UL Requirements - Received a variation notice - Safety caution text

[Rios oxnard qe]

Our company received a variation notice from UL because the safety caution text on the report does not match the text on the part. Well now we are all changing our internal UL procedures. We have added that every shipment with UL certified parts should contain a certificate of conformance document (with part no, lot #, qty, ... ) from the supplier. Is this realy necessary and is this a documented UL requirement. I would appreciate your input as this could certaintly be costly and time consuming to us and our suppliers. The UL documents I have reviewed do not state that this is required. It could be that traceability and verification is up to the company an if so I will definitely challenge this. We receive hundreds of shipment through out the day.

[Al Rosen]

Originally Posted by Rios oxnard qe

Our company received a variation notice from UL because the safety caution text on the report does not match the text on the part. Well now we are all changing our internal UL procedures. We have added that every shipment with UL certified parts should contain a certificate of conformance document (with part no, lot #, qty, ... ) from the supplier. Is this realy necessary and is this a documented UL requirement. I would appreciate your input as this could certaintly be costly and time consuming to us and our suppliers. The UL documents I have reviewed do not state that this is required. It could be that traceability and verification is up to the company an if so I will definitely challenge this. We receive hundreds of shipment through out the day.

Can you be more specific as to what part and the differences in the text? Usually a variation notice will require a change to your listing report to allow for different equivalent components. Slight differences in the text should not have been an issue. Usually if a mfr, p/n and rating on the part are the same as listed in the report, it is acceptable. What is this part and is it an unlisted or unrecognized part? If it is a "UL" part, there shouldn't be an issue.

A C of C is not a UL requirement. I don't think that a C of C will help in your situation. The C of C will only state that the parts conform to the mfrs specifications. If the mfr makes a change without you knowing, you will still have a problem.

[Rios oxnard qe]

I am currently not a work although I'll get back with you on the part and text specifics. I myself didn't think this should have been an issue.

As to a C of C for every shipment, we will begin requesting this from all plastic enclosure suppliers. I realy don't see the value in this. I believe this was an old policy of ours that we never realy enforced until now. Some of our Quality Engineers frequently receive faxes of these CoC documents which contain hundreds of pages for each shipment and part. He doesn't even review them and now just files them.

With the E File I can now verify, through the UL website, that the supplier is certified for this part. Could it be that this was required before the internet and companies that have been around awhile never changed this requirement? If so, I assume this was only required for traceability purposes on every part that don't have a UL and E file mark. Our printers plastic enclosures don't have such markings. Although, can't we just review and file the UL cert when we perform the first article? Any changes after that to material is the responsibility of the supplier to report to us and resubmit the UL certs?

[Al Rosen]

Originally Posted by Rios oxnard qe

I am currently not a work although I'll get back with you on the part and text specifics. I myself didn't think this should have been an issue.

As to a C of C for every shipment, we will begin requesting this from all plastic enclosure suppliers. I realy don't see the value in this. I believe this was an old policy of ours that we never realy enforced until now. Some of our Quality Engineers frequently receive faxes of these CoC documents which contain hundreds of pages for each shipment and part. He doesn't even review them and now just files them.

With the E File I can now verify, through the UL website, that the supplier is certified for this part. Could it be that this was required before the internet and companies that have been around awhile never changed this requirement? If so, I assume this was only required for traceability purposes on every part that don't have a UL and E file mark. Our printers plastic enclosures don't have such markings. Although, can't we just review and file the UL cert when we perform the first article? Any changes after that to material is the responsibility of the supplier to report to us and resubmit the UL certs?

Unfortunately, for plastic parts there are no markings. Revise your system to make it work for you. Certainly verifying, via the UL Online Certifications Directory website, that the mfr is still approved would help. You can also request your suppliers UL Listing Card or the approval letter with each shipment so you can verify whether the approval is still valid.

It maybe the responsibility of your supplier, but you will be the one with the headache when your supplier fails to renew. You should certainly discuss this issue with him.