Why aren’t Solais lamps UL listed? Why are they ETL? Which is better ETL or UL? We at Solais get asked these questions all the time. I’m going to try and briefly explain the ETL vs. UL showdown here.

What is UL? UL is a certification provided by Underwriters Laboratories. It certifies that products for sale in the United States have met the minimum requirements of prescribed product safety standards.

What is ETL? ETL is a certification provided by Intertek. It certifies that products for sale in the United States have met the minimum requirements of prescribed product safety standards.

What? That’s the same definition! Yes, it is.

The legal requirement to test and certify products for sale in the United States is a designation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). An NRTL functions to provide independent evaluation, testing, and certification of any electrically operated or gas and oil-fired product. Intertek is recognized as a NRTL in the United States.

Why does Solais use ETL instead of the more familiar UL? Well, that’s simple. Intertek works collaboratively with the manufacturer to set up custom-tailored testing. This results in a quicker turnaround, allowing for a quicker ETL label on new products.

How does this benefit the customer? There is a lot less time between lamp design and lamp availability with safety certification. That means we can get , safer and more efficient lamps to you even faster.