March 14, 2025
UL 48 Label Compliance: What you need to know
Changes to UL Labeling and what it means for your Channel Letter Signs
Did you know that understanding UL compliance makes you invaluable to both customers and peers? The more you grasp the technical side of our business, the more trust and credibility you build—which means smoother sales, fewer issues, and a stronger reputation.
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certification isn’t just a stamp—it’s what keeps signs safe, compliant, and install-ready. Many cities require UL-listed signage for approval, and customers who skip this step often face delays, fines, or costly rework. That’s why we make UL compliance a non-negotiable standard in everything we produce.
Direct Sign Wholesale follows all UL codes for electrical signage, ensuring:
- Safety – Our products meet rigorous testing standards, preventing fire hazards and electrical failures.
- Code Compliance – Cities, states, and inspectors recognize UL listings, preventing installation delays or rework.
- Quality Assurance – UL certification verifies that our products are built to last and function safely over time.
- Liability Protection – Using UL-compliant signage reduces risk for our customers, helping them avoid legal and insurance issues.
Related Article: Why You Should Buy UL Listed Signs
Here’s what you need to know about the recent rule change:
- Customers may have questions / concerns about a recent inspection failure post-install. Although this rule took effect in July, the newsletter didn’t go out to electrical inspectors until October and there’s still a lag in information. ***Electrical inspectors who are not yet aware of a recent update to the UL 48 rules that took effect on July 1, 2024 may incorrectly fail inspections for channel-letter signs with compliant UL labels:
- To many inspectors, the absence of the visible UL mark on each channel letter is an indication that the sign being inspected is not UL approved. In some cases, channel letter signs inspected after July 1 are being evaluated and inspected based on the previous UL 48 rules, which is causing correctly labeled signs to fail inspection.
- The full UL 48 rule is attached here. Please save to your desktop and feel free to email any customer that is looking for a resource.
- Additionally, the International Sign Association (ISA), has also provided additional details here. You can also download the article here.
Our Production managers and QC dept are in full compliance. Our UL inspector found us to be lock-step during his most recent visit.
The following info came directly from the ISA (Int’l Sign Assoc) website and is easy to read/comprehend. I’ve underlined and bolded the most critical parts:
OLD UL RULES
Previously, UL rules stated that each section of a channel letter sign must be marked with a label. Each listing mark indicated that a piece of the Section Sign would be labeled: section 1 of 10, 2 of 10, 3 of 10, and so on. Every piece of the sign was labeled as it left the factory. Upon field assembly and installation, that sign might have 9 or 10 labels visible, with one on every letter.NEW UL RULES
The new UL rules say that this same sign could be labeled as a UL “Electric Sign” with the mark placed on the raceway or enclosure that contains the power supply. The individual letters (field-wired with only Class 2 wiring) are considered part of a single multi-housing sign. This means the individual letters are not required to be labeled separately with the “UL Electric Sign Section” listing mark that was previously visible on channel letters.
Additional Options for Customers
We understand that some customers may prefer a full set of UL labels for their channel letter signs to meet specific needs. If this applies to you, we can accommodate this request for an additional charge.
We’re Here to Support You
At Direct Sign Wholesale, we’re committed to helping you navigate this transition. If you have questions or need assistance with inspections or labeling, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your continued trust and partnership!