Q: What’s the difference between UL listing and ETL listing?
A: UL and ETL are both what are called Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL). NRTLs are in place to provide independent safety and quality certifications on products. Electrical appliances typically require their certification (especially 240V appliances). Some charging station manufacturers do sell unlisted products; it is very important to check for the UL or ETL mark before purchasing. Click here for the Current List of NRTLs Approved for EVSE Testing and Certification.
UL develops the testing standards and tests to them. ETL tests to UL standards. In order for an inspector to sign off on a permitted installation for an EVSE, the National Electric Code requires the EVSE be NRTL listed.
ClipperCreek does use both laboratories; the selection of which laboratory depends on which company provides the best value for their service that we can then pass on to our customers.
ClipperCreek would never sell a charging station that was not NRTL certified. Consumers should check carefully before buying an EV charging station to be certain that is either ETL or UL listed. Look for one of these marks on the EV Charging Station:
You can watch our short video below, part of our EV Charging Station Buyer’s Guide Series:
For additional information about Safety Certifications see our post “EV Charging Stations: Staying Safe“
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Thanks Bradley
Thanks Shaun, your explanation gives me clarity regarding ETL operations.
Bradley is 100% correct. The reason manufacturers go to ETL is because ETL does NOT go back and check on the product after their initial sign off. So factories can change the product and cheat on materials and no one will know the difference. This absolutely is true and happens all the time. There is a reason why ETL products are considerably less expensive than UL listed products, and that reasons is because those products have most likely altered materials after initial ETL inspection.
Hey Bradley, that statement is untrue. All NRTL’s have the same standards as recognized by OSHA to maintain that integrity.
Electrical Testing Laboratories. Edison was part of founding it and it is a common misconception that it is therefore called, “Edison Testing Labs”.
No, because UL would have no listing of your product in its database.
Thanks for the clarification. I was wondering why any product wouldn’t seek UL listing.
Thanks Bradley
Hi Lloyd,
But strictly speaking, ETL is not an acronym; it is an initialism. Acronyms are initialisms that can be and are pronounced like words.
(I just learned this distinction two weeks ago from the deceased comedian, George Carlin.)
Hi Tom, Thanks for your comment and question! This article was specific to Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment which is certified to UL 2594.
Our product was tested by ETL to UL 1008 standards can we claim it is UL listed.
While true that ETL does not develop/publish the safety certification standards, ETL works with a global list of safety standards from UL, ISO, IEC, ANSI, AAMI, CSA, DIN, IATA, IEEE, various national standards, and more.
Furthermore, ETL does not allow changes to the product to be made after testing. Products and manufacturing facilities are still inspected, just like with UL. Any company that makes a product that has the ETL mark and makes changes to it will face legal action, just as with UL.
Hi Lloyd,
ETL stands for “Edison Testing Laboratory” as it was founded by Thomas Edison.
Please let us know if you have any other questions.
What does ETL acronym stands for?
One of the things that this article forgets is ETL has zero test standard set worldwide for any electronic devices.
They go to OSHA for the standard which OSHA has zero standard set in place they refer everybody 100% to Underwriters Laboratories standard-setting plays for worldwide practices.
The biggest reason why everyone runs to intertek ETL is because they don’t like to be tested every 3 months on their product to make sure that is still complies with Underwriters Laboratory for insurance purposes.
ETL does not have those requirements and you can change Parts internally and not have to resubmit it for testing that is required by Underwriters Laboratory if you change internal parts in your electronics.
That’s the real reason why everyone runs to ETL instead of Underwriters Laboratory.
EVSE stands for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment.
You are using EVSE without definition
ETL has been certifying electrical products over 100 years. In fact, the original Electrical Testing Labs (ETL) was
founded by Thomas Edison in 1896.
Electrical Testing Labs was formed to address concerns of lamp safety and performance issues. Edison’s vision
was to provide assurance to consumers, through various types of product performance and safety tests. The basic
principles of Edison’s third-party lamp testing methods remain the same today. Experts monitored lamps and bulbs
to determine how long they would burn, the luminous intensity, and if everything burned as it should without
combustibility or explosion.
What’s the difference between UL listing and ETL listing?
Thanks for the answer, I had never heard of “ETL” till this morning.