ETL is the abbreviation of Electrical Testing Laboratories in the United States. The ETL laboratory was founded by the American inventor Thomas Edison in 1896 and enjoys a very high reputation in the United States and worldwide. Similar to UL and CSA, ETL can issue ETL certification marks based on UL standards or American national standards after testing. It can also issue composite certification marks by conducting tests in accordance with both UL standards or American national standards and CSA standards or Canadian standards simultaneously. The "us" in the lower right corner indicates that it is applicable to the United States, the "c" in the lower left corner indicates that it is applicable to Canada, and having both "us" and "c" means it is applicable in both countries.
Application Standards
Any electrical, mechanical, or electromechanical product with an ETL mark indicates that this product has met the minimum requirements of the generally recognized American and Canadian product safety standards, and it has been tested and complies with relevant product safety standards.
ETL also requires that the production site has been inspected, and the applicant agrees to regular follow-up inspections of the factory thereafter to ensure that the products always meet these requirements.
Company
Products that have been tested and comply with relevant product safety standards mean that the manufacturing factory agrees to accept strict regular inspections to ensure the consistency of product quality, and they can be sold in the markets of the United States and Canada.
Marks
(1) ETL Inspection Mark: Any electrical, mechanical, or electromechanical product with an ETL inspection mark indicates that it has been tested and complies with relevant industry standards.
(2) ETL Listing Mark: Any electrical, mechanical, or electromechanical product with an ETL mark indicates that it has been tested and complies with relevant product safety standards.
Related Content
ETL certification is the certification required for products to be exported to the United States and Canada. The ETL mark indicates that the product has passed the recognized tests by the NRTL in the United States and/or the SCC in Canada. The ETL mark recognition has the same effect as the UL or CSA mark and complies with relevant safety standards. A product with an ETL listing mark means that it has met the minimum requirements of the product safety standards. In addition, the ETL mark also indicates that the manufacturer's production site meets certain standards and requirements, and it has passed regular follow-up factory inspections to ensure continuous consistency. ETL has been around for more than 100 years. The three letters ETL are the abbreviation of the Electrical Testing Labs founded by the inventor Mr. Thomas Edison in 1896. ETL represents innovation, influence, independent and public product testing, and rich experience.
ETLus Mark (only "us", no "c"): The safety mark for products entering the US market. cETL Mark (only "c", no "us"): The safety mark for products entering the Canadian market. cETLus Mark: The safety mark for products entering both the US and Canadian markets. Factory Inspection: For ETL certification in the United States, inspections are required 4 times, and in Canada, it is 2 times a year; if it is for both countries, it is 4 times a year.
Differences between UL and ETL
Both UL and ETL represent that the products have passed the tests of the National Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and comply with the corresponding safety standards. So the real difference lies in the service. As an ETL customer, you can enjoy customized testing, inspection, and certification services, a fast operation cycle, and a flexible working method. We are creating a closer way of working with customers so that your products can enter the market faster, more smoothly, and more efficiently.
ETL certification and UL certification have the same market access effect in North America, but the cost of ETL certification is much lower than that of UL certification, generally only about half of the UL certification cost. Moreover, the product testing for ETL certification can be transferred through the CB test report, which can save you a lot of testing costs.
The time for ETL certification is also much shorter than that of UL certification. Under special circumstances, ETL can issue the certificate first and then conduct the factory inspection, saving precious time for the export of your products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about the ETL Listing Mark
Why do manufacturers choose the ETL listing mark?
Manufacturers all hope to have multiple options to meet their procurement needs, and the testing and certification service provider is also an important part of the choice.
Is the ETL listing mark legally equivalent to the UL and CSA listing marks?
Products sold in the United States are legally required to be tested and certified in a National Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) designated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States. The function of the NRTL is to provide independent evaluation, testing, and certification services for various electric, gas, and fuel products.
A product with an ETL listing mark indicates that the product has met the basic requirements of the specified safety standards. In addition, this mark also indicates that the manufacturer's factory complies with various compliance measures and accepts regular follow-up inspections to verify the continuous consistency of the products.
What is NRTL?
The National Recognized NRTL is an independent laboratory recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States. It tests products according to the requirements of applicable product safety standards (such as the product safety standards developed by UL and other standards-setting institutions in the United States).
What does the ETL listing mark mean?
Simply put, the ETL listing mark indicates that your product has passed the tests recognized by the NRTL in the United States and/or the SCC in Canada, complies with the generally recognized national standards, and also meets the most basic requirements for product sales or distribution. For distributors, retailers, and customers, the ETL mark is a guarantee that the product complies with safety standards and has been tested and certified by a third-party institution.
Will retailers accept products with an ETL listing mark?
Yes. Since the ETL listing mark is a widely accepted and recognized proof of product compliance, retailers have no reason not to accept products with an ETL listing mark. If individual retailers or distributors do not accept products with an ETL listing mark, it is likely due to market misinformation - this kind of misinformation has misled some manufacturers into thinking that they cannot choose their own third-party testing partners.
I'm not familiar with the ETL listing mark. What should I do?
There is no standard formula for users to better understand the ETL listing mark. Depending on the background, environment, and other details of the specific situation, the correct approach varies. Some users only need to show them other products with ETL listing marks that are highly regarded and can be found in the "Listed Products Catalog", and their concerns can be eliminated. Some users may insist that the UL mark is the only acceptable proof of product compliance, and in this case, it is necessary to give them a more comprehensive explanation of the real legal requirements implied by third-party product safety testing. Tell them about the NRTL program and explain to users that the product safety certification program includes the same testing, listing, labeling, and follow-up inspection services as UL.
Which countries accept the ETL mark?
In the United States and Canada, the ETL mark is a widely accepted proof of product compliance.
Is the ETL listing mark accepted throughout North America?
Since the ETL listing mark is a widely recognized and accepted proof of product compliance with safety standards, retailers, inspectors, and the Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) all accept products with the ETL listing mark.
History of the ETL Listing Mark
"ETL" has a history of more than 100 years. When manufacturers apply for the ETL listing mark for their products, the letters "ETL" also bring them a history full of innovation, influence, and independence. In fact, the original Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL) was established by Thomas Edison in 1896.
The Electrical Testing Laboratories was established to solve the safety and performance problems of lamps. Edison's idea was to provide consumers with guarantees through various product performance and safety tests. The basic principles of the third-party lamp testing method pioneered by Edison are still in use today, such as experts monitoring lamps and light bulbs to determine their service life, luminous intensity, and whether there will be combustion or explosion.