Frequently Asked Questions

If you need immediate assistance, please contact a member of ULC’s Customer Service Department. They answer questions, provide information and assist customers as they work with ULC on testing and certification projects.

Our standards contain the technical requirements for product evaluation. We’re responsible for nearly 200 formal Canadian standards, developed by balanced committees representing groups most involved with a particular standard, such as inspection authorities, manufacturers, consumers, users and testing labs.
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Initially, you’ll need to buy the ULC standard. We offer a service at a cost that allows you to receive revisions or a new edition of the standard. This service is initiated by the placement of your order for a ULC standard. Contact us for more information.
The ULC and UL’s family of companies maintain a number of agreements, called Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), with product testing and certification organizations in international markets. The MOU is a mechanism for the two participating agencies to work toward mutual recognition of each other’s testing results for one or more specific product categories.

Our cooperative arrangements are structured in a way that permits us to help our customers obtain the marks of many countries in addition to Canadian ones.

Yes, through UL’s International Compliance Services (ICS) Department, we have information on international standards. Reports are available for all categories and all countries and include information on:
  • National and international standards

  • International certification regulations

  • Submission procedures of international testing laboratories

  • English translations of international specifications
    • Yes, we test to international standards. If there is no ULC standard published for the particular category or if the customer does not desire Classification Service, we’ll investigate in accordance to the international standard and will issue a letter-report. The letter-report will outline our involvement in the investigation and will include a statement that no Follow-Up Service has been established and no reference to ULC is permitted. In addition, where the investigation pertains to a product covered by a ULC standard, the letter will also include the disclaimer that the ULC standard was not involved in the investigation.
    The names and addresses of Listees whose products bear a Canadian ULC Mark are listed in ULC’s product directories. These directories include information such as the title of the Standard that was used to investigate the product, label marking requirements, special conditions that apply to the product, etc. Contact us for more information.
    The names and addresses of Listees whose products are eligible to bear a ULC Mark are listed in ULC’s product directories. These directories include information such as the title of the Standard that was used to investigate the product, label marking requirements, special conditions that apply to the product, etc. Contact us for more information.
    The names and addresses of manufacturers whose products bear a Canadian ULC Mark are listed in ULC’s Product Directories. These directories include information such as the title of the Standard that was used to investigate the product, label marking requirements, special conditions that apply to the product, etc. Contact us for more information.
    ULC’s Customer Service team answers all questions on this subject. Click here for more information on how to contact our Customer Service Department.
    “ULC approved” is not a valid term used to refer to a ULC Listed product under any circumstance. There are a number of requirements and guidelines that should be followed to accurately communicate a product’s ULC certification. To learn more about these guidelines, please contact us and order the free informational brochure.
  • Applicant: The company or individual who applies to ULC for the investigation of a component, product or system. This party contractually assumes the financial obligation for the cost of the investigation and Follow-Up Service, and thereby exercises rights to information obtained as a result of the investigation.

  • Manufacturer: The company or individual who maintains and operates the factory facilities where a ULC Listed, Classified or Recognized product is manufactured or assembled, and where the product is normally inspected as part of UL’s Follow-Up Service.

  • Listee: The company or individual whose name is used or in conjunction with a product and appears under a product category in one of UL’s published Product Directories.
    • ULC is not part of the government. ULC is an independent product safety testing, certification and inspection organization.
    ULC is concerned with the safety aspect of all potentially hazardous products. ULC’s testing and certification services involve a wide variety of product categories, including electrical products and components, security and signaling products and systems, building and construction materials, fire resistant and firestop products and systems, fire suppression, and personal protective equipment. We test for casualty hazards as well as products to protect against theft or fire and the proper installation of this equipment.
    The CE Marking is a marking that signifies Declaration by the Responsible Party that a product is compliant with all appropriate European Union New Approach Directives, such as the Low Voltage, EMC and Machinery Directives. UL’s International Compliance Services (ICS) department offers clients a variety of customizable programs to assist in the CE Marking process. These programs can:
  • help identify the European directives which apply to the product,

  • identify any critical elements contained in the directives,

  • describe the methods of conformity assessment available under each directive (for example, self-declaration, third party testing involvement, etc.), and

  • list any published European Norm Standards that can be used to verify compliance with each directive.
    • The “D” Mark is not a replacement for the CE Marking. Rather, the “D” Mark is a value-added, voluntary third-party certification marking. The “D” Mark sends the message to all consumers and relevant authorities that an independent third party agency has tested and found that the product complies with the relevant safety standard. The “D” Mark has been in use for more than 70 years and is a familiar symbol to consumers as well as retailers and manufacturers in Europe.
    The CB (Certification Body) Scheme is a system designed to facilitate international trade by establishing mutual acceptance of test reports among participating safety certification organizations (the CB’s) in more than 50 countries. The CB Scheme was established by the International Electrotechnical Committee for Conformity Testing to Standards for Electrical Equipment (IECEE)

    ULC has gained full acceptance by the IECEE as a National Certification Body for the following Standards:

  • IEC 60065 for Household Audio/Video Equipment
  • IEC 60601 for Medical Electrical Equipment
  • IEC 60950 for Information Technology Equipment
  • IEC 61010 for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control and Laboratory Use
    • Yes, ULC is a TCB and can review applications for the FCC on transmitters and telecommunications terminal devices. For more information, visit our UL web site.
    UL’s EMC labs are validated as Conformity Assessment Bodies (CAB’s). CAB is the new designation given to US based Competent Bodies. For more information visit our UL web site.