Comparison between UL marking and CE marking

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CE AS PRODUCER

The UL marking from Underwriters Laboratories confirms the safety standards for electrical equipment in the USA. In contrast, the CE marking stands for compliance with EU standards and is required for the European market. UL subjects products to a comprehensive testing process, while CE marking relies more on the manufacturer's self-certification. Both certifications serve consumer protection and trade promotion, but depending on the geographic market and product requirements.

The experts at easyCE will be happy to help you place your products on the market and assess special cases. We are happy to support you with CE, UKCA and other labelling.

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FAQ

What are the Underwriter Laboratories and the UL marking?

UL, LLC is a global security certification company headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. It has offices in 46 different countries. It was founded in 1894 as Underwriters Electrical Bureau, which was established in the 20th century. Century became known as Underwriters Laboratories and was involved in the safety analysis of many new technologies.

How is UL organized?

UL has grown into an organization with 64 laboratories, testing and certification bodies serving customers in 125 countries. The company has evolved from its origins in electrical and fire safety

What is UL certification?

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is responsible for the accreditation of consumer goods according to the criteria of major consumer protection organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA)

Is UL certification mandatory in the United States?

In the USA it is not required by law to certify a product according to UL. However, it is a common practice as many manufacturers and consumers only buy equipment that has passed a UL safety test. A tested product shows that the device complies with the UL safety standard.

What services does Underwriter Laboratories offer?

Underwriter Laboratories offers UL certification and testing according to UL standards. In addition, additional services and digital applications are offered.

What UL certifications are offered?

UL provides comprehensive services for certifying personnel, products, equipment, processes and systems in accordance with applicable standards and requirements. They help identify and close regulatory gaps, confirm regulatory compliance and maintain certifications. UL helps maintain best practices across the organization and value chain.

How does UL certification of facilities work?

UL is able to assess compliance with all applicable healthcare regulations and standards. UL can review plans, perform on-site assessments to verify installation compliance, perform critical testing for critical safety issues, and assess the performance of construction products and components. The range of facility certifications includes digital security services, food safety and supplier audits, as well as medical device and fixture testing.

How does the UL certification of personnel work?

In order to be able to certify the manufactured products themselves UL, companies must certify their personnel UL. Personnel certification helps practitioners acquire the real skills they need to perform their work safely and efficiently, based on standardized and industry-standard skills that businesses and consumers can trust.

How does UL certification of processes work?

In order to be able to certify the manufactured products themselves UL, companies must certify their processes UL. Process certification ensures that your business processes comply with applicable standards and requirements. They can help identify and close regulatory gaps, confirm compliance, and maintain best practices across the enterprise/organization and across the value chain.

How does the UL certification of products work?

Product certifications show that the products have been tested in accordance with the applicable standards. UL's recognized regulatory expertise gives the authorities and market the credibility they need. Bring all products to market more efficiently and differentiate them on crowded shelves with a certification from the leading safety scientist.

How does the UL certification of systems work?

In order to be able to certify the manufactured products themselves UL, companies must certify their systems UL. Individual products or processes can work well if tested individually. However, the merger can lead to unexpected challenges. System certification allows you to minimize risk and protect your brand's reputation by evaluating a range of products and processes, both individually and as a whole, to identify and resolve potential problems before they occur.

What is a UL product certification exam?

UL Product Certification or UL Product Qualification certifies that a particular product has passed UL Performance Tests and Quality Assurance Tests and meets the qualification criteria specified in contracts, regulations or specifications (sometimes referred to as "certification schemes" in the product certification industry). Most UL Product Certification Bodies (or UL Product Certifiers) are accredited or adapted to ISO / IEC 17065.

What are UL standards?

Underwriters Laboratories is a standards organization that combines in-depth safety research, scientific expertise and stakeholder input to advance safety science leading to a safe living and working environment.

Are UL standards internationally recognized?

The UL mark on a product is not internationally recognized, and UL is known and recognized in the United States. There are also regulations in the USA that require the testing of electrical devices by a recognized body. UL verification is a popular solution to meet these.

What characteristics can be expected from a UL marked product?

A user of UL-listed devices can expect:

Are UL standards also applicable in the EEA or are they accepted in the EU?

In the USA, the UL mark means that a product or material meets certain UL safety standards that have been tested. Although it is not required by law to use UL-certified products, most manufacturers in the USA choose UL-listed products to prevent possible liability problems (for example in the construction industry).

What is the difference between UL marking and CE marking?

There are some significant differences between UL listing and CE marking. In contrast to the UL listing in the USA, the CE marking is not optional in Europe - that is, the CE marking is mandatory. However, the standards for the CE mark are generally different from those used by UL.

Is a CE marking also a UL marking and vice versa?

A product that is already UL listed in the USA is not automatically qualified for the CE mark. A UL-listed product must be tested according to the applicable European directives, regulations and harmonized standards. Likewise, CE marked products are not automatically UL listed and compliant. This is partly because some types of products with the CE mark do not need to be certified by third parties and do not necessarily comply with US standards.

Are rules harmonised in the USA as well as in the EEA?

In the US, safety and environmental regulations can vary greatly depending on the state or region. For example, a UL-listed product can be compliant in one US city, but not in another.

