Guide · Heating, power and control
UL, ETL, CSA and CE marks, and printer fumes: what each one means
What UL Listed, UL Recognized, ETL, CSA and CE marks mean for a printer or part, what FCC Part 15 covers, and what NIOSH, EPA and UL say about printer emissions.
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. How we make money
Picks in this topic
- Sovol SV08 extruder replacement kit (ceramic heater, nozzle thermistor, silicone sleeve, heater clip)Check price on Amazon
Short answer
In the US, a safety mark means something when it comes from a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory such as UL or Intertek (ETL), within that lab's scope. In Canada, Health Canada says to buy plug-in electrical products only with a mark such as CSA, cUL or cETL on the product. CE is not a US safety mark, and FCC Part 15 is about radio emissions. For fumes, NIOSH advises ventilation and filtration at the source.
Picks in this topicAll best picks
- Sovol SV08 extruder replacement kit (ceramic heater, nozzle thermistor, silicone sleeve, heater clip)Check price on Amazon
NRTLs: who certifies, and what that means
OSHA's Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory program recognizes private organizations to test and certify products to OSHA's workplace electrical safety standards.[1] Three limits matter when you read a mark:
- Scope: OSHA says each NRTL is recognized only for a specific scope of test standards.[1]
- Not an endorsement: OSHA states that recognizing an NRTL is not an endorsement of the equipment it certifies.[2]
- No single lab: OSHA does not require one particular lab's mark; equipment needs the mark of an NRTL recognized for that type of product.[2]
OSHA's rules cover workplaces.[2]
UL Listed vs UL Recognized Component
UL says its mark means a product has been certified to meet safety, quality or security standards, and that UL keeps checking products after testing.[3]
Two UL marks are easy to confuse. UL says its Recognized Component Mark is distinct from the UL Listed Mark and covers parts meant to be built into a larger certified end product, not a complete standalone product.[4] UL adds that using a component outside its conditions of acceptability can void the certification. A UL Recognized power supply inside a printer does not make the printer Listed, and it does not make a modified printer Listed either.
To check a claim, search UL Product iQ, UL's database for verifying the certification of a product or component by keyword, file number or category code.[5] Not finding a record is a gap to ask the seller about, not proof of a fake.
ETL (Intertek)
Intertek, which issues the ETL Listed Mark, is an OSHA-recognized NRTL and says the mark shows a product was independently tested and certified by Intertek.[6] Intertek's online directory lets buyers verify products carrying its marks.[7]
Canada: CSA, cUL or cETL on the product
Health Canada advises not to buy electrical products that plug into an outlet unless they carry a Canadian electrical certification mark such as CSA, cUL or cETL.[8] It says the mark must appear on the product itself, not just the packaging, and advises asking the seller when a listing does not show it.[8]
Health Canada lists poor quality, unusually low prices and spelling or grammar errors as warning signs of counterfeit electrical products.[9] None of them proves a fake on its own.
CE and FCC: what they are not
- CE: OSHA says the European CE mark is unrelated to US product safety requirements for workplace equipment.[2] It is not a North American safety listing.
- FCC Part 15: FCC rules define an unintentional radiator as a device that generates radio frequency energy for use inside the device without intending to emit it, which covers digital electronics such as a printer's mainboard.[10] Part 15 addresses radio emissions, not fire or shock safety. It also requires manuals to warn that changes not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.[11] That warning is about radio compliance; it does not make every upgrade illegal.
| Mark | What it covers | Where it counts |
|---|---|---|
| UL Listed | A complete product certified by UL | US (and Canada as cUL) |
| UL Recognized Component | A part for use inside a certified product | Not a standalone listing |
| ETL Listed (Intertek) | A product certified by Intertek | US (and Canada as cETL) |
| CSA, cUL, cETL | Canadian electrical certification | Canada |
| CE | European conformity | Not a US safety mark |
| FCC Part 15 | Radio frequency emissions | Not fire or shock safety |
Printer fumes: what official sources say
NIOSH identifies ultrafine particles (smaller than 100 nanometers) and volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds as emissions from 3D printing, and says emissions vary with printer and filament combinations.[12] NIOSH recommends controlling them with the hierarchy of controls, including ventilation and HEPA filtration at the source, with personal protective equipment as the last resort.[12]
- Local exhaust: a 2018 NIOSH evaluation of one office found that local exhaust ventilation could reduce or eliminate ultrafine particle concentrations from 3D printers.[13] That is one setting, not every home or material.
- Material: EPA researchers reported that ABS filament released more particles than PLA filament in their emissions work.[14]
- Testing standard: UL describes UL 2904 as a standard method for testing and assessing particle and chemical emissions from 3D printers.[15] It is about emissions, not electrical safety.
Prusa says the Original Prusa MK4S was the first consumer 3D printer to receive UL GREENGUARD Certification.[16] That is Prusa's claim, which we did not check in a UL database, and GREENGUARD concerns emissions, not electrical safety.
No filter or enclosure makes printing risk-free, and we make no "safe" or "non-toxic" claim for any printer or filament.
Next
Questions
Is a CE mark enough in the US?
No. OSHA says the European CE mark is unrelated to US product safety requirements for workplace equipment. In the US, look for the mark of a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory such as UL or Intertek's ETL.[2]
What does UL Recognized mean on a part?
UL says its Recognized Component Mark covers parts meant to be built into a larger certified product, not a complete standalone product, and is distinct from the UL Listed Mark. A recognized power supply does not make a modified printer Listed.[4]
Do 3D printers give off harmful fumes?
NIOSH identifies ultrafine particles and volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds as emissions from 3D printing, varying with printer and filament. It recommends ventilation and HEPA filtration at the source, with protective equipment as the last resort.[12]
Does my upgrade void FCC compliance?
FCC Part 15 requires manuals to warn that changes not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. That is a radio-frequency rule, not an electrical safety rule.[11][10]
What mark should a printer have in Canada?
Health Canada advises not to buy electrical products that plug into an outlet unless they carry a Canadian certification mark such as CSA, cUL or cETL, on the product itself. Ask the seller if a listing does not show it.[8]