LED Lighting Certifications: What Do They Mean?
While consumers are learning more about LED lighting, there are still many questions to be answered. Many LED products lack minimum safety, environmental and performance standards, leaving consumers unsure about product reliability. Thankfully, there are a number of recognized LED lighting certifications that consumers can rely upon. Let’s take a look at some of these certifications, and what they actually mean for consumers.
UL Listed
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) is an American safety and consulting company offering services in 104 countries worldwide. Established in 1894, UL first gained recognition by drafting safety standards and conducting safety analysis for electrical devices and components as the rise of residential electricity transmission made electronics ubiquitous in American households.
As an LED lighting certification, UL Listed means that UL has tested representative samples of the product and determined it meets UL’s requirements based on its published Standards for Safety. The safety certification may also include additional information, meaning the product is UL Listed for Canada and the U.S.
The UL logo used alone on packaging means the product and all its components have successfully passed UL examination as a working unit.
LED lights that are UL Listed are safe for use in your home or business. Here is the UL Listed Website if you’d like to read more.
CE Marking
The CE mark is mandated for certain products sold within the European Economic Area, enabling freedom of movement in the European market.
This marking means that the manufactured product meets EU safety, health and environmental standards that have been stipulated by legislation. Products demarcated with CE are not necessarily produced in Europe, but the marking means they can legally be sold there.
All LED lights sold in Europe must carry the CE mark, which is often awarded by authorized third party organizations.
Here is the CE mark website.
CSA Group
The CSA (Compliance, Standards, Accountability) Group is a Canadian standards development organization that accredits products to a wide range of standards certification from many different organizations. CSA marks in lighting can provide product evaluation, energy efficiency verification, test and certification, and quality standards certification for the lighting industry.
CSA markings ensure that an LED light meets certain product standards, such as energy efficiency metrics set by Energy Star. CSA is recognized by many government agencies including the EPA.
Here is the CSA Group Website.
RoHS Compliant
RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances and sets standards for electrical and electronic products. All products sold in the EU must be RoHS compliant.
RoHS Compliancy means the product does not exceed maximum levels for six restricted materials including lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers.
Consumers who see the RoHS marking can be confident that their LED lights don’t contain unacceptable levels of the restricted materials listed above.
Here is the RoHS website.
Still have questions about LED lighting certification?
Contact Flexfire LEDs if you have any more questions about LED lighting certifications or quality standards. Our high quality UL Listed LED strip lights meet the highest standards on the market and are all delivered with a minimum two-year warranty.