Why Choose SEL?
Over 50 Years In Product Safety
For over five decades, SEL has secured certifications for North America, such as NRTL Listing Marks from UL, CSA, and TUV, for Europe in the form of CE Marking and GS Marks by working with Notified Bodies, and beyond, for other international organizations. Our time-proven methods and experience have led to securing the targeted approvals in 100% of the projects we have worked on over that time. We depend almost exclusively on recommendations from satisfied clients for future projects and intend to succeed in that same way for your next project.
Broad Breadth of Product Types
SEL has certified thousands of different units for companies both large and small, with products ranging from room-sized medical systems to small optical isolators. Many of the products that we work on are new technologies that do not necessarily fit into existing standards, which is challenging and engaging. We work on what our clients are working on, often in the areas of Information Technology, Medical Equipment, Telecommunications, Biotech, Test & Measurement, Semiconductor, Audio-Video and Laser Products, to name a few. We know the "older school" UL standards as well as the newer IEC-based harmonized standards.
Lab Accreditations
SEL was the only UL Certified Agency in Silicon Valley and Northern California for over eight years until 2021 when that program was discontinued by UL. While not named similarly nor able to be reviewed online on UL's website as in the past, SEL is still in the Data Acceptance Program (DAP) where it can perform UL testing without witnessing by a UL representative. Often with safety agencies, if they didn't see it, it didn't happen! Operating under this scheme means greater freedom in scheduling and more control over the entire process. Also, our lab can retest any failures without needing a second UL visit; and issues can be resolved prior to final review and approval by UL. SEL also has a similar relationship with TUV Rheinland as a Partner Test Laboratory (PTL). These accreditations use ISO 17025 as their basis.
It's The Law!
For most products that plug into the wall in the US, NRTL Listing is required by law, by local ordinances, and more broadly for products used in the workplace, is required by OSHA, which includes "electrical equipment" that is both high and low voltage products. See our SEL Handout on "Why Do Product Safety?", and our letter to OSHA about "electrical equipment" and its response about what products are in its scope.
Single Point of Contact for Safety and EMC
Years ago, the concept on "one stop shop" was sold as an appealing approach where having everything under one roof was touted as the solution. However, in execution, different departments at these companies did not coordinate efforts, and effectively it was still like working with two companies. We have found that industry really wants a single point of contact, where both sides of these compliances are handled well in a coordinated fashion. For example, we would recommend a certain EMI filter be used to solve a conducted EMI problem, but one that would still allow the system to pass the leakage current requirements for safety! Even for something relatively simple like this, we have heard stories of one-stop-shops picking a route for EMI that causes them to fail safety, and then changing again for safety and then having to repeat the EMI testing, at increased costs for the trouble.