UL certification in the United States is highly valuable. Although it is not a mandatory certification under US federal law, it plays a quasi-mandatory role in the market, serving as the most credible safety pass for products entering the US and North American markets.
The Core Value of UL Certification:
The Gold Standard for Market Access: In the US and Canada, over 90% of mainstream retailers (such as Walmart and Home Depot), large engineering projects, and insurance companies only purchase or endorse products bearing the UL mark. Without UL certification, products can hardly enter mainstream distribution channels, large supermarkets, or participate in engineering bidding.
A Symbol of Consumer Trust:US consumers are highly sensitive to product safety, and the UL mark is synonymous with "safety and quality." Consumers generally perceive products without the UL mark as posing risks such as electric shock and fire, resulting in very low purchase intentions.
A Hard Currency for Insurance and Regulations: To mitigate risks such as fire, insurance companies may refuse to insure buildings using non-UL certified products or significantly increase premiums. Many local building codes also explicitly require electrical products to bear NRTL (Nationally Recognized Laboratory) marks such as UL.