We often talk about CSA / UL labels that are made according to very demanding specifications and are intended to be attached to a CAS / UL certified product. Very often, these are labels that are resistant to certain uses and extreme conditions. Your products and labels need certification, but do you know which one to choose between CSA certifications and UL certifications? What is the difference between the two?

At IMS, we are certified by both organizations. Our CSA and UL certification allows us not only to print your labels, but also sell you the equipment you need for in-house printing.

CSA: Canadian Standards Association

CSA labels are certified by CSA International, a Canadian group that offers certification services for products such as electrical, mechanical and other high-risk products . CSA is recognized around the world. The CSA logo, found on many products, indicates that the product, process and service have been tested according to Canadian or U.S. standards and that they comply with the requirements of this standard.

UL : Underwriter Laboratories

UL is an American company based in Northbrook, Illinois. It is an independent organization which issues certificates of security for many products. To do this, UL develops standards and testing procedures to ensure products and materials safety.

Difference between CSA and UL

Unlike CSA, a UL certification applies only to the United States. The organization can perform the tests to the international standards (ISO) or Canada (C – UL), but the UL logo indicates that the product has been certified for the United States only.

This is the main difference between the two organizations. In this case, if you need to certify your product, what standard should you choose?

If your product is destined for export, CSA is a good solution because it has the advantage of being recognized internationally. If your product is sold only in North America, UL certification (with its Canadian branch C – UL) is the option to consider.

No matter which standard you choose for your products, your labels certification must match the certification chosen for your products, as they must remain legible under specified conditions. In other words, a CSA certified product should have a label approved by CSA, and a UL product with a UL label. These labels must remain legible under given conditions.

For more information on these rather complex and technical certifications, please feel free to contact our experts at IMS.

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