Guide · Buying and safety
UL, ETL, CSA and CE on power tools
UL, ETL and CSA marks come from recognized certifiers; CE is a European marking. What each means on a polisher, charger or paint gauge, and how to check it.
Short answer
UL, ETL and CSA marks come from certification bodies that test products to safety standards; Intertek says an ETL mark meets the same requirements as other recognized marks.[1] CE is a European marking, and Health Canada does not name it among the marks to look for on plug-in products.[2] For a corded polisher or a charger, look for a UL, ETL or CSA mark (or cUL, cETL) on the product itself, and treat a logo you only see in listing photos as unverified.
The marks at a glance
| Mark | Who stands behind it | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| UL | UL LLC, an OSHA-recognized NRTL[3] | Certification by a recognized lab to standards such as UL 62841 for hand-held tools |
| ETL | Intertek, an OSHA-recognized NRTL[1] | Intertek says the product was independently tested and certified to applicable safety standards |
| CSA, cUL, cETL | Accredited certification bodies | Health Canada names these marks for plug-in products[2] |
| cULus | UL | A UL listing for Canada and the US, as Milwaukee's polisher manual labels it[4] |
| CE, UKCA | The maker, for European and UK markets | Not one of the marks Health Canada names[2] |
UL and ETL: same program, different labs
In the US, safety certification for workplace equipment runs through OSHA's program of Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs). UL LLC is one; its recognized standards include UL 62841-1 (general requirements for hand-held electric tools), UL 62841-2-3 (grinders, disc-type polishers and sanders) and UL 62841-2-4 (sanders and polishers other than disc type).[3] That list shows which standard a polisher would be certified to. It is not evidence that any particular polisher is certified.
Intertek is another NRTL. It says its ETL Listed Mark shows a product was independently tested and certified by Intertek to applicable safety standards, and that ETL-marked products meet the same requirements as products bearing other NRTL marks.[1] So "UL vs ETL" is not a choice between a real mark and a lesser one.
CSA and Canada
Health Canada says electrical products that plug into an outlet must meet Canadian national safety standards and be certified by an accredited certification body, and it tells consumers to look for marks such as CSA, cUL or cETL.[2] It also says certification marks must appear on the product itself, not just the packaging.[5]
CE and UKCA
CE and UKCA are markings for the European and UK markets. Health Canada does not list CE among the marks it tells Canadians to look for.[2] A CE or UKCA mark on its own therefore gives no evidence of North American safety certification.
UNI-T's page for its UT343E paint gauge is an example: it lists CE and UKCA as the certificates, and no UL, ETL, CSA, FCC or ISED marks.[6] An absent mark on a web page does not prove a product has none, but it means no North American mark can be claimed from that page.
Radio rules are not safety marks
Bluetooth paint gauges contain a radio, so interference rules apply in addition to any safety mark. In the US, the FCC's KDB 300643 sets out measurement procedures for Part 15 intentional and unintentional radiators; it does not say which gauges need an FCC ID.[7] In Canada, ISED's ICES-003 is the interference-causing equipment standard for information technology equipment, including digital apparatus.[8] These rules are about interference, not shock or fire safety, and whether a given gauge is covered has to be checked model by model. The Bluetooth gauge guide covers what the app adds.
Batteries and chargers
A cordless tool's battery and charger are evaluated too. UL Solutions tests power-tool batteries and chargers to standards including UL 2595 (battery-powered appliances), UL/IEC 62841-1, IEC/UL 60335-2-29 (battery chargers) and UN 38.3, and states that all lithium-ion batteries must be tested to UN 38.3 before shipping.[9] Makita USA says using non-genuine batteries voids the tool's UL/CSA approval as well as the Makita warranty.[10] See genuine vs aftermarket tool batteries.
How to check a mark
- Find the mark on the product, on the rating label or nameplate, not only in the listing photos.[5]
- Read the maker's manual. Milwaukee's manual for the 2684-20 and 2685-20 polishers, for example, shows the cULus mark in its symbology.[4]
- Note the certifier and the exact model, then confirm the listing with the certifier.
- If you cannot confirm it, treat the product as uncertified and judge it on what the maker does state.
Next
Questions
Is an ETL mark as good as a UL mark?
Intertek, which runs ETL and is an OSHA-recognized NRTL, says ETL-marked products meet the same requirements as products bearing other NRTL marks. UL LLC is on the same OSHA program.[1][3]
Which safety standard applies to a car polisher?
OSHA's recognition of UL LLC lists UL 62841-1 for hand-held electric tools, with particular parts such as UL 62841-2-3 for disc-type polishers and sanders and UL 62841-2-4 for sanders and polishers other than disc type. That shows the standard a polisher would be certified to, not that any given product is.[3]
Is a CE mark valid in Canada?
Health Canada says plug-in electrical products must be certified by an accredited certification body and tells consumers to look for marks such as CSA, cUL or cETL. CE is not one of the marks it names.[2]
Where should the mark be?
On the product itself. Health Canada says certification marks must appear on the product, not just the packaging, so a logo in listing photos is not enough.[5]
Do batteries and chargers have their own standards?
Yes. UL Solutions tests power-tool batteries and chargers to standards including UL 2595, UL/IEC 62841-1, IEC/UL 60335-2-29 for chargers and UN 38.3 for shipping.[9]