ETL vs UL Electrical Certifications: What's The Difference?

At Docking Drawer we're proud to be the market leader of in-drawer electrical outlets. Offering a full array of solutions, we are committed to charging and powering today's connected lifestyle with innovative solutions. Best of all, every outlet is electrically certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTLs). But we get a lot of questions about what that means. So today we're going to explain in plain English the difference between being ETL-listed or UL-listed.

Electrical Certifications in Plain English

ETL and UL are both Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) which are independent laboratories recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). They are both internationally accredited labs capable of testing to a variety of standards including UL962a and CSA C22.2 (Canada). Intertek, our product testing company, uses the "ETL" symbol as their approval mark.

All Docking Drawer outlets are tested by Intertek, which is an independent Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). These labs test products to the specifications of product safety codes. In other words, products are tested for their intended use. If they can't pass these tests safely then they are not in compliance.

But at Docking Drawer we're in compliance with accepted national standards (UL 962a and CSA C22.2 No. 21). And for our friends in Canada, the Style Drawer Blade, Style Drawer Blade Duo, and Style Drawer Vertical Organizer are built to accommodate the new Docking Drawer Interlock box. This addition satisfies the requirements listed in section 26-710 of the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) that stipulate that an outlet be de-energized when a drawer is closed. This makes the Style Drawer Vertical Organizer the first ever in-drawer outlet to pass CEC inspections in Canada.

What's The Difference Between Listings?

As far as regulatory approval goes, there isn't a difference between ETL and UL listings. Inspectors treat them equally as they're both approved by the US Government as NRTLs.

That being said, UL has an additional classification of mark called UL Recognized. It's intended for components installed inside of finished and listed devices. UL intends for recognized components to be specified and installed by technical people in a factory environment. They are not intended to be used and installed in the field.

Find Out More.

At Docking Drawer, we believe in being transparent with our customers. That's why we make our certifications available for anyone to read. Find our ETL certification here.

Do you still have questions about our outlets? Contact us today.