Sign Safety

As technology continues to advance and LEDs transition from "indicator" to "illuminating" applications, UL is leading safety in signs with our General Coverage safety program and related components for Signs in the Sign Application Manual.  

Certification Services

UL helps the lighting industry bring safer, sign-based products to market. The UL mark the benchmark for safety. Regulatory authorities in every North American jurisdiction recognize and accept the UL Mark.

As technology continues to advance and LEDs transition from luminatingogram and related components for Signs in the Sign Application Manual.

General Coverage

UL's Electric Sign General Coverage Program allows manufacturers who custom build or mass produce electric signs to apply the UL Listing Mark at their factories, and allows for flexibility in the design of the signs. 

Due to the size of many signs, compliance evaluation is conducted onsite at the convenience of the manufacturer.

Manufacturer's are able to select from one of three paths to achieve UL certification:

Option 1

Customers submit product samples to a UL facility. A UL engineer conducts an evaluation and UL's field representatives make regular follow-up inspections, generally four times per year. Additionally, customers must designate at least one company employee as a manufacturer's technical representative who will complete required online training on UL 48 requirements.

 

Option 2

This path offers the flexibility of the current general coverage program but adds requirements for:

A manufacturer's technical representative who will complete required online training on the UL 48 requirements. UL is currently offering an extended 12-month registration to the UL 48 training that can be used by an unlimited number of sign manufacturer employees.

A specific product compliance assessment using defined documentation to determine compliance of each unique sign construction.

Additional product documentation describing label usage, unique product identifiers, environmental/electrical ratings, descriptions, parts, markings, installation instructions, and results of product compliance assessments to assist in reviewing compliance by manufacturers and UL field representatives.

Frequency of program audits is based on production volume as currently used in the existing general coverage program.

 

Option 3

This path is identical to option 2 with an additional requirement for implementation of a quality management system addressing defined quality elements. In option 3, program audits will involve product, process and system audits at the same frequency as used in the existing general coverage program. The Sign Manufacturer may be able to reduce the number of factory audits conducted by UL based on demonstrating compliance and control of certification.

Field Evaluations

UL's Field Assembled Skeletal Neon and Outline Lighting Systems program (FASNOL), helps streamline the installation and acceptance of these lighting systems.  Companies that are part of the FASNOL program can apply the UL Listing Mark to skeletal neon signs and outline lighting systems which have been assembled in the field.

Manufacturers can offer electric skeletal neon and outline lighting systems that meet both the UL Standard for Safety for Electric Signs (UL 48) and FASNOL requirements.