Hi, Concerning your question involving UL and the USA, the United States as a nation does not require UL for product safety. It is up to local inspection authorities within the US to decide what is required for electrical inatallations. Most use the National Electrical Code in combination with local codes.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) does not specifically state that UL Listing is required. Rather, it recommends in a number of areas that materials and equipment be "Listed," " Labelled," or "Identified" by an organization acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction over the equipment installation. UL has done a good job of marketing their service and establishing trust and brand recognition among local inspection authorities. Thus, when local inspectors see the word Listed, they automatically think of UL much like when one says "soda," most people think of "Coke." And they have also done a good job in getting the words "Listed" and "Labelled" used throughout the NEC. Thus, you are able to use any Listing or Labelling service that local inspection authorities require (if any) and will accept. Odds are, if you are selling throughout the USA, UL's "brand" is the most likely to be recognized by local authorities. Companies such as ETL have been fighting an uphill battle on this issue for years and have made significant progress for certain product categories. This is as much a marketing issue as it is a legal one. Regards, [email protected] ---------- From: jppena To: 'EMC-PSTC' Subject: EU / USA regulatory law List-Post: [email protected] Date: Tuesday, January 21, 1997 7:50PM In this forum, I can see many question about EU regulatory law (EU = Directives). For me, it is very clear and very easy. For example, for a = simple Personal Computer, you have to comply with the LV Directive & EMC = Directive. To do that, you can use the corresponding harmonised = standards using any laboratory you wish and give you enough reliance, = including your own laboratory if you have it and offer you enough = facilities. Then, you build the Technical File, sing the Declaration of = Conformity and put the CE marking. That's all for all the European = countries at the same time. You don't have to pay any Certification Body = if you don't wish it and even you don't need to pay the most expensive = laboratories if you have a cheaper one that gives you enough reliance = (please, do not forget that the responsibility is always of the = manufacturer).=20 However, I don't know how is the situation in USA. I know if you have UL = mark, you can sell in any state, but that means you only can use the UL = associated laboratories and you have to pay the certification fee every = year. Much more expensive than the EU system. Is it that true? Are there = any other cheaper system? Are there any clear and single law like the EU = Directives? Are there any WEB in which I could see the corresponding = law? Thank you very much for your answers. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Juan P. Pena / Electrical Safety Area Company: CETECOM, S.A. (http://www.pta.es/ing/empresas/cetecom.html) e-mail: [email protected] The opinions are personal, not necessarily corporate.=20 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
