Getting UL listing
- Thread starter WinZip
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it varies depending on several factors including the type and complexity of the product, and whether any of the components used require additional testing. I recently obtained a quote from a NRTL for a relatively simple device, constructed entirely from listed devices or recognized components inside a custom steel enclosure and it came in at around $12K.
its not cheap. that 12K was plus another $XXXX a year to maintain the listing and for quartly inspections (which I believe also incur travel charges)
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
When I worked for manufacturers, the generally accepted internal value that needed to be amortized into projected sales was $20,000 per line item for UL listing. maybe a little less for devices that had no protective function built-in. In other words when we in Engineering proposed a new product design, accounting assigned an NRC ( Non-Recurring Cost/Charge) of $20k per line item that needed to be recouped in the first 2-5 years of projected sales. They would take that to the Sales Dept for projected unit sales volume and then split that up as part of the unit cost that went into the pricing structure. So if Sales said they could sell 10,000 units, the UL cost was only $2 each. But if Sales said "We can sell 100 units" then the UL cost was $200 each and that would affect the sell price greatly. It killed a LOT of great ideas...
That's why I always laugh at people who look at some small device and say "I could built that myself for 1/10 of what they want to charge for it!" but they have no clue as to what it costs to attain (let alone maintain) UL listing.
That's why I always laugh at people who look at some small device and say "I could built that myself for 1/10 of what they want to charge for it!" but they have no clue as to what it costs to attain (let alone maintain) UL listing.
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thats one of my pet peeves. I always tell them 'wow ok, go ahead and make them and ill buy them from you'. That shuts them up pretty quick.
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
ETL is a whole lot cheaper, as a rule.
LJSMITH1
Senior Member
- Location
- Stratford, CT
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
It depends a lot on what it is.
If it can be classified under UL508a, all you really have to do is have a panel shop that is listed by UL build it for you.
UL508a (industrial control panels) is basically any assembly of parts with wires attached to it that does not fall under any other UL category.
Not an appropriate listing for a component or consumer goods.
russ
Senior Member
- Location
- Burbank IL
I had a problem recently with an unlisted sign / running message board. It was sold to a store owner by a sales rep dealing just in selling signs.
After it's bought, the buyer must hire an electrician, or sign company to install it.
By then the seller is gone, the sign gets put up, then we find out it's not listed.
I checked with a testing lab and was give an approximate price of $1,500.00 for a field evaluation. Pretty steep for a store owner who thought he was getting a sign at a reasonable price of a few thousand dollars.
We have instituted a new policy of getting the sign listing info at the time the permit is applied for.
After it's bought, the buyer must hire an electrician, or sign company to install it.
By then the seller is gone, the sign gets put up, then we find out it's not listed.
I checked with a testing lab and was give an approximate price of $1,500.00 for a field evaluation. Pretty steep for a store owner who thought he was getting a sign at a reasonable price of a few thousand dollars.
We have instituted a new policy of getting the sign listing info at the time the permit is applied for.
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