Underwriters Laboratories

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) has more than 1,000 safety standards including standards for PV related products. UL's standards are essential to helping ensure public safety and confidence, reduce costs, improve quality and market products and services.

PV-specific UL standards include:

  • UL 1699, for Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupters
  • UL 1699B, AC AFCIs
  • UL 1703, for Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules and Panels
  • UL 1741 – Inverters, Converters, Controllers and Interconnection System Equipment for Use With Distributed Energy Resources
  • UL 2703 – Rack Mounting Systems and Clamping Devices for Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules and Panels
  • UL 3703 – Trackers. Draft standard will be available soon.
  • UL 8703 – Concentrator Photovoltaic Modules and Assemblies (Electric Safety for PV Concentrators). STP will be appointed soon.

Access to UL Standards

UL Standards are recognized nationally and internationally as the benchmarks for product safety. A listing of all UL's Standards including the current Catalog of Standards, standards purchasing and pricing information, standards bulletins, scopes of UL Standards, scopes of all UL outlines, harmonization information, National Electric Code (NEC) changes, and proposals to UL Standard Technical Panels.

Learn about the UL Standards Development Process

UL has a collaborative standards development process, which provides online access for review and submitting information, and volunteer participation in a UL Standards Technical Panel. Below is more information on how to participate in the UL Standards development process:

  • Participate as a member of one of UL's Standards Technical Panels (STP). Every UL Standard has an STP that considers and adopts changes to the standard. STP's are composed of a balanced group of stakeholders. Standard changes are considered according to a procedure managed by UL and approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Interested organizations can see a listing of active STPs, STP membership criteria, and STPs seeking members. Please note that some stakeholder categories may be full on the STP at this time.
  • Submit a request to attend an STP Meeting. Review and submit information for UL standard development through UL's Collaborative Standards Development System (CSDS). Free general access is available for information on STP meetings, submitting proposals, and proposals available.
  • Subscribe to a free Standards Tracking Service to receive updates, notifications and alerts for any UL Standard.

UL Standard Certification

Certification to UL standards by a National Recognize Testing Laboratory is required to receive an electric permit in most U.S. jurisdictions.