LED Lighting Certifications: What Do They Mean?
Not all LED lights are created equal. Learn how certifications like UL, ETL, and RoHS ensure safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility. Empower your lighting choices with confidence.
Many cheap LED products lack minimum safety, environmental, and performance standards, leaving consumers unsure about product reliability. Thankfully, there are a number of recognized LED lighting certifications that people can rely upon. Let’s look at some of these certifications and what they mean for consumers.
UL Listed/Recognized
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) is an American safety and consulting company offering services in 104 countries worldwide. Established in 1894, UL first gained recognition by drafting safety standards and conducting safety analyses for electrical devices and components as the rise of residential electricity transmission made electronics ubiquitous in American households.
As an LED lighting certification, UL Listed means that UL has tested representative product samples and determined they meet UL’s requirements based on its published Standards for Safety. The safety certification may include additional information, meaning the product is UL Listed for Canada and the U.S.
A UL Recognized product is similarly tested for safety against rigorous standards; however, a Recognized product differs from a Listed product because it is meant to be used as part or component of a system where all the components are either UL Listed or Recognized. For example, the Electronic Grade Silicone Sealant Adhesive that we sell is UL Recognized because it can be used in conjunction with our UL Listed Wet Location Strip Lights and has been proven to work safely together.
UL certification also involves testing for fire safety and durability, ensuring the product performs reliably over time, especially for lights that run continuously. This makes UL Listed products particularly valuable for both residential and commercial settings.
When used correctly, UL Listed LED lights are safe for use in your home or business.
Visit the UL Website if you’d like to read more.
ETL Listing
While many people may be most familiar with UL as the primary listing organization in the US, ETL is another organization that oversees the safety concerns of consumer electrical products. Electrical Testing Labs has been around almost as long as UL, founded in 1896 by Thomas Edison, and is now owned by Intertek. Intertek’s seal of approval is called the ETL Listing and is one of the most widely used safety certifications worldwide.
ETL listed products are put through a barrage of safety tests to ensure that electrical products are safe to use in the US, Canada, and several other parts of the world.
Like UL, ETL ensures that the product meets fire and shock safety standards, making it an equally trustworthy certification.
Some good examples of our ETL listed products are our Victory LED Puck Lights and our ClickBright LED Light Bars.
You can check out the Intertek website here.
CE Compliant
The CE mark is mandated for certain products sold within the European Economic Area, enabling freedom of movement in the European market.
This marking means that the manufactured product meets EU safety, health, and environmental standards stipulated by legislation. Products marked with CE are not necessarily produced in Europe, but the marking means they can legally be sold there.
CE compliance also shows that the product is designed to be free of electromagnetic interference, ensuring it won’t disrupt or be disrupted by other electronic devices.
All LED lights sold in Europe must carry the CE mark, which is often awarded by authorized third-party organizations. Learn more about the CE mark here.
Title 24 Compliant
Technically speaking, Title 24 is not a lighting certification but part of the California Energy Code. However, for a lighting product to be used in a new installation in the State of California, several criteria must be met to comply with this energy code. Contrary to popular belief, there is no official Title 24 marking or logo to look for on a product, especially since the code is open to change every three years; this has led to many companies creating their own indicator to let you know that their lighting products comply with the requirements to be used in a Title 24 approved application.
When it comes to lighting specifically, white lights are the only type of lighting that needs to meet Title 24 JA8 requirements
JA8-compliant lights are tested to ensure high energy efficiency, minimal flicker, and durability, making them ideal for sustainable projects.
Check out our variety of Static White LED Strip Lights, and look for the Title 24 language on almost all of our spec sheets to ensure compliance with your installation.
One of our favorite resources for learning more about Title 24 is Energy Code Ace.
RoHS Compliant
RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances and sets standards for electrical and electronic products. All products sold in the EU must be RoHS compliant.
RoHS Compliance means the product does not exceed maximum levels for six restricted materials, including lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers.
Products marked with RoHS are also considered safer to recycle or dispose of, helping reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste.
Consumers who see the RoHS marking can be confident that their LED lights don’t contain unacceptable levels of the restricted materials listed above. The RoHS website has additional information if you want to learn more.
Still have questions about LED lighting certifications for your project?
Have questions about LED lighting certifications or quality standards? At Flexfire LEDs, we’re here to help! Our high-quality LED lighting products are proudly UL listed, ETL listed, and Title 24 JA8 compliant, meeting some of the most trusted safety and performance standards in the U.S. and Canada. Plus, every product comes with a minimum 7-year warranty so that you can feel confident in your purchase. Contact us today —our team is ready to guide you!
