UL safety testing is the United States the most authoritative, but also in the world engaged in safety testing and identification of the larger civil society. It is an independent, not-for-profit, professional organization for public safety testing. It uses scientific testing methods to determine the extent to which all materials, devices, products, equipment, constructions, etc. are not hazardous or hazardous to life or property; to determine, compile and distribute appropriate standards and help to reduce and prevent the loss of life Property damage to the information, at the same time to carry out research business.

 

UL Introduction

 

UL is principally engaged in product safety certification and business safety certification business, the ultimate goal is for the market to have a fairly safe level of goods for the personal health and property security to ensure the contribution. As an effective means of eliminating technical barriers to international trade, UL plays an active role in promoting the development of international trade.

 

UL was founded in 1894, the initial stage of UL mainly by the fire insurance sector to provide funding to maintain action, until 1916, UL was completely independent. After nearly a hundred years of development, UL has become a world-renowned certification body, with its own set of strict organization and management system, standards development and product certification procedures. UL is governed by a board of trustees composed of security experts, government officials, consumers, educators, utilities, insurance and standards departments. The daily work is handled by the president and vice president. Currently, UL has five laboratories in the United States, headquartered in Northbrook in northern Chicago town, while in Taiwan and Hong Kong, respectively, the establishment of the corresponding laboratory. In the United States, for consumers, UL is a symbol of safety signs, the world, UL is the manufacturer of the most trusted one of the qualified assessment providers.

 

Brief Introduction to UL Mark

 

UL mark style

The UL Mark is usually marked on the product and / or on the product packaging to indicate that the product has been UL Listed and complies with safety standards.

composition

The most important part of these marks is the UL design symbol, which is a registered trademark of UL.

 

UL mark the use of requirements

 

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

2. When the outer diameter of the UL mark is less than 3/8 inch, the registered mark symbol can be ignored if it is not clearly legible under naked eyes.

3. Markings can be stamped, patterned, stamped, screen printed or the like directly and fixed on the same product.

4. Marking: The manufacturer can reproduce or obtain from the UL Authorized Dealer.

CUL (only c, not us): the product into the Canadian market safety signs; cULus mark: the product into the US market and the Canadian market security signs (c, no us): the product into the Canadian market safety signs;

 

service items

 

UL's product certification, testing services can be divided into the types of column names, recognition and classification.

 

1. Column name (LISTED):

In general, the column names apply only to complete products and qualified personnel in the field to replace or install a variety of devices and devices belonging to the UL listed services of various products include: household appliances, medical equipment, computers, commercial equipment As well as the role of various types of electrical products in the building, such as power distribution systems, fuses, wires, switches and other electrical components. UL listed products, can usually be marked on each product listed on the UL logo. The use of column name signs.

 

2. Recognized:

Recognized service is a UL service in the project, the identification of products can only UL listed, grading or other recognized products as components, raw materials. Recognized products are not structurally complete, or have limited use to ensure the desired safety performance. In most cases, the tracking service for approved products belongs to R class. Approved products belonging to category L are electronic wires (AVLV2), processed wires (ZKLU2), wire harnesses (ZPFW2), aluminum wires (DVVR2), and metal flexible tubes (DXUZ2). Recognized product requirements with an approved mark.

 

3. Classification:

The grading service evaluates only the specific hazards of the product or evaluates products that perform other than the UL standard, including internationally recognized standards such as IEC and ISO standards. In general, most grading products are not consumer products, but industrial or commercial use of the product. The classification mark in the UL Mark indicates that the product has certain limits and limits for UL approval. For example, a chemical such as an industrial solvent is evaluated only for a range of fires which may occur when the ignition temperature is reached. Some of the products of the classification services and the same name services, but generally only a product or aspects of a certain evaluation, such as in the United States, medical X-ray diagnostic apparatus such equipment to comply with national laws and the United States and the radiation beam radiation But because UL only X-ray classification products, so only the evaluation of its mechanical properties, electrical properties and other non-radiation performance of these aspects.

