Seen on electrical products and appliances, UL and CSA marks are issued by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Group respectively. Both fall under the list of Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (“NRTL”) maintained by the US Occupational Health and Safety Administration; and conduct testing using the same harmonised Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) and National Electrical Code (NEC) standards.

UL has been established for over a century, and a UL mark ranks among the gold standard in electrical safety in North America. UL Listed testing assures that a device complies with their manufacturing claims, from indicated wire sizes to handling the amount of current as claimed, so you have the peace-of-mind using them safely in-the-field. Not only that, regular checks are also conducted over the years to ensure the certified products remain compliant. In addition, UL also sets industry-wide standards on new products, that become a construction benchmark for the highest safety requirements.

First recognised in 1992, CSA is another mark used in the North American market, issued by independent third-party agency CSA Group (CSA) which tests and certifies many leading US brands, ensuring they comply with applicable American National Standards.

Commonly perceived as being for use in only Canada, products with “CSA” can be tested for both US and Canada markets. In fact, both CSA and UL products can be used locally and internationally, depending on certification. Today, both UL and CSA marks are highly recognised and have become virtually interchangeable.