The use of components or sub-assemblies already certified by UL has many advantages. Not only will it reduce the amount of testing required and create an additional traceability tool for you but, it will also reduce the potential time and cost of the project, considering materials, components and other safety critical devices have already been taken care of!

These are some of the most common types of components and assemblies:

• Terminal blocks
• Power cords
• Motors
• Transformers
• Switches
• Appliances controls
• Printed Circuit Boards/Printed Wiring Boards
• Circuit breakers

Terminal Blocks and Splicing Wire Connectors

The standards that guide the safety procedures regarding the UL Mark are:

UL 1059 : "Terminal Blocks"

• Terminal Blocks rated up to 600 volts or those rated 601 - 1500 volts.
• Terminal Blocks provided with Screw Connection , Spring Force Connection, Insulation Piercing or Displacement Connections.
• Protective Conductor Terminal Blocks (PCTB).

Supplementary standards are used such as UL 310 for "Quick Connect Terminals".

UL 486C : "Splicing Wire Connector"

• Direct-bearing screws with or without use of a pressure plate.
• A pressure plate or plates and a screw(s).
• A special tool to form or crimp the connector barrel.
• A plate of an insulation-piercing connector.
• A spring-action connector.
• A twist-on connector.
• Wire range No. 30 - 6 AWG.
• Circuit rated 2000 volts nominal or less.

For specific applications rated 8000 volt nominal or less when the splicing connector is installed according to the National Electrical Code.

Cord Sets, Plugs and Receptacle

that guide the safety procedures regarding the UL Mark are:

• Cord sets and power-supply cords - UL 817
• Attachment plugs and receptacles - UL 498

Brazilian Standard

NIE-DINQP-051

Specific rules for mandatory certification of plugs and sockets from INMETRO

NBR 6147 (similar to IEC 60884-1) - Plugs and sockets for household and similar purpose

International IEC Standards

IEC 60083
Plugs and Socket-Outlets for Domestic and Similar General Use Standardized in Member Countries of IEC Third Edition

IEC 60884-1
Plugs and sockets for household and similar purpose

IEC 60320
Appliance couplers for household and similar general purpose

Electric Motors

We can provide you with a wide range of motor testing and certification based on your needs. Services and devices that we may evaluate are:

• General purpose electric motors, which have no known specific applications.
• Constructional evaluation of a motor to specific or general requirements. Testing may not be conducted or is limited, as the investigation covers the motor construction and traces material origin.
• Evaluation of thermally protected, and/or impedance protected motors for locked rotor and endurance fault conditions.
• Testing against specific end-product standards for specific applications, such as EN 60950 (ITE), or UL 2601-1 (Medical).
• Electric Fan Motors
• Hermetic Refrigeration Motor Compressors
  

Transformers

The services that we can provide include:

• General purpose transformers, which have no known application.
• Constructional evaluation of a transformer to specific or general requirements.
• Appliance power supplies, which provided limited output (such as Class II or Extra-low voltage).
• Testing against specific end-product standards for specific applications, such as EN 60950 (ITE), or UL 2601-1(Medical).
• Transformer evaluations for use in the radio and television industries.

Switches

This category covers the following types of devices:

• Clock-Operated Switches.
• Special-Use Switches.
• Enclosed switches for use in industrial and commercial applications.
• Industrial switches, supplemental protectors.
• Switches for fixed household (large white goods) equipment, and appliances.
  

Appliances Controls

• Electrically-operated clocks that form parts of a master clock system, secondary, cost, pay-roll, and other clocks intended primarily for industrial installations; and also time stamps, job-card recorders, timers, and similar time-indicating and -recording appliances.
• Automatic electrical controls, mechanically or electrically operated, responsive to or controlling such characteristics as temperature, pressure, passage of time, humidity, light, electrostatic effects, flow, or liquid level, current, voltage or acceleration.
• Starting relays, which are a specific type of automatic electrical control, intended to switch the starting winding of a motor. Such controls may be built into, or be separate from, the motor.
  

This UL programme covers printed wiring boards used as components in electrical devices or appliances. The boards may use organic or inorganic base materials in a single or multilayer, rigid or flexible form. Circuitry construction may include etched, die stamped, precut, flush press, additive, and plated conductor techniques. Printed-component parts may also be used. Also included are flexible printed wiring, which is defined as “changes in the cross-sectional configuration such as would be caused by right angle conductors, mid-point connections, etc”.

What Is Evaluated?

The suitability of the operating temperature, maximum solder limits and pattern parameters, such as Minimum Cladding Conductor Width and Edge Cladding Conductor Width, Cladding Conductor Thickness, Number of Clad Sides and Maximum Area Diameter.

Flammability classification may be assigned in accordance with the Standard for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances - UL94 – as an option. For more details, see our Plastics page.

Conductor finishes such as metallic plating on conductors, contact fingers, plated through holes, etc., may also be tested as an option.

Finally, to enable the OEM to select appropriate printed wiring boards (ZPMV2) for use in products, CTI rating and conformity to minimum UL 796 levels of “Direct Support of Current - Carrying Parts” may be indicated as part of the PCB’s certification markings.

Circuit Breakers

• Circuit breakers for low voltage
• Circuit breakers for Overcurrent Protection for Household and Similar Installations
• Low Voltage Switchgear and Control gear

How to determine if a component has already been tested?

Component certification is generally documented within a license, report and/or certification page (such as an UL "Yellow Page").

For UL certification, check out vendors and components on the web. UL has a number of On-Line Databases to help you out.

Appliance wiring materials - Wire and cable database

UL’s On-Line certification database - Certifications Directory

Materials information - UL IQ™ for Plastics.

For non-UL components (IEC, EN, etc.) ask the vendor to provide a copy of the component’s license, and in some cases, the report may contain the needed parameters of use.

What to consider when selecting components?

You must be careful when selecting components for use with your device. The following type of questions must be addressed:

• Do the electrical ratings and other parameters (internal separation, temperature, flammability, etc.) of the component/sub-assembly meet our intended use?
• What has the component or sub-assembly been certified against? Standard(s)? Will this certification work for our end product testing and certification standard?
• How has the component been evaluated for it’s certification? Has it been tested fully? Has the construction of the component been evaluated only, with no testing?
• How is certification of the component/sub-assembly demonstrated? Is there a third party mark?

Generally, all these questions can be answered by reviewing the component’s certification license, and report. In most cases, a component manufacturer is able to release the relevant pages of a test report which contains the above information without divulging "propriety information".

UL Affiliates can assist you to get the necessary certification for this product category.

Certification in Latin America

Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory