Advanced AC Power Management Solutions
Safety Certification for Power Management Products
By Jerry Hoopes
Performed by an OSHA-certified testing laboratory, safety certification is an independent evaluation and test for product
safety per the safety standards applicable for the product category. Laboratories certified by OSHA for safety testing are
referred to as nationally recognized testing laboratories (NRTL). Products that have successfully passed the testing by
the NRTL are authorized to bear the mark of the laboratory. With this mark, the buyer of the product can be assured that
the product has been independently tested for safety.
Just as the products are subject to evaluation by the NRTL, the NRTL itself is subject to audit. OSHA audits the
laboratories by several criteria, including consistency of processes and procedures, adequacy and training of staff, the
accuracy of measurements and test environment, and traceability of test results and documentation. One of the most
important requirements for the NRTL is continuous validation of certified products in production, where a representative
of the NRTL visits the factory location to ensure that the product being manufactured is the same as what was tested.
In the U.S., there is no law that requires products to be certified for safety prior to sale. However, in order for an
electronic device to be used in the workplace, OSHA requires it to be certified for safety by an NRTL. In any case, it only
makes sense to practice the due diligence of verifying the safety of the products sold to your customers. Certification
also offers some protection against liabilities, as it shows that the expense and effort was put forth to verify that the
products are safe. However, if contested in a court of law, not having safety certification could be considered as indicia
of negligence.
In North America, the two most widely known NRTLs are Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in the U.S., and the Canadian
Standards Association (CSA) in Canada. Both laboratories have been certified by the respective governing bodies to
perform safety certification testing for both countries. For example, a product with the cULus * mark has been tested by
UL for use in both the U.S. and Canada. The “C” in front of the mark indicates compliance to Canadian requirements,
and “US” for the United States. Alternatively, a product with the cCSAus * mark has likewise been tested by CSA. Most
NRTLs follow the same convention to indicate compliance in both countries.
In the U.S., UL has been operating for over 100 years, and due to its familiarity, there is often a misconception that it is
part of the government. It is not. UL drafts many of the safety standards for the U.S., which are then used by all NRTLs.
Separate agencies such as CSA, TÜV, and ETL all test to the same standards as UL. Any one of these agency markings
is a valid assurance that the product has been exposed to a vigorous testing and certification process.”
A safety standard is a document that applies to a specific category of product. It outlines the criteria for terminology,
materials, construction, testing, and markings as they pertain to product safety. It is important to know that a safety
standard does not include tests for performance. Just because a product bears the mark of a NRTL does not necessarily
mean that it is a quality product, just a safe one.
However, it is not uncommon to see that some of the safety specifications that are required to be marked on the product
are used for marketing purposes.
Power management products are tested under standard UL 1363 – Re-locatable Power Taps, which applies to products
that extend power to multiple outlets as an extension of the branch circuit. In addition, devices whose function is to
suppress surge energy to AC loads are tested under standard UL 1449 – Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors. Most
power management solutions are sold as power taps and surge protectors, so they have to meet the requirements of
both standards.
In addition to UL1449 and UL1363, power management products are also subject to several other standards,
including:
• UL 498 – Attachment Plugs and Receptacles
• UL1283 – Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Filters
* See “Safety Mark Sidebar on page 2
PANAMAX INC. • 1690 CORPORATE CIRCLE • PETALUMA, CA 94954 • 707-263-1010 • FAX: 707-283-5901
Advanced AC Power Management Solutions
• CSA C22.2 No. 21 – Cord Sets and Power Supply Cords
• CSA C22.2 No. 0.4 – Grounding and Bonding
• CSA C22.2 No. 8 – Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Filters
There are several advantages to using more than one NRTL. For example, Panamax/Furman certifies products with UL,
the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Intertek (ETL), and TUV. The company uses more than one lab for two main
reasons. First, certain key customers require certification from a specific lab. For example, a Canadian customer would
prefer a CSA mark, while a U.S. customer might prefer a UL mark. The second reason concerns project completion time.
In most projects, safety certification is the last activity of the product development process and is almost always on the
critical path. Test labs can have very long project queues. In that case, the decision is often made to use a lab that can
get the project through the process more quickly.
Safety certification is an important qualification for any power management solution. When selecting a product for any
application, the presence of an NRTL mark should be a determining factor. This mark can be from UL or any other of
the many certified laboratories. Without it, the manufacturer either has not made the effort to make its product safe, or
the product did not meet safety standards when tested. In either case, it is a clear indicator that the product does not
belong in your application.
About the Author
Jerry Hoopes has been with Panamax since 1992 and has held the role of
Engineering Manager since 1998. He has also been a voting member of the
UL 1449 Standards Technical Panel (STP) since 2003. The STP is a group of
industry representatives that drafts the content of the UL 1449 standard. Jerry
may be reached at jerryh@panamax.com.
Reference Links
OSHA
• OSHA NRTL – Link
• OSHA NRTL FAQ – Link
Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL)
• Underwriters Laboratories (UL) – Link
• Canadian Standards Association (CSA) – Link
• TÜV SÜD America Inc. – Link
• Intertek ETL – Link
Standards
• UL 1363 - Relocatable Power Taps – Link
• UL 1449 - Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors – Link
• UL 498 - Attachment Plugs and Receptacles – Link
• UL1283 - Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Filters – Link
UL Standards Technical Panel
• Standards Technical Panel – Link
Safety Marks
This symbol indicates the UL lab
certification for both Canadian
and United States use.
This symbol indicates the TÜV
SÜD lab certification for both
Canadian and United States use.
This symbol indicates the
CSA lab certification for both
Canadian and United States use.
This symbol indicates the
Intertek lab certification for both
Canadian and United States use.
Rev. 080909-F
PANAMAX INC. • 1690 CORPORATE CIRCLE • PETALUMA, CA 94954 • 707-263-1010 • FAX: 707-283-5901