You might’ve noticed a little UL approval seal on some of your appliances or cables. That is no accident. The Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) is a non-profit global independent safety science company. The UL inspects, audits, evaluates, tests, and certifies products as well as advises and educates in order to safeguard people, products, and places. We recommend being sure your new electrical purchases bear the UL seal of approval.
Founded in 1894, the UL was involved in approving the public adoption of electricity as well as the development of safety standards for electrical devices and components. The UL’s product safety tests involve a in-depth review of important safety issues such as electric shock, fire hazards, and performance. It’s also important to know that the UL will continue to test a product for its lifespan.
The Underwriter’s Laboratories also have areas of assessment other than electrical components, like sustainability, building products, and plastic materials.
The UL seal you would most likely see on your products would be the letters U and L surrounded by a circle. This seal is on appliances and computer equipment, furnaces and heaters, fuses, electrical panel boards, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems, personal flotation devices, bullet resistant glass, and thousands of other products.
At Allen Electrical, all of the products we use or install are UL approved. We don’t recommend using products that don’t bear this seal. If you have any concerns about any appliances or components in your home’s wiring, contact us today!
