What Products Require UL Certification?

What is a UL Certified Label?

The Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is a safety consulting and certification company focused on the marking and labeling systems for a variety of products and industries, including:

Electrical devices and components
Fire safety products
Hazardous substances
Water quality
Food safety
Performance testing
Environmental sustainability

These UL-certified labels are primarily used for products where safety-related information needs to be clearly displayed, such as the products above. Having a UL-certified label shows that a product has undergone testing and has met UL standards. While federal law does not require UL certifications, many insurance companies will refuse to insure a new product without this approval, so it is important to check in with your insurer to see what their preference is for your product.

There are many different types of UL certifications for labels and some have more stringent standards than others. Manufacturers and UL work closely when deciding on which certifications are needed for certain products and what those product labels need to contain. When evaluating UL certification for your product, it is important to understand what is required to be on the label, what is required of your product, and which type of UL certification is right for your product.

While the content of the label is up to you and your manufacturer, it is important to find a label printer that is capable of providing insight as to which materials and inks to choose when submitting your product label for UL review and testing.

UL Label Requirements

When submitting a label to UL for certification, manufacturers consider many things during their development, testing, and approval processes. Depending on the industry, you will need to evaluate your label for:

The material used for the label
If the label is capable of holding up to natural wear and tear
If the label can hold up against heat, humidity, oils, and other harsh conditions
The measurable printing area of the label
The appearance, legibility, and prominence of the printing on the label

These requirements are important to providing the necessary safety information to your consumers while also making sure that your label won’t fade or deteriorate over time, making safety information illegible.

ID Images understands the materials and inks needed for your labels to meet UL specifications. Our team can walk you through the different substrates, inks, laminate, and ribbon options so you can choose what meets your needs and fits your product.

Products that Need a UL Certification

Some products require UL certification to protect the retailer and make sure consumers have all of the safety information necessary for the proper use of the product. However, it is important to note that not all products need UL certification. You can always seek to get your product certified, as it is a good visual reminder that the product meets certain safety standards. However, it is important to make sure that the certification would help your product on the market.

There are certain types of products that require UL Certification, including:

Electric appliances, such as cooking appliances, personal grooming appliances, animal care appliances, heaters, and fans
Lawn and garden equipment, such as lawn mowers and leaf blowers
Consumer electronics, such as televisions, PCs, tablets, smartphones, gaming consoles, and speakers

ID Images has the materials and capabilities necessary to print your labels to specifications set by UL. We can help you determine which substrates and inks are best suited for your specific application while maintaining design consistency throughout your brand.

ID Images is Your UL Certified Label Printer

Our thermal transfer printable UL Certified Polyester Labels are ideal for use on any UL-approved electronic device, electric appliance, or lawn and garden equipment. Our various capabilities will help you determine which design, substrate, and printing methodology is best for your needs.

Contact our team of experts to get started on your UL-certified label printing projects!