UL & ETL Listing - What Do They Mean?

What is the difference between the UL Listed and ETL Listed Marks?

Both marks indicate that a product meets the minimum requirements of widely accepted product safety standards, determined through independent testing by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL).

Intertek, the laboratory behind the ETL mark, and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) are both current NRTLs, so both are approved to test to ensure products meet the safety standards outlined by OSHA.

What does it mean to be an NRTL?

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) put in place a program to ensure products meet basic safety standards; it set up the National Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) program so that independent laboratories could evaluate, test and certify electrical and other products. For further information, read the OSHA frequently asked questions.

How long has the ETL Listed mark been around?

The ETL mark has been around for over 100 years. In fact, the original Electrical Testing Labs (ETL) was founded by Thomas Edison in 1896.

What products or companies use the ETL mark?

Product safety testing and certification is done for a wide range of products from telephones to x-ray machines, manufactured by companies like AT&T, Dell, Ericsson, General Electric, Panasonic and Philips and sold through retailers such as JCPenney, Sears, Costco, Target … and PartyLights.com!

How can I tell if a product is UL Listed or ETL Listed?

For products sold by PartyLights.com, each product's detailed description on our website includes if that particular item is UL Listed or ETL Listed. We carry a variety of ETL Listed or UL Listed String Lights and Cords.