Electrical and electronic products exported to the United States is generally for UL, ETL certification (the two certifications, is non-mandatory certification, that is, even without this certification products can be cleared). But these two certifications are more expensive, but also need to review the plant, and later to monitor the review.
UL Certification Definition:
UL is the United States Underwriters Laboratories (Underwriter Laboratories Inc.) abbreviation. UL safety testing institute is the United States is the most authoritative, but also engaged in the world's safety testing and identification of the larger civil institutions. It is an independent, for-profit, for the public **** safety test professional organizations. It uses scientific testing methods to determine the study of various materials, devices, products, equipment, buildings, etc. on life, property and the degree of harm; to determine, write, issue the corresponding standards and help reduce and prevent the loss of life and property by the loss of information, as well as to carry out factual research business. UL certification in the United States is a non-compulsory certification, mainly product safety performance testing and certification, the scope of its certification does not include the product EPA certification. The scope of certification does not include the EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) characteristics of the product.
In short, it is mainly engaged in product safety certification and business safety certificate business, its ultimate goal is to get for the market with a considerable level of security of goods, to ensure the safety of personal health and property to contribute. Product safety certification as an effective means of eliminating technical barriers to international trade, UL to promote the development of international trade also plays a positive role.
UL certification services:
Listed (LISTED)
Generally speaking, the listing applies only to complete products and qualified personnel in the field to replace or install a variety of devices and installations, belonging to the UL listing services for a variety of products, including household appliances, medical equipment, computers, Commercial equipment and all types of electrical products that function in buildings. These products include household appliances, medical equipment, computers, commercial equipment, and all types of electrical products that function in buildings, such as power distribution systems, fuses, wires, switches, and other electrical components. UL-listed products can usually be marked with the UL Listing Mark on each product and the use of the Listing Mark.
Recognized
Recognized service is a UL service in a project, its identification of products can only be UL listed, graded or other recognized products as components, raw materials. Recognized products are not structurally complete or have certain limitations on their use to ensure that the desired safety performance is achieved. In most cases, the tracking of Recognized Products falls into Category R. Approved products that fall into category L are electronic wire (AVLV2), processed wire (ZKLU2), wire harnesses (ZPFW2), aluminum wire (DVVR2), and metal flex tubing (DXUZ2). Approved products are required to bear the approval mark.
Classification
Classification services evaluate products for specific hazards only, or for products that perform to standards other than UL standards, including internationally recognized standards such as IEC and ISO standards. Generally speaking, most of the graded products are not consumer products, but industrial or commercial use of the product. UL mark in the graded mark indicates that the product in the UL identification by certain limitations and regulations of the scope. For example, chemicals such as solvents used in industry are evaluated only to the extent that they are likely to catch fire when they reach their ignition temperatures. Certain product classification services and listing services, but generally only a certain aspect of the product or a number of aspects of the evaluation, such as in the United States, medical X-ray diagnostic equipment to comply with U.S. laws and regulations relating to radiation emission and beam accuracy, but because UL only X-ray as a classification of the product, so only the evaluation of its mechanical properties, electrical properties, and other non-radiation properties of these aspects.
Multiple Listing, Multiple Recognition or Multiple Classification Service
When a UL applicant whose product is to be manufactured under the name of another company to satisfy a sales need after obtaining a listing, recognition or classification service as described above may apply for a Multiple Listing, Multiple Recognition or Multiple Classification Service, in which case the manufacturer who receives the listing, recognition or classification is permitted to use the name of another company in the list for the product. name of another company in the directory, provided that the product is identical to the original listed, recognized or graded product except for the company designator, product designator or other characteristics deemed acceptable by UL.
"AL" Listing, Approval or Classification Service
If a UL applicant does not want to use his own company name to obtain a listing, approval or classification, he may apply for a listing, approval or classification in the name of another firm, usually a retailer or wholesaler, known as an "AL" Listing, Approval or Classification Service. It differs from the multiple listing, multiple recognition or multiple grading service in that the applicant is not a listed person.
System Certification Services
As a member of the International Council for Accreditation (ICA), UL is widely involved in ISO9000 Quality System Certification, ISO14000 Environmental Protection Certification, QS9000 Automotive Quality System Certification and AS9000 Aircraft Quality System Certification services. There are 116 factories in China*** that have obtained UL's system certification; 21 of them are ISO9001 certified, 85 are ISO9002 certified, 1 is ISO14001 certified and 9 are QS9000 certified.
UL's other services
such as certification services, inspection services, factual judgment services, research services.
The significance of UL certification:
1, the entire U.S. market is very focused on product safety; consumers and purchasing units to buy products, will choose to have UL certification mark of the product.
2, UL history of more than 100 years, the image of safety in the consumer and the government are y rooted, if you do not sell products directly to consumers, intermediary businessmen will also require products with UL certification mark, in order to make the product sell.
3. U.S. consumers and purchasing units have more confidence in the company's products.
4, the entire U.S. federal, state, county and municipal governments a *** more than 40,000 political districts, are recognized UL certification mark.
