Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

About UL | Careers | Contact Us

UL / TÜV SÜD Testing Agreement Streamlines EU, NA Market Certification Testing for Manufacturers of Electro-Sensitive Protective Equipment

Northbrook, Ill., March 21, 2007 -- Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) and TÜV SÜD Rail GmbH (TÜV SÜD) announced today an agreement that allows manufacturers of electro-sensitive safety equipment to simultaneously obtain both UL and TÜV SÜD certification marks for their products under a single testing program. This latest UL-TÜV offering provides a convenient certification option for manufacturers seeking both UL and TÜV SÜD Marks on products sold in European and North American markets.

"In direct response to our customers' needs, we're excited to offer manufacturers who place high value on market access service efficiencies this new joint product safety certification option that uses existing test resources and data," said Kevin Connelly, UL Industry Manager for Industrial Control Equipment. "Both UL and TÜV customers may continue to work with staff they already know in either organization while gaining access to in-country professionals with expertise in various regional requirements."

"This mutual recognition agreement formally acknowledges the long history of joint projects between our two well-respected product safety certification agencies," said Günter Greil, Manager, Automation, Software and Electronics - IQSE for TÜV SÜD. "We're again pleased to work with UL to offer tangible cost reductions and accelerated time-to-market for our customers seeking efficient global market access services."

Manufacturers of electro-sensitive or "functional" protective equipment offer products essential to complex industries such as automotive assembly where workers operate in close proximity to computer-controlled automated machinery. These dynamic work environments present unique safety considerations that require appropriate, reliable protective equipment that mitigates the effects of static on electro-sensitive devices.

For business inquiries contact: Chaya Setty, Section Manager, Industrial Control Equipment, +1-847-664-2009 or Chaya.H.Setty@us.ul.com.

Details of the UL / TÜV SÜD Agreement

The scope of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) facilitates the sharing of test/certification reports and test data for products in compliance with UL/IEC 61496 (Electro-Sensitive Protective Equipment) and IEC 61508 (Functional Safety of electrical/electronic/programmable electronic safety-related systems).

Related functional safety devices, i.e. light curtains, programmable safety controllers and laser scanners, are included in the agreement. Both organizations expect a shortening of test times and reduced costs, since concurrent testing may be possible depending on available lab capacity.

Sharing of test/certification reports and test data can be accomplished by 1) concurrent applications by a manufacturer to both UL and TÜV SÜD; or 2) use of previously generated reports dated after July 2006.

Acceptance of previous test reports is based on a full technical review of the provided data for compliance with the requirements, accuracy and completeness. The accepting organization has the right to perform additional evaluation where considered necessary.

Upon successful completion of a single product test program both UL and TÜV SÜD process and issue their own certification reports and implement their own appropriate follow-up programs.

UL and TÜV SÜD will now accept MOU applications related to products as specified above and will endeavor to provide expedient and cost effective services to support manufacturers in markets worldwide.

Top of Page