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ETL LISTED MARK

Intertek’s ETL certification program is designed to help us to get the product tested, certified, and growth of the product in the market is faster than ever before. ETL was invented in the culture of innovation. The ETL certification program was begun in the Tomas Edison’s laboratory. From that day to this day, we are breathing in the same air of innovation, with safety and quality.

U.L. and ETL Both are called Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL). NRTLs provide independent safety and quality certifications on products. Electrical appliances require their certification. Before purchasing electrical appliances, it is essential to check the ETL or U.L. marks.

U.L. develops the testing standard and tests them. ETL tests according to U.L. standard.

ETL Listed Mark is used to show that a product is tested independently to meet the published applicable standard.

Certification for products which has ETL listed mark is maintained with regular product and site inspection to ensure that the product being manufactured and match the one that was initially tested.

Products which has ETL listed mark are:

• Building material
• Domestic electrical product
• Medical Equipment
• Industrial Equipment
• Telephone and communication equipment

Many non-U.S. manufacturers want ETL listed marks for their product because port authorities or customs agents often require ETL listed marks. It is also complicated for non-U.S. companies to secure vendor channels without ETL listed mark. Vendors share a legal responsibility with manufacturers to supply safe product for the customers.

An ETL verified mark with a “U.S.” identifier at the 4 o’clock position means the product has been identified as holding the compliance with U.S. safety standard only, as defined by Title 29 CRF.

ETL Verified

ETL verified is a product certification mark which ensures that a product has met a particular design and the performance standard. ETL verified mark serves the level of quality and reliability for a product, signal to consumers that a product has met a high standard.

Differences between ETL and UL

Both ETL and U.L. marks indicate to clients, retailers, and consumers that the products meet the requirements for the safety of the product’s standard.

Underwriter or U.L. is an American Safety Certification Company. There headquartered is in Northbrook, Illinois which provide the certification, testing, training services, and inspection. Both ETL and U.L. are functioned as Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories or NRTLs.

NRTL is an independent, non-government laboratory recognized by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) suitable to test the product applicable for a safety standard.

The NRTL program functions as a part of OSHA’s Directorate of technical support, which ensures that the product is safe to use in the U.S. workplace. NRTL is a program which is designed to recognize the capabilities of private organizations to determine if their tests meet the OSHA safety standard.

Both the ETL and U.L. marks ensure to clients, retailers, and consumers that their product meets the requirement for safety standard in their specific product.

Since, both ETL and U.L. tests according to the same OSHA standard. There is no difference between ETL and U.L. except for the marks they leave after testing.

When we are deciding which marks should be on the product, but it depends on what the product is and for which market it’s getting certified.

ETL listed and ETL verified marks are generally used for domestic electrical products, cable equipment, industrial equipment, and telephone/communication equipment. We would get an ETL listed, or ETL verified marks if we are manufacturing a domestic electronic, cable or telecommunications equipment such as power cords, and electrical jacks.

The U.L. series of marks is based on U.L.’s safety standard and can be seen on different devices, computer equipment, and consumer safety equipment. The items that have the U.L. mark included fuses, electrical panel boards, fire extinguishers, carbon dioxide and monoxide detectors, sprinkler systems, and personal flotation devices such as life jackets.

Laboratories across the U.S. administer these testing marks, and abroad in Canada, Europe, so once we decide what products we’re certifying and what market we need to certify, we will be more able to find a testing laboratory which suits our need.

How we can obtain ETL certification or Listing?

For ETL certification or Listing, there are three ways:

• A new Application
• An ETL listing from a C.B. report or certificate
• An ETL listing from a file transfer

Steps to get ETL certification for the new application is:

1. Get a Quote

Here, firstly we need to decide if we want to sell our product in the U.S., in Canada or both. We need all the information about the product so that we can get an accurate quote.

Typically we will need to supply

• Product photograph, if available
• Product specification such as dimensions or material list
• Product description which must include the predetermined use
• A prototype or regular sample, if available

If we want to limit our distribution to individual states such as New York, California, there is a need for communication as well. Some states have a mandatory requirement for certain products that must be tested, such as air filters. If we want to deliver our product nationwide, then there is a need to be tested the product for all requirements.

Once we send our application, we will send the product to the laboratory to conduct the test. Once the reviewer assessed the result, they will provide a quote, and we need to give the standard which are involved in the application.

If the tested item has no standard, they will develop a framework which is based on the nearest applicable standard. Then the product can be listed against the standard of the source. Once the quotation is signed off, they will define the testing schedule and move the project on the step2.

2. Product information pack

A product information pack is a series of forms which is issued to us which outline the process to complete the Listing, as well as project milestone. The essential form in the list is EURFC1- New applicant form. Testing lab will assist in the application process.

3. Supplying the Samples and Testing

Once we have submitted the proper samples as described in Step 1, then the lab can do the testing process. If the product passes all assessments, they will move on to drafting the listing report. If not, they will contact us with their findings, and we can pause the evaluation at any time to adjust.

4. Follow up Services

During the product assessment, we will also receive the information on how to schedule an inspection for relevant factory assessment. The service center will work with us to complete the appropriate document and provide the information on product line inspection.

5. Initial Factory Inspection

Once the product is an audit, and a test report is ready, an inspector will come to inspect our manufacturing site. If the inspection meets the quality requirements, a finalized listing report prepared.

6. Final items for Action

To obtain the final authorization for the ETL mark, the following requirements need to be considered:

• The testing of the final production line is complete.
• When the factory inspection completed from all over the area where the product was made.
• The listing report of product is available.
• The certification of the agreement has been signed in duplicate, and both copies return for counter-signing.
• As the replica of the ETL mark is appeared on the product, it will submit for approval.
• The sheet which is having the client’s information must be completed and sent again to the ETL-certified NRTL.
• A purchase order has been sent to the regional follow-up service center to authorize and initialize the follow-up service as required by the ETL scheme.

7. ETL-Certified NRTL formally issues the Listing Report

Details in the listing report are:

• Describe the product
• Applicant, agent and the product’s site of manufacture
• Lists any pre-production finding from inspection
• List of all the standard used in the investigation and summarize the result
• Indicates the testing requirement for the production line.

8. Authorization to mark

When all the steps are completed, an authorization to mark is issued. The authorization to mark allows the manufacturer to mark their product and packaging with specific ETL mark for they have been authorized.

The second way a product can have an ETL listing or certification is by getting the Listing from certification body’s report or certificate.

The process for this is as follows:

• The applicant approaches the existing certification body and obtains their test report form and certificate, both of which must be no more than three years old.
• The applicant brings the certificate/report to the ETL-certified NRTL as part of their ETL application.
• The ETL-certified NRTL reviews the certificate and sample of the product as well as C.B report.
• If the report, certificate and product sample are satisfactory, The ETL-certified NRTL will draft a listing statement and an authorization to mark

If there is no testing of the product is required, the NRTL completes a factory inspection. Once the factory inspection is passed, the NRTL issues a new listing report, along with an authorization to mark.

The data that needs to be supplied for a file transfer is as follows:

• Complete product specifications, with enough information for the product testers to assess the product on-site.
• Complete test reports, including the standards that the product was tested to and what equipment was used to do testing.

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