Steps to UL certification
1. Applicants submit the relevant company and product information
Written application: you should be in writing to request the UL company on your company's products for testing.
Company information: in English and Chinese to provide the following units detailed and accurate name, address, contact person, postal code, telephone and fax.
(a). Applicant Company: The company that submits the application for product testing and is responsible for the full cost of engineering services
(b). Listed Company: A company whose name is listed in the various catalogs published by UL
(c). Manufacturing Plant: The manufacturer and producer of a product.
Product Information: Information on the product should be provided in English.
(a). Name of the product: The full name of the product is provided.
(b). Model number of the product: detail all the product models, varieties or classification numbers, etc. for which experiments are required.
(c). Intended use of the product: e.g. home, office, factory, coal mine, ship, etc.
(d). Parts list: detail the parts that make up the product and the model number (classification number), rating, and name of the manufacturer. For insulation materials, please provide the name of the raw material, for example: GE Polycarbonate, Lexan Type 104. When the parts have been UL certified or recognized, please prove the specific model number of the part, and indicate its UL file number (e). Electrical Properties: For electrical and electronic products. Provide electrical schematic (wiring diagram), electrical performance table.
(f). Structural drawings: For most products, provide the product's structural or exploded diagrams, ingredient lists, and so on.
(g). Photographs of the product, instructions for use, safety etc. or installation instructions, etc.
2. Decision based on the product information provided
When the product information is complete, UL's engineers based on the information to make the following decisions: experiments based on the UL standard, the engineering cost of testing, testing time, the number of samples, etc., to notify you in writing, and will be the official application form and tracking service agreement sent to your company. The cost limit indicated in the application form is the maximum engineering cost estimated by UL based on the test item, which cannot be exceeded without your company's written authorization.
3. The applicant company remits, sends back the application form and samples
UL Certification
The applicant signs the application form and the tracking service agreement and sends the form back to UL, and at the same time, remits the money through the bank, and sends the samples in the postal office or by express mail, please make appropriate descriptions of the samples to be sent for testing (e.g., name, model number). Please send the application form and samples separately. For each application, UL will assign a unique project number (Project No.) When you remit the money, send the samples and application form, please indicate the project number and the name of the applying company, so as to facilitate the checking of receipt by UL.
4. Product Testing
Ul will notify you of the completion date of the test program upon receipt of your signed application form, remittance, and test samples. Product testing is generally conducted at UL laboratories in the U.S. UL may also accept audited data from participating third parties. Test samples will be returned or destroyed at your request.
If the product test results meet the requirements of the UL standard, UL will issue a test compliance report and FollowUp Service Procedure (FollowUp Service Procedure). The test report will detail the test conditions, the specifications met by the samples, the structure of the product, and the safety markings appropriate for use with the product. The FollowUp Service Procedure includes a description of the product and instructions for UL Regional Inspectors. A copy of the test report is sent to the applicant company and a copy of the tracking service specifications is sent to each manufacturing plant.
5. The applicant is authorized to use the UL Mark
The UL Regional Inspector in China contacts the manufacturing plant for an Initial Production Inspection (IPI), in which the inspector examines your product and its components on the production line and in the warehouse inventory to confirm that the product structure and components are in accordance with the Tracking service rules in line with the rules, if the rules require, the regional inspector will also carry out eye-witness experiments, when the inspection results meet the requirements, the applicant is authorized to use the UL Mark.
Following the IPI, inspectors will visit the factory from time to time to check the product structure and conduct visual experiments, the frequency of inspection is determined by the type of product and production volume, most types of products are inspected at least four times a year, the inspector's inspection is to ensure that the product continues to be consistent with the requirements of the UL, before you plan to change the structure of the product or parts, please notify UL, for changes in the smaller For minor changes, there is no need to repeat any experiments, and UL can quickly modify the tracking service rules so that the inspector can accept such changes. When UL believes that the changes affect the safety performance of a product, it is necessary for the applicant company to resubmit samples for the necessary testing.
The cost of the follow-up service is not included in the cost of testing.
If the product test results do not meet the requirements of the UL standard, UL will notify the applicant of the problem, and the applicant can resubmit the product for inspection after improving the product design. You should tell the UL engineer what improvements have been made to the product so that he or she can decide.
UL inspection rules, certification review and tracking inspection UL inspection rules
UL inspector's inspection is basically mechanical operations. Depending on the product, the inspector's inspection is based on the announcement (Bulletin), rules (Procedure), FUII (if any, included in the rules) and UL standards (if required in the FUII).
If the factory is producing UL products or has UL products in stock when the inspector visits the factory, the inspector will take samples in one of the following ways:
1. Individual components from the production line plus one complete product from the warehouse.
2. Parts from the warehouse plus a complete product from the production line.
3. Complete product drawn from the warehouse for splitting.
The exact number of samples taken is determined by rule, FUII (Follow-Up Inspection Instruction), SAP (Standard Attachment Sheet), or direct order from UL Laboratories. Inspectors do not necessarily inspect all products at each inspection, but they do try to inspect all product categories or models within a year or at least two years.
