North America

See an overview of the North American hazardous locations system.

United States of America

Within the U.S., UL has hazardous locations accreditation to perform testing and certification for all product categories and protection methods. Under either the U.S. Division or Zone area classification systems, the UL Mark is recognized and accepted throughout industry. Manufacturers, users, and the inspection and regulatory community all look to UL for certifications based on UL, IEC, IEEE, ISA, NEMA, NFPA, and USCG requirements. Also, UL can assist with testing in accordance with Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations as a means to facilitate obtaining MSHA certification for U.S. surface and underground mines.

Canada

The Canadian hazardous locations market can be made more accessible by obtaining UL's own C-UL Mark, or by working with UL to obtain certification through Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC), an affiliate of UL. These Marks allow UL to directly perform all hazardous locations testing and certification for all protection methods and product categories under either the Canadian Division or Zone area classification system. Both the C-UL and ULC options meet Canadian national requirements as authorized by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). Either Mark is accepted in all provinces throughout Canada.

Note: UL International Demko A/S is able to perform testing in accordance with U.S. and Canadian standards for the purpose of achieving UL, C-UL and ULC certification.

Latin America

For hazardous locations in Latin American markets, in general, compliance with either Division or IEC-based Zone standards is required. The UL-Br Mark can be used as a means to assist in demonstrating this compliance. For further assistance with Latin American certification issues, UL has local divisions located in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.

Brazil

As of July 24, 1996, electrical equipment intended for hazardous locations within Brazil is required to bear the INMETRO (Brazilian Institute for Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality) mark in accordance with the mandatory INMETRO Regulation 121. Under this regulation, the Brazilian testing requirements and certification criteria for hazardous locations equipment are detailed in INMETRO Norm NIE-DINQP-096 (Rev.1 - Feb/2000). Regarding testing requirements, this Norm basically specifies compliance with the applicable IEC or CENELEC Zone standards, with some national deviations regarding general and flameproof requirements.

As a means to simplify the certification process to obtain the INMETRO mark, UL do Brasil, an affiliate of UL located in São Paulo, maintains INMETRO accreditation, with staff very knowledgeable in both the technical and governmental aspects of this regulation. UL is also expanding existing relationships and establishing new relationships with testing and certification organizations within Brazil.

Argentina

As of August 18, 1998, most electrical/electronic equipment intended to be marketed within Argentina needs to comply with the mandatory compliance law, Resolution 92/98. Implementation of the requirements of Resolution 92/98 is being done in three phases.

For electrical equipment intended for hazardous locations, as of July 18, 2000, certain types/applications of this equipment will need to comply with Phase III of Resolution 92/98. Under this phase, manufacturers must comply with the applicable IEC-based Zone requirements (taking into account Argentine deviations such as power ratings and the need for markings/instructions to be in Spanish) and obtain the appropriate third-party certification marks.

UL de Argentina S.R.L., an affiliate of UL located in Buenos Aires, can assist in determining the applicable effective date for your specific type and application of HazLoc equipment and simplify the certification process associated with Resolution 92/98. UL de Argentina staff maintain accreditation under this regulation, with staff very knowledgeable in both the technical and governmental aspects of this regulation ready to assist you.