Why Should I Buy a UL Listed Sign?

When it comes to signage for your business, safety and reliability should be top priorities. Choosing a sign that is UL listed isn’t just a smart choice — it’s an essential one. But what exactly does “UL listed” mean, and why is it so important for your business? Today we’ll explore the significance of UL certification for signage, how UL listed products enhance safety, quality, and trust, and why it’s a smart investment for any business looking to protect both its property and reputation.

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What are UL Listed Signs?

UL listed or UL certified signs are built by a UL certified manufacturer to meet the stringent regulations and standards set forth by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a globally recognized independent safety certification organization. This certification signifies that a sign meets rigorous safety standards, particularly in electrical safety, and is safe for use in various environments. UL certified signs and their components undergo thorough testing and regular inspections to ensure compliance with industry regulations. Maintaining UL certification requires ongoing adherence to safety standards, not just a one-time test, ensuring that the sign remains reliable, safe, and of high quality.

The Importance of UL Listed Signs

The importance of UL Listed Signs cannot be overstated for businesses. UL certification guarantees that signage meets stringent safety standards and complies with both local and national regulations. By opting for UL listed signs, businesses significantly reduce risks associated with electrical hazards and other safety concerns. This can potentially lead to lower insurance premiums, as insurers often recognize the reduced risk associated with UL certified products.

Additionally, these signs enhance a company’s credibility and demonstrate a strong commitment to safety and regulatory compliance. The use of UL listed wiring, power supplies, and lighting components also provides peace of mind, ensuring that the product is more likely to withstand the elements and maintain its integrity over time.

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Enhanced Safety

UL listed signs adhere to strict safety standards, ensuring they perform reliably under various conditions. This significantly reduces the risk of electrical malfunctions, fires, or other hazards, safeguarding both property and people.

Quality Control 

Products with UL certification undergo thorough quality control measures. This means that UL listed signs are consistently reliable and durable, ensuring they meet the high standards required for business signage.

Increased Trust

Displaying the UL logo signals to customers and employees that your business values safety and quality. This mark of certification helps build trust and showcases your commitment to delivering the best products and safest environments.

Avoid Unreliable Products and Counterfeits

The UL listing and UL logo helps protect against inferior, counterfeit products. By choosing UL certified signs, businesses can ensure they are getting genuine, high-quality signage that meets safety and performance standards.

Regulatory Compliance

UL listed signs have been tested to meet local and national safety regulations, which can help businesses avoid potential legal issues. Compliance with these regulations ensures that signs are installed correctly and function safely, as well as pass inspections down the road.

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UL Listed Sign Codes & Compliance

When ordering a channel letter sign, it’s essential to ensure compliance with various codes and regulations. Here’s what to consider:

• Building Codes: These codes dictate the load bearing, structural integrity, and installation requirements such as wind resistance and seismic sustainability, ensuring signs can withstand local weather conditions and other environmental factors.
• Electrical Codes: Compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC) along with local amendments is crucial. This includes proper wiring, grounding, circuit breakers, power supplies,  and the use of weather-resistant materials for electrical components. Non-UL listed signs may not meet safety standards for electrical components, increasing the risk of short circuits, and blown fuses, potentially leading to fire hazards.
• Zoning Regulations: Local zoning laws may restrict sign type, size, illumination, building materials, construction, and placement, to name a few. It’s necessary to verify these regulations before purchasing any outdoor signage, to avoid any violations.
• Permitting Requirements: Most localities require permits for sign installation, often involving detailed plans and specifications for approval. These areas may have additional requirements for illuminated signs. Checking with your municipality is important to make sure your or your client’s sign is adhering to these requirements.
• UL Certification: Many jurisdictions require signs to be UL certified, ensuring they meet safety standards for electrical products.
• Local Ordinances: These can include rules about sign appearance, lighting, and maintenance, so reviewing them is essential for compliance with all local aesthetic and functional standards.library.municode.com
• Professional Installation: Only licensed professionals should install electrical signage. In some cases, a sign installer with a specific license, such as a Sign Erection (SE) license, may be required to pull the necessary permits, as well as do the installation.

Explained: UL Listed Vs. National Electrical Code (NEC)

While the terms “UL Listed” and “National Electrical Code (NEC)” are related, they refer to different aspects of electrical safety and standards.

UL Listed

Underwriters Laboratories is a globally recognized safety certification company. A product with a UL listing has been built, tested, and evaluated to meet specific safety standards, ensuring it is safe for use. UL certification is not the only listing, as other Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) also certify products. That said, UL is still one of the most well known and widely recognized product evaluators.

National Electrical Code (NEC)

The NEC, or NFPA 70, is a set of safety standards for electrical wiring and equipment in the U.S. It’s published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as the benchmark for electrical hazard prevention. The code provides guidelines for safe electrical installations, covering various topics like wiring methods and grounding.

Relationship Between UL Listing and NEC 

The NEC requires that electrical products be “listed” by an NRTL, such as UL. This means the products must be tested and certified to meet safety standards before use in installations governed by the NEC. While the NEC sets the rules for safe electrical installations, UL and other NRTLs provide the testing and certification to ensure that products meet those rules.

6 Steps to Ensure Compliance & Safety After Installation

To maintain compliance and safety after sign installation, businesses should follow these steps:

1. Regular Inspections: Regularly inspect signs to ensure integrity and verify all electrical components are intact and properly functioning. This is crucial after severe weather events that could damage the sign.
2. Maintenance: Clean and maintain signs regularly to keep them visible and in good condition. Tighten screws or bolts that may have loosened with age, and make sure to do so gently so as not to crack sign faces or casings. 
3. Compliance Checks: Periodically review signage against current building codes and fire safety standards to ensure ongoing compliance, as these regulations are often updated. Building fire codes and other models are updated every 3-6 years, so it is important to make sure that you are aware of any changes.
4. Training and Awareness: Educate employees about the importance of UL listed signage especially when outsourcing or purchasing. In emergencies, know your signage’s electrical components and power switch locations. Train on local codes and regulations to provide legal, safe, and compliant signage products. 
5. Documentation: Keep detailed records of all signage inspections, maintenance, and compliance checks. This documentation is vital for audits and inspections.
6. Professional Assessment: Ensure all sign installations and assessments are conducted by licensed professionals. Using a licensed professional electrician for installing your signage ensures safety, compliance with local regulations, durability, and quality. Electricians can also provide regular maintenance to prevent issues and extend the sign’s lifespan. 

Secure Your Business with UL Listed Signs

Don’t leave your business’s future in the hands of chance or inferior electrical products. Choosing UL listed signs is essential for ensuring safety, quality, and long-term reliability. The UL certification provides peace of mind, ensuring that your signage meets the highest level of reliability and safety standards. To safeguard your business, protect your customers, and maintain compliance with regulatory bodies, UL listed signs offer unmatched assurance. Always look for the “UL Listed” or “UL Certified” mark to ensure you’re getting a product worthy of your trust. 

At Direct Sign Wholesale, we have been crafting top-of-the-line channel letter signs for over 20 years. As a UL Certified company, we ensure that every letter and sign we produce is built with top-quality materials, including UL listed wiring, power supplies, and LEDs. This guarantees that each sign adheres to the stringent regulations set forth by UL. To maintain our certification and uphold these high standards, we undergo yearly inspections and testing. We are proud to provide our customers with products they can trust. If you’re interested in learning more about our highest-quality signage solutions, feel free to contact us with questions or request a quote for custom wholesale channel letters that are as stunning as they are reliable.