The growing importance of safety certification for AI-enabled products
The artificial intelligence (AI) landscape is advancing rapidly, with AI-based functionality now embedded into a wide range of consumer and industrial products. Breakthroughs in modern AI are driving gains in wellness, convenience, productivity, efficiency and innovation.
At the same time, AI-enabled products can introduce new ethical considerations and safety risks, such as harm from malfunction, misuse or unintended use, exposure to malicious attacks and data compromise, and unethical outcomes from inadequate design or oversight. The consequences can be significant, ranging from physical harm and financial loss to social disruption and erosion of public trust. These realities underscore the need for structured approaches to evaluate and manage safety and ethical risks across the AI product life cycle.
AI safety certification to UL 3115
UL 3115, the Outline of Investigation for Safety of AI-Based Products, provides a structured framework to evaluate AI-based products before and during deployment.
UL 3115 certification services support safer system behavior, more predictable outcomes and improved resilience against misuse, malfunction and malicious interference. They also help organizations demonstrate responsible AI practices as regulatory expectations evolve and market scrutiny and public awareness grow.
By earning UL 3115 certification, organizations can strengthen trust in AI-enabled products, support market acceptance and provide credible evidence that safety considerations have been independently evaluated.
How UL 3115 applies to AI-based products
UL 3115 is an Outline of Investigation developed to evaluate the safety of AI-based products, including software products with AI-based functions or components. It is a horizontal evaluation meant to be used alongside other (vertical) product standards.
UL 3115 applies to a wide range of real-world use cases, including:
- AI-based fault detection in machinery
- AI-based functional safety functions in devices (such as circuit breakers)
- Intelligent HVAC setpoint control modules
- Object recognition systems
- Large language model (LLM)-based customer service applications
UL 3115 helps bridge the gap between rapid technological advancement and formal standards development. It aligns with guidance from recognized standards organizations, including ISO/IEC Joint Technical Committee 1, Subcommittee 42 — Artificial Intelligence (JTC 1/SC 42) and IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA), and references evolving regulatory frameworks such as the EU AI Act and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Through UL 3115 services, UL Solutions assesses AI system design and operation across three pillars:
Technical
Robustness and reliability, risk management, quality management and AI-based functional safety
Ethical
Fairness and bias and data privacy, and protection
Governance
Data collection and analysis, documentation and reporting, and life cycle management
UL 3115 also considers control oversight (covered under the ethical and governance pillars) and transparency and explainability (spanning all three pillars), reflecting their multifaceted importance in AI system safety.
Who UL 3115 certification is for
UL 3115 supports a growing range of AI-enabled offerings, including digital AI products and AI embedded in physical products and systems, and spans applications including consumer, industrial and medical devices, building and life-safety systems, and more.
UL 3115 services are designed for organizations that develop, integrate or deploy AI-based products where safety, reliability and trust are critical — especially when AI influences physical processes, operational decisions or user outcomes.
The service is particularly relevant for organizations seeking an independent, third-party evaluation of AI safety as part of a product launch, market expansion or regulatory engagement.
UL 3115 evaluation process
UL 3115 evaluations follow a staged approach that may include:
Initial outreach and alignment
Define scope, intended use and AI functions.
Requirements scoping
Establish applicable requirements and evaluation boundaries.
Product and user interface (UI) assessment
Review product experience and UI considerations, including user control/override mechanisms, as applicable.
Quality and risk management assessment
Review quality management and risk management practices and evidence.
Design and testing assessment
Review design and testing evidence, including cybersecurity considerations, as applicable.
Findings and resolution
Findings, remediation support and evaluation conclusion, including a certification decision where applicable.
Successful evaluations may support eligibility for the UL Mark, providing a visible signal of independent safety assessment and helping organizations communicate their commitment to responsible AI deployment.
Why choose UL Solutions for AI safety evaluations
UL Solutions is a global leader in applied safety science with decades of experience evaluating complex technologies in regulated and safety-critical environments. As an independent third-party organization, we bring credibility, technical rigor and global recognition to AI safety evaluations.
By working with UL Solutions, organizations gain access to deep expertise in safety evaluation, standards development and risk assessment, supporting safety at the pace of AI innovation.
To complement our AI safety certification, we also offer:
Advisory services to help customers understand processes related to AI development
Training and workshops to support understanding of standards and regulations for trustworthy AI, as well as modeling and simulation capabilities
Global Compliance Management software, along with regulatory intelligence and advisory services, to help customers navigate an evolving standardization and regulatory landscape for North America and global market access
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Get started with UL 3115 AI safety certification services
As AI technologies continue to evolve, demonstrating safety and trustworthiness is essential. Talk to an expert to learn how UL Solutions can help you assess the safety of your AI-enabled products using the UL 3115 framework.
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