1. Certification Introduction

ETL certification is required for products exported to the United States and Canada. The ETL mark is recognized as equivalent to the UL or CSA mark and complies with relevant safety standards. Any electrical, mechanical, or electromechanical product bearing the ETL mark indicates that it meets the minimum requirements of widely recognized U.S. and Canadian product safety standards. It has been tested to comply with relevant product safety standards and signifies that the manufacturing factory agrees to undergo strict periodic inspections to ensure consistent product quality, allowing it to be sold in both the U.S. and Canadian markets.

2. Certification Marks

ETLus mark (only "us," no "c"): Safety mark for products entering the U.S. market.

cETL mark (only "c," no "us"): Safety mark for products entering the Canadian market.

cETLus mark: Safety mark for products entering both the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Factory inspections: U.S. ETL certification requires 4 inspections per year, while Canadian certification requires 2 inspections per year. If both are required, there will be 4 inspections per year.

3. Product Scope

ETL provides product safety testing covering a wide range of products, fields, and markets, including power tools, household appliances, telecommunications and IT products, components, lighting fixtures, HVAC, medical devices, toys, and more.

Common examples include: power tools, household appliances, communication products, lighting fixtures, switches, machinery and equipment, electronic components, and other products.

4. Certification Documentation

Currently, there are two ways to obtain an ETL certificate: one is through a CB test report conversion, and the other is by direct application. The required documents are as follows:

(1) Application form

(2) Copy of CB test certificate (not required for direct application)

(3) Copy of CB test report (not required for direct application)

(4) Samples (4-8 units)

(5) Other relevant test results and product data, such as product description, photos, component list, product performance and specifications, circuit schematic diagrams, etc. (If converting through a CB report, differential testing is required.)

5. Basic Testing Methods

(1) Leakage current test: Samples used for leakage current testing must not have undergone any other tests prior to this test.

(2) Normal temperature rise: Test method: Thermocouple: Standard requires the use of 24-30 AWG thermocouples (currently, the laboratory uses 30 AWG).

(3) Leakage current test after damp heat: General test conditions: T = 32 ± 2°C, RH = 88 ± 2%. Duration: 48 hours. After completion, samples are taken out for leakage current testing under conditions: T = 20-30°C, RH = 93 ± 3%.

(4) Withstand voltage test: General requirements for products without double insulation and grounding: 1000 V / 1 minute (equipment target voltage ramp time set to 5 seconds, cutoff current set to 8.3 mA, then maintained at target voltage for 1 minute).