 

4. Multiple column names, multiple approvals, or multiple rating services:

When a UL applicant obtains the listing, approval, or classification service described above, its products will be produced under the name of another company to meet the needs of the sale and may apply for multiple listing, multiple approval or multiple classification services. In this case, the name, approval or rating of the manufacturer is permitted to use the name of another company in the product catalog, except that the product has the same characteristics as the company code, product code or other features that UL believes to be acceptable Listed, recognized or graded products are consistent.

 

5. "AL" column name, recognized or classified services

If a UL applicant does not wish to obtain listing, recognition or rating services in the name of his own company, he may apply for listing, recognition or classification in the name of another firm (usually a retailer or wholesaler) Name, accreditation or classification services. It differs from multiple listing, multiple approval, or multiple rating services in that the applicant is not a listed person.

 

6. System certification services:

As a member of the International Accreditation Committee, UL has been involved in ISO9000 quality system certification, ISO14000 environmental protection certification, QS9000 automotive industry quality system certification and AS9000 aircraft industry quality system certification services. A total of 116 factories in the country to obtain UL system certification; of which 21 for the ISO9001 certification, 85 for the ISO9002 certification, an ISO14001 certification, nine for the QS9000 certification.

 

7. Other UL services:

Such as certification services, inspection services, the truth to judge services, research services.

 

Process

 

The UL mark for a product includes the following steps:

 

1. The applicant submits the relevant company and product information

 

Written application: You should request in writing that your company's products are inspected by UL.

 

Company Information: Provide detailed and accurate names, addresses, contacts, postal codes, telephone and fax numbers in English and Chinese.

(A) Applicant Company: A company that applies for product testing and is responsible for all engineering services

(B) Listed Companies: Companies listed in various catalogs published by UL Corporation

(C) Production Plant: The manufacturer and producer of the product.

 

Product Information: Product information should be available in English.

(A). Product name: Provide the full name of the product.

(B). Product Model: Details of all models need to be tested, variety or classification number.

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

(D). Parts list: Details of the components and models (classification number), rating, and manufacturer's name. For insulating materials, please provide the name of the raw material, for example: GE Polycarbonate, Lexan Type 104. When the parts have been UL certification or approval, please prove that the specific parts of the model, and specify the UL file number (e). Electrical properties: For electrical and electronic products. Provide electrical schematic diagram (circuit diagram), electrical performance table.

(F). Structure drawing: For most products, the product structure diagram or explosion diagram, list of ingredients, etc. shall be provided.

(G). Product photos, instructions, safety and other items or installation instructions.

 

2. Make a decision based on the product information provided

 

When the product information is complete, UL engineers based on information to make the following decisions: the experiment based on the UL standard, the cost of testing the project, the test time, the number of samples to notify you in writing and formal application form and tracking service The agreement was sent to your company. The application form indicates the cost limit, which is the maximum engineering cost estimated by UL according to the test item. The cost limit can not be exceeded without the written authorization of your company.

 

3. Application for company remittance, return the application form and samples

 

The applicant signs the application form and the tracking service agreement, sends the form to UL, and sends the sample at the post office or via express mail via bank transfer. Please provide the appropriate description of the sample Name, model). Application forms and samples should be sent separately. For each application, UL will specify the unique project number (Project No.) in the remittance, send samples and application forms indicate the project number, the company name for the UL to check.

 

4. Product testing

 

Upon receipt of your signed application form, remittance, test samples, UL will inform you of the time of completion of the experimental program. Product testing is generally conducted in UL laboratories in the United States, and UL may also accept audited third-party test data. The samples will be returned or destroyed according to your requirements.

 

If the product test results meet the UL standard requirements, UL will issue a test compliance report and follow-up service rules (FollowUp Service Procedure) test report will detail the test case, the sample to achieve the indicators, product structure and suitable for the use of the product safety signs. A description of the product and instructions to the UL Area Inspector are included in the tracking service details. A copy of the test report is sent to the applicant company, and a copy of the tracking service details is sent to each production plant.

