Underwriters Laboratory

Underwriters Laboratory (UL) is an independent, nonprofit PRODUCT safety, testing and certification organization. UL, in existence over 100 years, evaluates 100,000 products annually and conducts over 500,000 compliance audits each year. UL has developed 750 standards and certifies products in 89 countries around the world. UL certification, like ISO STANDARDS certification, is an internationally recognized symbol of safety and QUALITY CONTROL. PURCHASING agents for major CORPORATIONs often require UL certification. Manufacturers subscribe to UL certification newsletter, which alert companies to pending and approved safety standards. UL certifies thousands of products ranging from AC and DC power circuit breakers to X-ray equipment. Recent UL certification criteria include standards for low-voltage fuses and tests for flammability for parts and devices and appliances. UL often works with industry groups to design safety standards. For instance, UL has worked for years with appliance manufacturers to reduce clothes-dryer fires. In addition to working with industry groups, UL publishes Consumer Safety Guides and an Appliance Safety Quiz. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approves many UL standards. ANSI is the United States’ representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).