Or get personal—actually talk to us! Give us a call us to learn more about how we can help you with your next UL label project.
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