UL recertification is an important topic for manufacturers to understand. Equipment that is used within manufacturing facilities—and goods produced by manufacturing facilities—must be aware of the relevant standards for the location where the equipment is used or sold.
UL recertification matters for several
reasons:
It demonstrates a commitment to safety
Safe and reliable operation of major equipment benefits employees, companies, customers, partners, municipal authorities, and more. Obtaining and maintaining a UL certification is an excellent way to demonstrate a commitment to safety when using large equipment and systems.
Companies that manufacture products for others
to use with the help of large equipment often experience compliance tasks from
multiple angles: ensuring the manufacturing equipment
they use is UL certified and also ensuring the products they create conform with relevant standards in target
markets. A commitment to making its own manufacturing facilities and equipment
safe and reliable helps a company reinforce its commitment to creating
uniformly safe and reliable goods for the public.
It is often a legal and/or contractual requirement
In certain regions, specific categories of equipment must meet the relevant standards for safety, use of electricity, environmental impact, etc. for that area. For example, radio products created for the U.S. market must meet FCC requirements, and electrical equipment sold in Europe must meet CE standards. In these cases, the equipment used in a manufacturing setting is legally required to meet the standards for that region—and the company must be prepared to demonstrate the product’s safety and consistent performance.
It is also common for clients and customers to
request proof that the manufacturing facility’s equipment is safe and reliable.
(After all, clients are depending on the company to maintain appropriate safety
standards in its manufacturing facility and depending on the equipment to
fulfill their orders.) The contract for services or RFP with a given client may
include a requirement that the equipment is UL-certified and that the
certification is kept up to date. For that reason, it is in manufacturers’ best
interest to obtain UL certification and recertification and keep the
documentation on file for customers.
UL certification can expire or be invalidated, even if equipment is still operating safely
UL recertification or a field evaluation is required in several
situations:
●
A new manufacturing facility is
built and UL-certified equipment is moved into that facility
●
UL-certified equipment is moved to
a different factory, changing the conditions that led to the initial approval
●
Certified equipment is modified,
retrofitted, or partially replaced
●
The equipment is red-tagged by a
relevant authority
● The initial certification has expired
If the UL certification is invalidated for any
of the reasons above, it must be recertified or field labeled after a
successful field evaluation.
Talk with a UL recertification expert
G&M Compliance has helped many companies
obtain UL certification, pass UL field inspections, and work with other NRTLs
to demonstrate compliance with relevant standards. Depending on the situation,
there may be multiple potential routes to compliance—it’s a matter of choosing
the most cost-effective and time-efficient one.
Contact
G&M Compliance today to discuss the UL certification process and
determine the best option for your situation.