What is UL?
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) is an American worldwide safety consulting and certification company headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. It maintains offices in 46 countries. UL was established in 1894 and has participated in the safety analysis of many of the last century's new technologies, most notably the public adoption of electricity and the drafting of safety standards for electrical devices and components.
UL provides safety-related certification, validation, testing, inspection, auditing, advising and training services to a wide range of clients, including manufacturers, retailers, policymakers, regulators, service companies, and consumers.
UL 508
1 Scope
1.1 These requirements cover industrial control devices, and devices accessory thereto, for starting, stopping, regulating, controlling, or protecting electric motors. These requirements also cover industrial control devices or systems that store or process information and are provided with an output motor control function(s). This equipment is for use in ordinary locations in accordance with the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70.
1.2 These requirements cover devices rated 1500 volts or less. Industrial control equipment covered by these requirements is intended for use in an ambient temperature of 0 - 40°C (32 - 104°F) unless specifically indicated for use in other conditions.
1.3 Deleted December 2, 2003
1.4 Examples of industrial control devices described in 1.1 are: