JC-LGL / LIGHTING JOURNAL
UL vs. ETL Listed LED Lights for Commercial Buyers
UL Listed and ETL Listed identify different safety certifiers. Either can work for a U.S. commercial job when the project accepts the mark and the listing covers your exact fixture and use. If the paperwork specifically calls for UL Listed, get approval before ordering ETL. For a Canadian job, check the country coverage on the label and in the listing.
- Read the project specification. UL 1598 is a safety standard for many complete fixtures. UL and Intertek can both certify to it when applicable. Check whether the project also specifies a particular mark. If your utility incentive requires DLC qualification, check that separately for the exact model.
- Confirm the fixture you’ll receive. Compare the full model and options across the quote, label, and official listing. If the directory shows a product family, ask the supplier to show how the record covers your exact version. A test report or a driver’s record calls for a separate check of the complete fixture listing.
- Use the directory for the mark. Check UL and cUL in UL Product iQ, and ETL in Intertek’s directory. Match the certification scope to the country, standard and model. Check the label and instructions for voltage, mounting and location. For rain exposure, look for “Suitable for Wet Locations.”
- Recheck substitutes before installation. Ask for the replacement model’s listing before you approve a change. At delivery, match the fixture label to the approved quote.
Two suppliers quote LED lights for the same job. One offers UL Listed fixtures. The other offers ETL Listed fixtures certified to a UL standard. Can you use the ETL quote?
Yes, if the project accepts the mark and the listing covers the exact fixture and its intended use. UL Solutions issues the UL mark. Intertek issues the ETL mark. Both can certify a light to the same safety standard. If the project calls for UL Listed, ask the project engineer or whoever approves substitutions before ordering ETL.
What Are UL, cUL, and ETL Certifications?
A safety mark on a finished LED fixture identifies the organization that certified it. That organization keeps a listing, a record you can check for the models and uses covered. The safety standard is the set of requirements the fixture was evaluated against. For a commercial light, those requirements can address hazards such as electric shock and overheating.
cUL Listed is a UL mark for Canada. The traditional combined cULus mark indicates coverage for Canada and the U.S. Newer UL Certified marks can show US and CA as country codes. Check the listing for the market where you’ll install the light.
How Do UL and ETL Lighting Certifications Differ?
| What to check | UL Listed | ETL Listed |
|---|---|---|
| Who issues the mark? | UL Solutions | Intertek |
| Can it certify a fixture to UL 1598? | Yes, when applicable | Yes, to the same standard |
| Which market is covered? | Traditional UL Listed for the U.S., cUL for Canada, cULus for both | US for the U.S., C for Canada, or both identifiers |
| Where can I check? | UL Product iQ | ETL Listed Mark Directory |
If a quote also says DLC Qualified, that refers to a commercial lighting performance program. Check the exact model on the DLC Qualified Products List if your utility incentive requires it. Check the safety listing separately when you approve the fixture.
Will an ETL Listed Fixture Pass Project Review?
For many U.S. commercial projects, yes. OSHA recognizes Intertek and UL within specific testing and certification scopes. If the project accepts either lab, check that the lab’s scope covers the required standard and that its listing covers the fixture and intended use. For a Canadian project, confirm Canadian coverage in the listing and check the project’s requirements.
- The specification says “certified to UL 1598.” Check that the complete fixture’s listing covers UL 1598 and that the project accepts the certifier. The standard number can appear in an ETL listing.
- The specification says “UL Listed required.” Send the proposed ETL listing to the person who approves substitutions, such as the project engineer. Get written approval before releasing the order.
Which Safety Standards Apply to Commercial LED Lighting?
Start with what you’re buying. A replacement driver, a new ceiling fixture and a kit that converts an existing fixture each have their own safety requirements.
| What you’re buying | Standard to look for |
|---|---|
| A complete fixture, such as a panel or high bay | UL 1598 is used for many complete luminaires. |
| LED equipment, such as a driver or module | UL 8750 covers LED equipment used in lighting products. |
| Emergency lighting or power equipment | UL 924 covers emergency equipment. Confirm that the listing applies to the emergency version on your quote. |
| An LED conversion kit for an existing fixture | UL 1598C covers LED retrofit conversion kits. Check which existing fixtures the kit’s instructions cover. |
| A complete fixture for a Canadian project | CSA C22.2 No. 250.0 is a Canadian luminaire standard. Confirm Canadian coverage in the listing. |
The standard number on a driver’s paperwork applies to the driver. A UL Recognized mark, for example, means UL evaluated that part for use in a larger product. If you’re buying a finished light, ask for the listing for the assembled fixture.
What Should the Label Say for a Dry, Damp or Wet Location?
Consider two lights at a warehouse. One goes inside a dry packing aisle. The other goes by a loading door where rain can reach it. The installation conditions are different, even if both lights carry the same safety mark.
| Conditions at the fixture | What to check on the label and in the instructions |
|---|---|
| Dry Indoor packing aisle, normally dry |
“Dry Locations Only” is suitable here. A damp- or wet-rated fixture can also work if its instructions allow the installation. |
| Damp Sheltered area with condensation and no direct splash |
“Suitable for Damp Locations” or “Suitable for Wet Locations.” |
| Wet Uncovered loading area where rain reaches the light |
“Suitable for Wet Locations.” Check for limits on how or where the fixture can be mounted. |
You may see IP65 on a vapor tight fixture’s product page. It describes the enclosure’s protection against dust and water jets. For the light at the loading door, ask the supplier for the wet-location marking and mounting instructions for the exact model.
What If the Quote Says “UL Tested” or “Meets UL 1598”?
Say a supplier writes “UL tested, meets UL 1598” on a quote and sends a test report. The report describes the testing. Ask who certified the complete light and request the listing for the exact model you’ll receive.
The supplier may come back with an ETL listing to UL 1598. If the record covers the whole fixture and the job accepts ETL, you can use it to satisfy that part of the specification. If you can’t match the quoted model to a listing, hold the order until the supplier can show the match.
Check the Model You’re Actually Ordering
A product family can include several versions. The letters or numbers at the end of the model may identify a different driver, mounting option or other configuration. Match the full model and options you’re ordering to the listing.
| Document | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Supplier quote | BAY-40-D with the dimming option. |
| Fixture label | BAY-40-D and the safety mark. |
| Certifier’s record | The BAY-40 family. Ask for a model list or rule in the record that includes the -D dimming version. Hold the order until you can confirm it’s covered. |
How to Verify UL, cUL or ETL on an LED Fixture
- Get a readable label photo. Ask for the full fixture model, manufacturer, mark and any file or control number shown on the label. Compare the model and options with the quote.
- Use the directory for the mark. For UL and cUL, use UL Product iQ and start with the UL file number if you have it. For ETL, search the ETL Listed Mark Directory by manufacturer or model. If the record shows an ETL control number, compare it with the one on the label.
- Read the scope. Check that the record covers the complete fixture, the full model and the market where it will be installed. For cUL or cULus, verify Canadian coverage in the UL record. Confirm any standard the project specifies, then use the label and instructions to check voltage, mounting and location.
If a search returns no clear match, ask the supplier for the certifier’s record and the manufacturer name used in it. Hold the order until you can verify the match.
“Please send the listing link and a label photo for the full fixture model on this quote. Can you show where the listing covers that model and the options we’re ordering?”
Certification Mistakes That Can Delay a Lighting Order
- Approving the driver’s record for the complete light. Request the listing for the fixture as ordered.
- Approving a cropped certificate screenshot. Ask for the directory link or the full certifier’s record so you can check the holder, model and any conditions.
- Missing the country or location restriction. For a Canadian job, verify Canadian coverage. For a fixture exposed to rain, check its wet-location marking and mounting instructions.
- Letting a substitute ship on the original approval. Get the replacement’s record before accepting the change. At delivery, check the fixture label against the approved quote before installation.
Sources
- OSHA’s guide to recognized testing labs and product certification
- Intertek’s guide to UL 1598 and the Canadian luminaire standard
- Intertek’s guide to the ETL Listed Mark
- UL Solutions’ U.S. and Canadian safety marks
- UL Solutions’ enhanced certification marks and country codes
- UL Solutions’ lighting standards overview and component recognition guide
- UL 924 for emergency lighting and power equipment and UL 1598C for LED retrofit conversion kits
- DLC’s Qualified Products List guide
- UL’s luminaire marking guide and IEC 60529 on enclosure protection
- UL Solutions’ guide to verifying certification claims
Comments 0
Be the first to leave a comment.