Do Your LED Lighting Need To Be ETL Listed?

Recently, FITLED get ETL certificate for its LED Light, which used in RV, Caravan, Motorhome...etc. So today we want to talk ETL certificate in lighting industry. Almost 100 percent of the time, code will require your lighting fixtures to be either UL or ETL listed. These standards ensure that electrical products are safe.

What is a ETL listing?

ETL is another electrical safety certification. It’s doled out by Electrical Testing Labs, which is operated by Intertek. ETL tests products to the same safety standards as UL.

Like with UL, an ETL mark signifies a product’s safety for the public.

What is the difference between UL and ETL?

In lighting, UL is a more common mark than ETL. But there really is little difference between the two, especially for those trying to pass inspection.

Inspectors and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) accept both, even though it is a common misconception that UL is the only acceptable mark of compliance.

Both UL and ETL are recognized as NRTLs, or Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates and recognizes NRTLs.

According to many manufacturers who seek these certifications, gaining ETL listing tends to be a more expedited process than UL listing, despite the fact that testing is identical. And as the amount of product has increased over the years, more manufacturers seem to be gravitating toward ETL as its listing laboratory because of its quicker certification process.

When is UL or ETL listing required?

UL or ETL listing is almost always required by commercial building code.

In an electrical product, like a lighting fixture, UL and ETL would specifically test to make sure it won’t end up malfunctioning and causing a fire, or some other safety hazard.

If a product is UL or ETL listed, or certified, it is deemed safe for the public.

When is UL or ETL listing not required?

A lot of residential-grade lighting products will be neither UL nor ETL listed. This can be a problem to solve for those customers who come to us with a particular fixture specification in mind that may be manufactured by a company more focused on residential products, like West Elm or Crate and Barrel. While many products sold by those companies are UL or ETL listed, not all of them are.

In that situation, it’s our job to find a similar specification from a manufacturer who would put their products through NRTL (UL or ETL) safety testing to make sure you pass inspection and get open for business.

If you know anything else about ETL, feel free to add.