 

5. The applicant is authorized to use the UL Mark

 

The UL Regional Inspector in China contacts the Production Plant for Initial Production Inspection (IPI). The Inspector checks your product and its parts in the production line and in the warehouses to confirm whether the product structure and parts are Tracking service rules, if required, the regional inspectors will witness the experiment, when the results meet the requirements, the applicant is authorized to use the UL mark.

 

Following the IPI, the inspector will occasionally go to the factory for inspection, inspection of the product structure and visual inspection. The frequency of inspection is determined by product type and production. Most types of products are inspected at least four times a year. To ensure that the product continues to conform to the UL requirements, notify UL of any changes to the product structure or components before you attempt to change it. No changes are required to repeat the experiment. UL may promptly modify the tracking service details so that the inspector can accept This change. When UL considers that product changes affect its safety performance, it is necessary to apply for the company to re-submit the sample to carry out the necessary testing.

 

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

 

If the product test results can not meet the UL standard requirements, UL will notify the applicant, indicating the problems, the applicant to improve product design, you can re-check the product, you should tell the UL engineers, product improvements made in order to determine its Is to apply for UL certification steps.

 

Overview

The inspection by the UL inspector is basically a mechanical operation. Depending on the product, the Inspector's inspection is based on Bulletin, Procedure, FUII (if any, included in the rules) and UL standards (if required in FUII).

If the inspector visits the factory and the plant is producing a UL product or an inventory of UL product, the inspector will take the sample in one of the following ways:

1. Extract all components from the production line plus a complete product from the warehouse.

2. Extract all components from the warehouse plus the complete product on the production line.

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

 

The exact number of samples will depend on the rule, FUII, SAP (Standard Attachment), or a direct order from the UL Lab. Inspectors do not necessarily inspect all products at each inspection, but they will try to test all product categories or models within a year or at least two years.

 

In general, UL on the factory production system requirements are not too high, only the annual requirements of equipment measurement, save the factory's own inspection records, as well as unqualified products have some control means.

 

During the inspection, the field representative (UL inspector) will focus on the product itself. They will check the structure, parts and assembly of the products one by one according to the above test basis. For parts involving product safety, the general rules will specify requirements for the UL certified products, and will indicate the manufacturer and model; for shells, shields and other injection molded parts, the general rules will specify the raw materials and size requirements. The site representative will check the UL Marks specified in the above and the Regulations.

 

testing on the spot

 

In addition, if the rules or the FUII or standards require the product to be field tested, the site representative will request the factory inspector to do the appropriate test, while the field representatives in the next testimony. If the rules also require the sample to the UL for tracking test, the factory should cooperate with the inspector to make the corresponding sample, the inspector wrote the sample label, provide the address and sealed, sent by the factory to the corresponding UL laboratory.

 

If the products produced by the factory are in full compliance with the requirements of the corresponding inspection standard of UL and there is no other violation of the tracking service agreement, the inspector will issue an Inspection Report; the factory representative shall, after confirming the accuracy of the contents, Signature; a test is completed. If the inspection process does not meet the test standards do not meet the situation, the inspector will issue a notice of change (Variation Notice), and take appropriate measures based on specific circumstances.

 

Remove the UL mark

 

For products that do not meet the UL requirements, the inspector will require the factory to remove the UL mark or rework to make it meet the requirements; If the factory does not agree with the above treatment, you can use the UL mark for the unauthorized product, the inspector will request to remove the UL mark; UL mark temporarily retained, but must stop the shipment, the inspector will inform the appropriate laboratory, the UL decided to answer whether to retain the UL mark; if only a small problem does not affect the safety of the product, The inspector will make a provisional acceptance of the decision and report to the appropriate laboratory; if it is some obvious standard errors, such as typing errors or unit errors, does not affect the factory product eligibility, but as the UL document processing, The inspector will issue a notice of change. Under normal circumstances, unless it is UL's responsibility to inspectors