UL, the global safety science leader, has launched new services to certify products to ANSI/CAN/UL 969A, Standard for Marking and Labeling Systems - Flag Labels, Flag Tags, Wrap-Around Labels and Related Products. UL 969A covers labels and tags affixed to cords or hoses that are intended to provide information such as hazards, warnings, cautionary markings, installation instructions and/or electrical ratings.

Labels, also referred to as nameplates or markers, convey a wide range of information regarding the safe installation or use of a given product. For example, information about a product’s electrical rating can help confirm compatibility with an electrical system or other product, thereby preventing circuit overloads or product failures. Other information can warn users about the risk of electric shock under certain operating conditions, such as proximity to water or sources of moisture, or information on appropriate use environments, e.g., “for indoor use only.” Many electrical, electronic and related technology products are required to be permanently marked with these types of safety-related information.

UL has been testing and certifying labels and related products for over 40 years under its Marking and Labeling Systems Program.  This program is intended to cover labels that have been submitted for evaluation to permanence of marking requirements so that they can be used to display safety-related information on products. Traditionally, most label customers have certified their products to UL 969, Standard for Marking and Labeling Systems. UL 969 primarily covers adhesive-attached labels that are applied to flat surfaces, such as appliance enclosures. UL 969, however, does not cover flag labels, flag tags and wrap-around labels, often referred to as ‘cord tags’.

There are about 50 UL end-product standards and outlines of investigation that have specific requirements for cord tags. Although there are commonalities between the requirements, there are some key differences between the exposures, testing and compliance criteria required for each standard. UL 969A brings all the critical requirements from these various standards into one standard to provide a common set of requirements for many different industries. This will promote the use of consistent permanence of marking requirements across multiple end-product standards.

The genesis of UL 969A stemmed from discussion at a 2017 meeting of UL Standards Technical Panel (STP) 969. Standards technical panels (STPs) are convened by the standards development organization within Underwriters Laboratories, UL’s nonprofit parent organization. STPs are a transparent, open and balanced group of technical experts who are responsible for the development and revision of standards. STP 969 currently has 25 voting members, with members representing the United States, Canada and Sweden. Panel members supported development of the new Standard, and Underwriters Laboratories agreed to work toward its development. The proposal ultimately obtained consensus with zero “no” votes, leading to final publication of UL 969A in July 2020.

Many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) consider third-party testing, certification and verification extremely important when purchasing components. Labels and related products that comply with the Marking and Labeling Systems requirements fall under UL’s Component Certification Program. This program provides a convenient way for product manufacturers to acquire labels that meet marking performance requirements applicable to their UL Certified products. UL's Component Certification Program creates value for end-product manufacturers by driving testing efficiency for commercially available components, such as labels and tags.

“Complying with multiple sets of requirements can result in redundant testing and slow down innovation and time-to-market, leading to higher costs,” explains Ryan Houle, principal engineer for Marking and Labeling Systems at UL. “Using UL 969A for certification simplifies the process of meeting requirements for both product manufacturers and label converters by utilizing a single common set of requirements that can be referenced in multiple end-product standards.”

The program also adds confidence to supply chain integrity by having the component testing and surveillance conducted where the components are manufactured, rather than when they are already being used in an end-product. In turn, component suppliers are able to objectively demonstrate to end-product manufacturers that their components comply with the applicable requirements and enables their buyers’ access to the information through the UL Product iQ® database.

UL boasts a wide range of technical experts that can help manufacturers align their products to the appropriate UL certification category and the applicable standards, enabling manufacturers of UL Certified products to easily source components that meet their compliance needs and project specifications. UL offers testing, inspection, certification, verification, training and advisory services, risk management solutions and essential business insights to help customers in more than 100 countries. The company’s worldwide presence allows it to further provide local services with a global outlook, enabling access to a network of experts in multiple target markets, with the ultimate goal to achieve safety, security and sustainability.