North American safety certification, although non-mandatory, has a very high market recognition. Manufacturers need to undergo at least four unannounced inspections per year.
- UL mark: used for <em>end-product</em> RU mark, used for component products, must be used as an accessory to other products;
- ULus mark: safety mark for products entering the U.S. market;
- cUL: safety mark for products entering the Canadian market;
- cULus mark: safety mark for products entering both the U.S. and Canadian markets. Generally, products that are directly connected to the power grid will undergo UL certification or obtain safety certificates issued by other NRTL organizations.