How to obtain UL product certification?

First, the product information must be provided to UL and then a sample of the product to be tested must be submitted. Upon receipt of the product sample, UL will begin to assess the safety of the product to ensure that the product meets

Who can issue UL certification?

UL certification can only be issued by accredited UL certification bodies (CBs). The certification bodies (CBs) operate independently, comply with ISO/IEC 17065 and are financed by the fees paid by customers.

What is the difference between UL and CE?

UL ≠ CE. The UL certification mark and the CE mark are very different programs for compliance that have little in common.

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Approach to CE marking

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Abbreviated process for CE derived directly from CE

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Often lacking in sound judgement and unnecessarily complicated

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Reference Projects

CE marking of laboratory machines developed in-house

CE marking of laboratory machines developed in-house

In the course of an upcoming ISO 45001 occupational health and safety audit, easyCE supported a laboratory technology manufacturer in ensuring CE conformity for its internally used validation machines for medical equipment. Our specialists conducted a comprehensive assessment of occupational health and safety aspects and integrated these into the CE documentation. Particular attention was paid to safe operation by laboratory staff and the documentation of risk assessments that meet both CE and ISO 45001 requirements.

Takes into account, among others: 2006/42/EU, 2014/35/EU, 2014/30/EU, 2011/65/EU EN ISO 12100, EN 60204-1

CE marking for a laboratory robot

CE marking for a laboratory robot

In the course of an upcoming ISO 45001 occupational health and safety audit, easyCE supported a medical technology manufacturer in achieving CE conformity for its coagulation robot—a specialized laboratory machine for the automated performance of coagulation cycles for testing purposes. Our specialists conducted a comprehensive assessment of occupational health and safety aspects and integrated these into the CE documentation. Particular attention was paid to the safe handling of electrosurgical components and the documentation of risk assessments that meet both CE and ISO 45001 requirements.

Takes into account, among others: 2006/42/EU, 2014/35/EU, 2014/30/EU, 2011/65/EU, EN ISO 12100, EN 60204-1, etc.

CE marking and consulting for laboratory equipment

CE marking and consulting for laboratory equipment

In the context of an upcoming ISO 45001 certification, easyCE supported a medical technology manufacturer with the CE documentation for a specialized testing and calibration machine for insufflators in the laboratory sector. Our specialists developed integrated documentation that covers both the CE requirements and the occupational health and safety aspects according to ISO 45001. Particular attention was paid to the safety requirements for handling various hose systems and connections, which can vary depending on the insufflator model.

Takes into account, among others: 2006/42/EU, 2014/35/EU, 2014/30/EU, 2011/65/EU, EN ISO 12100, EN 60204-1 etc.

CE marking for electrical equipment in medical laboratories

CE marking for electrical equipment in medical laboratories

As part of the ISO 45001 certification preparation process, easyCE supported a manufacturer of electrical laboratory equipment in the correct classification and CE conformity of its products. Our experts carried out a precise analysis to distinguish between medical devices and electrical equipment in order to ensure correct classification in terms of occupational health and safety. This clarity was crucial for the ISO 45001 requirements regarding hazard identification and risk assessment in the workplace. Successful documentation and conformity assessment enabled the customer to operate its laboratory equipment in full compliance with occupational health and safety guidelines and to pass the ISO audit without any objections.

Takes into account, among others: EN 55032, EN 55035, EN 60335-1 etc.

CE marking for test station for low-pressure units

CE marking for test station for low-pressure units

In the run-up to an ISO 45001 occupational health and safety audit, easyCE supported an industrial company in compiling CE documentation for an internal test bench for low-pressure units in accordance with occupational health and safety regulations. Our experts first analyzed the regulatory classification of the test bench and were able to prove through precise measurements that the Pressure Equipment Directive was not applicable. This clarification was crucial for the correct risk assessment within the framework of the ISO 45001 management system. The CE documentation subsequently created took particular account of occupational health and safety aspects such as operational safety and emergency procedures. This enabled the customer not only to demonstrate CE conformity, but also to pass its ISO 45001 certification without any deviations in the area of work equipment.

Takes into account, among others: 2006/42/EG, EN ISO 12100, EN 60204-1, EN ISO 4414, EN ISO 13849-1 etc.

Learn more about our project references and success stories

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Willy Lebherz - Founder and Managing Director of easyCE

  • Expert in product safety and conformity since 1995
  • Recipient of the "Medal of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany", awarded in 1983 by the then Federal President Carl Carstens
  • Master of measurement and control technology
  • Captain (ret.), Project Officer for Technical Logistics in the Army Material Office and Chief of the Telecommunications Repair Company

easyCE is a digital, dynamic engineering office with a focus on product safety and product conformity - especially CE-marking. We support manufacturers, operators and dealers in designing products safely and offering them on the market in compliance. We are a "full-service provider" and can take over the entire conformity assessment process for you if you wish. To do this, we support you in carrying out risk assessments, researching standards, product analyses, developing suitable safety precautions, preparing user-friendly technical documentation, coordinating tests and all other accompanying measures. easyCE was founded in southern Germany, but is now active globally.

We know what you need to do to get CE-marking done, worry-free.