UL Files Withdrawn

[peter246]

Hello,
I attempted to obtain the UL Listing Report for a specific product using the stamped number on the UL-142 label. UL replied that the files were withdrawn over 5 years ago and will not provide any further information. I understand that there are many reasons for files to be withdrawn, and think I know the answer, but I've been asked to definitively answer this specific question:

If a manufacturer's files have been withdrawn, does it necessarily mean that the product does not meet the UL standard.

In this specific case, it is UL-142 (1985), and UL-142 has been updated since then... Thanks in advance!

 

[zappedagain]

It could mean that they manufacturer no longer plans to put the UL Label on their unit and doesn't want to pay UL for quarterly inspections. So it could still meet the UL requirements. Or they didn't meet the requirements and decided to drop the UL Mark. So it doesn't meet the UL requirements. Does the manufacturer have any other (Nationally Recognized Test Lab) NRTL markings on their product? UL isn't the only NRTL anymore.

Z

 

[peter246]

Thanks for the reply.
(p.s. no other certification marks)

 

[mcgyvr]

yep.. UL approval could be withdrawn for a number of reasons..
Not paying quarterly costs to keep it going..
Company out of business..
Company sold to another company..
Failure to respond to non-compliance letters..
Or any other violation of the UL terms..

If it has the label then it met the standards at the time it was built. (assuming they weren't still applying the labels after the file was withdrawn for whatever reason)

 

[peter246]

good info - thank you. UL was understandably cagey when I posed the question to them...

 

[jraef]

Sometimes it's because the company name on the fuse is not who made it and listed it, the fuse was brand-labeled, and listed under the company name on the ones you have under a "also listed as" clause in the original UL file. Then if the original mfr ends their brand-label agreement, they can cancel the also-listed-as aspect of the UL file. But UL will not take the position of being the one to divulge this information. It happens more than people realize, but would only arise as an issue like this if someone researches an older file, as you have just done. Most recently in the fuse world, when Eaton bought Bussman, there were numerous brand-label agreements that Bussman had with competitors of Eaton. Some of those brand labelers chose note to continue to buy from a competitor now and ended the agreements. It's a frequent consequence of big corporate buyouts and mergers.


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