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MCG SURGE PROTECTION
An ISO 9001:2008 Listed Company
08/05/2010
UL Listed Versus
UL Compliant: What’s the Difference?
Important
Information About UL You Need to Know
MCG Surge Protection, along with other
manufacturers of SPD equipment , have long complied with UL
standards in order to be able to carry the UL mark – a universally
recognized symbol of safety to industry, users, specifiers, and the
insurance companies that underwrite the protected equipment and
facilities.
In 2006, a new standard was released
titled UL Standard for Safety for Surge Protective Devices, UL1449
Third Edition, dated September 29, 2006. As a result, manufacturers
were required to retest products to ensure that they comply with the
new standard by 9/29/2009. The new standard adds:
1. Consolidates transient voltage surge
suppressors and surge arrestors into a single category: surge
protective devices (SPD).
2. Classifies transient voltage surge
suppressors (TVSS) and surge arrestors into four categories - Type
1, 2, 3, and 4.
3. Changes the UL rating from SVR
(Suppressed Voltage Rating) to VPR (Voltage Protection Rating) which
is performed at a higher surge current level of 3kA, as opposed to
500A for the SVR. As a result of this, VPR data are usually higher
than the older SVR due to the higher amplitude surge current used to
establish the VPR.
4. Adds the Nominal Discharge Current (In)
test sequence which subjects the SPD to a sequence of surges at a
current level chosen by the manufacturer. This is analogous to an
“accelerated life test” which compares protector performance before
the test sequence and after the test sequence to ensure that the
protection circuits are still functioning within specification.
5. Requires new markings on the protector
such as:
1. SPD type (Type 1, 2, 3, or 4)
2. Nominal Discharge Current (In)
rating i.e. In=5kA
3. Maximum Continuous Operating
Voltage (MCOV)
4. Date of Period of Manufacture
5. SCCR (Short circuit Current Rating)
6. VPR (Voltage Protection Rating)
Also, a new gold UL holographic label with
the term “SPD” on it is used to differentiate the new UL1449 3rd
Ed Listed products from the previous UL1449 2nd Ed
products.
Other companies elected to bypass UL
altogether and test to the new requirements using an independent,
non-UL lab. In this case, it is the lab’s interpretation of the UL
standard that is in question, as the products may not be tested in
the same manner that UL tests them. Cost savings are substantial
and turnaround is significantly faster. Problem – testing to the
standard and being compliant to the standard does not confer a UL
listing. If there is no UL listing, there’s no UL mark. It
cannot be displayed on any units tested outside of UL.
Manufacturers who used other labs are
taking great care to make it look like their products are UL listed,
or in the event a potential customer reads the fine print, to assure
that UL compliant is the same as UL Listed. They use the words,
“Products Listed or Compliant to new UL Requirements”, and even wrap
them in gold starbursts for authenticity.
Big Question: If TVSS (or any other
electrical equipment) is not UL-Listed, will your insurance company
pay on a claim should a calamity, such as a fire or an explosion,
occur?
Conclusion: Read the specs and visit the
UL website – UL Listed means a unit may bear the UL mark. UL
compliant units tested outside of UL will bear the mark of the
independent testing lab, not the UL label.
MCG has invested the time and money in the
UL Listing. We meet the specs and can legitimately display the UL
mark on our products. Click here to see our listing:
http://database.ul.com/cgi-bin/XYV/template/LISEXT/1FRAME/index.htm
Go to “Begin a Basic Search” and type: “MCG Electronics” into the
company field and click on the “Search” or press “Enter” on your
keyboard.
Sincerely,
Christine Jelley
CEO
MCG Surge Protection
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ISO9001:2008 File Number: 10002093