For a press release, this brief from Underwriters Laboratories pretty interesting. (As was this image; the Mark used to look a little different!) I’m down with cheap counterfeits right up until the point they burst into flame:
How to Recognize a Genuine UL Mark
Whether a UL Mark comes in the form of a label or is die-stamped, silk-screened or molded into a product, it needs to contain the following 4 design elements to be verified as legitimate:
–The UL trademark: the letters “UL” arranged diagonally (descending left to right) within a circle, with a small ® symbol directly below the U
–The word “listed” printed either below or beside the circle in all capital letters: LISTED
–A 4-character alphanumeric control number, or a 4 to 6-digit issue number. In the case of the issue number, it may or may not be preceded by the phrase “Issue No.” as well as 1 or 2 letters
–A product identity phrase that concisely names what the product is
Additional signs of a genuine UL Mark are:
–A UL file number (which will often have the letter “E” as a prefix)
–The manufacturer’s company name or logo
–Applicable electrical ratings
–Information designating the product’s Catalog, Model, or Type designation
Indication that a UL Mark is Counterfeit
When shopping, steer clear of products whose UL Marks are missing the four main elements outlined above. In addition, keep an eye out for the following red flags, which can also be telling signs of a bogus UL Mark:
–Products whose packaging makes reference to UL, but is free from a company name, trademark, trade name, or other UL-authorized designations
–Low-quality, cheaply manufactured products with the letters “UL” printed side by side, instead of diagonally and inside a circle
–The use of words like approved or pending in place of classified or listed. Neither “approved” nor “pending” are sanctioned or used by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
–”UL marked” product packages containing a large number of spelling and grammatical errors
–The lack of appropriate product documentation, including instructions for use, safety warnings, and information on proper care and maintenance
–Products whose packaging lacks a toll-free customer service number, company address, or other corporate contact information
That’s not the only UL mark, there is also one that looks like a mirror image “UR” I don’t know if that was some kind of joke about Engrish or what. Also the “cUL” mark for the harmonized standards with the Canadian regulatory body. Notice the “c” isn’t capitalized. From my experience, UL guys are bastards. They are more interested in exstorting money than improving the safty of a product. The UL requirements, in general, are not a high bar. Since everyone races to the bottom on price it sets a uniformly low standard for products. Great business model though.
There are competitors to UL but they are not widely known in the US, more accepted abroad.
The mirror-image-italic “UR” is their component program that rates individual parts. They can’t catch fire. They might quietly cook themselves but the components aren’t supposed to set the device on fire even if they malfunction and short.
This information will come in handy for my UL sticker counterfeiting operation.
Seriously. Yesterday a guy working at the local independent hardware store told me that the place he used to work (unnamed chain) had rolls of fake UL hologram stickers to make up for non UL certed items. I’d love to get a roll of them and go around sticking them on fruit and whatnot.
Why is the UL File number lookup machine so hard to find on UL’s site? Why don’t I have a freaking iPhone app for it already? And why is the database so crappy? I put the nearest UL listed device’s file number (E13304) and got 10 hits. Great.
Totally unrelated: I don’t think anyone knows what the stars are for. I notice comments are way down and I had to read the redesign notes before I figure out that commenting hadn’t simply been removed.