The Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) symbol is recognized around the world over as a symbol of safety. Each year, UL customers proudly display the symbol to demonstrate they have gone that extra step to have their product certified by UL. If the evaluation is successful, manufacturers open up their factory for periodic unannounced inspections by representatives of UL who audit production to determine the manufacturer's continued compliance with UL's requirements.

For more than a century, the UL symbol remained substantially unchanged. On Dec. 15, 1997, UL announced a change to make the symbol more prominent on products, packaging and promotional material. The change involved making the weight of all key elements of the UL symbol the same. Manufacturers were given 10 years to transition to the new bolder symbol.

The new bolder symbol is required to be used on products, packaging and literature by Jan. 1, 2008. The bolder symbols for both Listed and Classified products may be downloaded from UL's Web site. Also available on this site is a description of the proper proportions of the various elements of the UL symbol.

Two other changes will take place on Jan. 1, 2008:

• Type L Listing Marks will no longer use the words "Underwriters Laboratories Inc." This had been the practice in several product categories for many years. Effective Jan. 1, 2008, both Type L and Type R Marks will now use only the bolder UL symbol.
• The UL Classification Mark will no longer use the words "Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Classified" or "Classified by Underwriters Laboratories Inc." Instead, this wording has been replaced by the UL Classification symbol shown below.

Casting, Stamping or Molding

UL recognizes that when the UL symbol is cast, stamped or molded into a product it may not be possible to maintain the thicker proportions. It is therefore acceptable when casting, stamping or molding to proportionally reduce the thickness of the UL symbol letters “U” and “L” and the circle as shown by dimensions D, E, and F in the attached file under "Relative Design & Proportion of the UL Mark."

Action by UL customers

Manufacturers replacing text referencing Underwriters Laboratories Inc. with the appropriate UL symbol are required to submit a label layout of their proposed Mark to a UL Label Center prior to placing their next order for UL Marks. Manufacturers who are only replacing the thin UL symbol with a bold UL symbol are not required to submit a label layout.

If you have questions regarding the bolder symbol or submitting a label layout, please contact any UL Label Center.

For customers needing additional time to comply with the bolder UL Mark requirement you must be registered at MyHome @UL in order to complete the form with your plan and date for compliance. You will be able to request up to three additional years (until December 31, 2010) to comply. Once you submit the form you will receive an automated email confirmation. If additional time beyond three years is needed, you will be asked to provided the rationale and your request will be routed to a UL Label Center for review.

If you already have an account at MyHome @UL you may go directly to the MyHome @UL login page. If you need to open an account you will need to go to MyHome @UL to complete the activation process before you can login and access the form. Manufacturers not in compliance with the new bolder Mark by March 31, 2008 or who fail to request additional time to comply using MyHome by March 31, 2008, will be issued a Variation Notice by the UL Field Representative.