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What's the difference between the UL and MET Listed Marks?

The UL and MET marks both indicate that the product has met the minimum requirements of the applicable safety standards. Additionally, both marks validate the product's continued compliance to these standards as evidenced by periodic factory follow-up inspections. The main difference between these two marks is with the level of involvement and partnership between the manufacturer and the test lab. MET does not believe in putting the manufacturer in a defensive mode. MET's safety engineers are customer oriented, and will keep an open line of communication with their client to prevent unnecessary and costly delays.

What is an NRTL?

NRTL is a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory. In 1970, Congress created OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration to "assure as far as possible every working man and woman in the nation safe and healthful working conditions." In the same year OSHA published its regulation 1910.308(d) stating the electrical equipment would be held acceptable "if it is accepted or certified, or listed, or labelled or otherwise determined to be safe, by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), such as, but not limited to Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and Factory Mutual [Research] Corporation." OSHA did not however provide a means of determining how a lab could gain NRTL status.
MET sued OSHA, three times, which eventually resulted in the creation of a set of criteria to which a lab could prove itself to be worthy of NRTL status. MET in 1988 became the nation's first NRTL, making good OSHA's pledge to undo the "anti-competitive effects" created by its regulations. Thanks to MET Laboratories, manufacturers were freed from the strangle hold of an implied federal monopoly. Consumers are the ultimate benefactors of the improved safety measures in the market that comes with an increase in the number of testing agencies and the outside monitoring of these agencies.

Since UL writes the safety standards, don’t manufacturers need to display the UL mark?

The legal requirement is that the laboratory which performs the testing is a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) recognized by OSHA. While UL does coordinate standards writing, they are only one of several NRTLs for testing and certification.

Do retail stores sell products with the MET Listed Mark?

MET listed products are sold in more than 7000 retail stores throughout the United States. There is no reason why retailers should not accept products bearing the MET Listed Mark. The MET Mark indicates that the product has been evaluated for safety by a approved independent lab in accordance with the national standard. MET is available to provide the necessary information if any retail store requests clarification of the national requirements. Retailers accepting products that bear the MET NRTL Mark include WAL-MART, Best Buy, Lowe's, Home Depot, Radio Shack and CompUSA.

How does the MET label prove that a product meets the national requirements?

The MET Mark indicates national compliance by virtue of MET's equivalent accreditations to UL and CSA. The MET mark clearly indicates compliance to US and Canadian requirements. At the client's option, the MET mark can specify the applicable UL and/or CSA standard to which the product complies.

What products have MET tested? What manufacturers have relied on MET?

MET is approved by OSHA to certify products in over 151 categories.

MET has tested products as diverse as:

* telephones
* power washers
* computers
* gas detectors
* air conditioners
* residential washing machines
* blenders
* power tools
* medical equipment
* modems
* home audio equipment

A small sample of our client base is noted below:

* Acer
* AMF Bowling
* BlackBox
* Ciena
* Cisco
* GE
* Huawei
* Hughes Network System
* IBM
* JDSU
* Lightchip
* Mine Safety Appliances Co.
* Motorola Computer Group
* Nokia
* Nortel
* Polyphasor
* Samsung
* Radio Shack
* TELLABS
* Visual Networks
* Vertical Communications

What countries accept the MET Mark?

The MET Mark for product safety is accepted throughout the United States and Canada. For Canada, MET was one of the first labs to be fully accepted by the Standards Council of Canada as a Certification Body. The MET-c Mark is recognized by the Standards Council of Canada and provincial authorities throughout Canada. In addition, MET is one of the few labs in the US with international recognition as a National Certification body (NCB) as part of the IEEE CB scheme that includes over 52 countries.
Thanks to MET Laboratories, manufacturers, professional safety inspectors and consumers can enjoy the full benefits of having the freedom of choice in selecting a qualified lab for product certification.

Do States and local jurisdictions have requirements for product safety certification?

Many, but not all, States, cities and counties have requirements for product safety certification. MET is approved by all of those States and local jurisdictions that have an approval program.

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