Generally speaking, UL's requirements for the factory production system are not too high, and only require that instrumentation be measured once a year, that the factory keep its own inspection records, and that there be some means of control over nonconforming products.
Inspection, the field representative (UL inspector) will focus on the product itself, they will be based on the above test basis for each check the structure of the product, components and assembly. For parts and components related to product safety, the general rules will specify the requirements for UL certified products, and will indicate the manufacturer and model; for the shell, shroud and other injection molded parts, in general, the rules will specify the raw materials and size requirements. The field representative will check the above items as well as the UL marking specified in the rules.
Field testing
In addition, if the rules or FUII or standards require field testing of the product, the field representative will ask the factory inspector to do the appropriate tests, while the field representative is witnessed. If the rules also require that samples be sent to UL for follow-up testing, the factory should cooperate with the inspector to produce the appropriate samples, written by the inspector of the sample label, provide the address and seal the sample, sent by the factory to the appropriate UL laboratory.
If the factory produces products in full compliance with the requirements of the corresponding UL inspection standards, there is no other violation of the tracking service agreement, the inspector will issue a tracking inspection report (Inspection Report); factory representatives in the confirmation of its content is accurate and should be signed on the report; an inspection is completed. If the inspection process does not meet the inspection standards, the inspector will issue a change notice (Variation Notice), and take appropriate measures according to the specific circumstances.
Removal of UL mark
For unauthorized use of UL marking of the product, the inspector will require the removal of UL marking; for products that do not meet the requirements of UL, the inspector will be required to remove the UL marking of the factory or rework to make it comply with the requirements; if the factory does not agree to the above processing views, you can retain the UL marking for the time being, but must stop the shipment of the inspector will be the case to inform the appropriate The laboratory, the UL response to determine whether the UL mark can be retained; if there are only some minor problems, and does not affect the safety of the product, the inspector will make a temporary acceptance of the decision and report to the appropriate laboratory; if it is some obvious errors in the standard, such as typing errors or unit errors, does not affect the factory product qualification, but as a UL document processing, the inspector will also be Issue a notice of change. In general, unless UL's responsibility, the inspector will require the factory to non-conformity of the explanation to the appropriate laboratory, UL will be based on your explanation to make the appropriate response.
The final decision
Of course, the inspector's judgment is only provisional, the final decision, of course, in the UL laboratories. If the factory does not agree with the test practice, it can be reflected to the appropriate laboratory, at this time, the inspector is obliged to provide the appropriate contact person and contact information. In the confirmation of the content of the notice of change recorded in the correct, factory representatives should sign the notice.
UL certification factory inspection
In China, the UL regional inspector to contact the production plant for the first factory inspection (Initial Production Inspection, referred to as IPI), the inspector to check your products and their components in the production line and warehouse warehouse situation, in order to confirm that the structure of the product and the parts are consistent with the tracking service rules. If required by the specifications, the regional inspector will conduct a visual test. When the inspection results meet the requirements, the applicant is authorized to use the UL Mark.
Following the IPI, inspectors visit the factory from time to time to check the structure of the product and conduct visual tests. The frequency of inspections is determined by the type of product and the volume of production, with most types of products inspected at least four times a year (the cost of follow-up services is not included in the cost of testing).
Certification review
UL-certified products are subject to factory review by UL-authorized local provincial China Commodity Import and Export Inspection Bureau (CCIC) personnel before the first shipments are made. There is also an annual tracking inspection.
Introduction of tracking inspection
For UL certification of an integral part, in order to ensure that UL's listed, recognized products continue to meet UL's standards and requirements, UL has developed a "tracking inspection" system. ". Tracking inspection" is sent by the UL field representatives around the world to the local production site of the factory UL products for tracking inspection. Its purpose is through the factory's production process, inspection process and products, against the UL standards and tracking inspection rules for verification, to ensure that the manufacturer's production process, inspection process and products always meet the requirements of UL.
Tracking inspection of the basis
Field representatives to the factory mainly according to the "tracking inspection details" to carry out inspections. Follow-up inspection details" is by the UL Engineering Department, in the samples sent to the test after the preparation of this document includes a comprehensive description of the product, but also includes photographs, manuals, etc. It also specifies that the manufacturing plant during production. It also stipulates that the manufacturing plant during the production of a variety of tests that often have to do, some of which require 100% of the product, such as voltage test. Certain tests can be carried out on a sample basis, and it also specifies the test items that must be sampled by the site representative during on-site inspections at the factory. The field representative will determine whether the test results are acceptable or not based on the details and provisions of such tests.
Tracking inspection product classification
The review is divided into the first review and quarterly review, the first review is relatively more expensive, UL tracking inspection is divided into R and L. L services are mainly used for products related to life safety, such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, fire doors, and a number of production of considerable products, such as electrical equipment, wires and circuit breakers. For products belonging to Class L, manufacturers must order labels directly from UL to be affixed to the product. Class R service is mainly used for electrical equipment, such as fans, televisions, hair dryers, ovens and other products that are usually produced with the appropriate assembly line.