Having Built both UL listed and UL recognized products, let me shed some light on some of the issues. In general UL isn’t concerned about voltages below 24 volts unless it is an energy hazard (500 amps at 24 volts would be an energy hazard). UL is almost exclusively about product safety, and as a UL listed manufacturer we had to allow unannounced visits from the UL inspector who would examine finished product, and parts in stock and on the line to make sure that all safety related parts were as specificied in the listing (and our Hi-Pot tester had a current metrology sticker). Fortunately for us, we utilized a UL recognized power supply in the product, that was someone else’s headache. At the end of the day the UL listing is probably more about product liability than safety for the manufacurer. That’s why we elected to obtain UL status for our products.
The UL listed mark needs to show the listing number. It is pretty easy to forge the UL mark, however if you access to the ‘yellow book’, which contains the listing information, the listing number will usually identify the forgeries very quickly. (And I have seen a number of products with UL labels that had obvious design issues that UL would never have approved).
my case UL does the intrinsically safe testing as the Pelican lights in an explosive atmosphere and drop tests. Some of the lights are weak sauce primary cell driven and others use Ni–MH. I have not seen anything using Li-Io…officially.
The Rig electricians were replacing some of the big vapor lights with big LED panels. I would think that they would have to have both UL and the European equivalent plastered all over but unable to verify that or the name of the panels.
We have to do deck checks on our ROVs which include 6-300 watt LED floods for under seas lighting. Somehow they come out under the radar as far as intrinsically safe as do our 2300AC 3-phase pumps. In our case, work permits allows us to do the deck checks. Some of our internal PS do have UL stickers but are in one atmosphere pressure cans.
I think we are missing the point here, its more profitable to sell unsafe products by cutting corners in design and assembly, so standards like UL and CSA were implemented to provide standards that can be made a requirement to only allow safe products to be sold. However having a standard does not prevent fraud or cost cutting or poor QC so even if something is listed you can’t be assured it meets the standards unless it tested/inspected, but at least there is someone to go after and some accountability if the seal is legit.
If you use a rated product and your house burns down, your insurance company can’t cancel your coverage because your considered to have done your due diligence (of course they will then look for another reason if they can find one). Also a registered company in a first world country using the seal means you can go after them if they are shown to be selling unpassable items vs an ebay or chinese seller you can’t go after, there are no legal systems you can use, and good luck even finding the manufacturer or distributor.
