Grow Light Certifications: What all Mean? Why Need UL/ETL?

As an indoor farmer, grow lights are a significant contributor to the success of my indoor garden. Indoor gardening is becoming increasingly popular; in 2022, the global market was worth $34,246.5 million. As the market grows, the need for an effective and secure environment arises so we can continue growing plants in a controlled setting. How can you ensure that the lights you buy adhere to strict safety and quality standards?

One sure way is to check the grow light certifications, the most prevalent being the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and ETL certifications. These accreditations show that the grow light satisfies strict safety and quality requirements established for use in indoor farms.

I’ll go into UL/ETL certification specifics in this article so you can better understand before you choose to grow lights for your indoor garden.

What are Grow Light Certifications?

Grow light certifications refer to the standards and qualifications that qualify a grow light to be high quality and perform optimally in indoor applications. These certifications also determine that the grow light meets lighting safety standards to prevent the risk of fire, shocks, and biological hazards.

Grow light certifications also confirm whether the grow lamp meets energy efficiency requirements. This ensures the light uses less energy, thus saving you money, unlike traditional lights.

Understanding UL ETL Certifications for Grow Lights

As you know, indoor farms hold a lot of moisture and dust. Furthermore, the lack of natural rainfall calls for irrigation systems, especially in commercial settings. And since there are electrical fixtures involved, there is a fire risk.

A grow light should indicate that it’s safe to use in such environments, and that’s where UL ETL certifications come into play. It’s good to note that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires you to have UL/ETL LED grow lights if you’re growing crops commercially. Your farming business will shut down if you fail to do this.

UL Certification for Grow Lights

UL, short for Underwriters Laboratories, is a well-known organization that sets safety standards for various products. On top of product certification, UL also certifies systems, business processes, personnel, and facilities.

When it comes to LED grow lamps, a UL certification certifies that the product has undergone rigorous testing and meets the necessary safety requirements. UL listed LED lights have been evaluated for electrical safety, fire hazards, and overall product performance.

From my experience, we’re spoiled for choice when buying LED grow lights. However, while many of these lights may seem high-quality, certification is one differentiating factor. I can confidently pick a UL listed grow light without question, for I know it meets the highest safety standards.

Furthermore, the product I choose, no matter the company, comes with further assurance of reliability and durability. So, by investing in UL listed grow lights, I prioritize the safety of my plants and minimize the risk of electrical accidents and any associated losses.

UL certification is crucial if you use grow lights in a commercial setting such as horticulture or floriculture. The key areas that UL certification addresses in grow lights include:

• Photobiological effects: UL assesses and tests grow lights for potential harm they may cause to the human eye or skin due to exposure to the light.
• Wiring and connection methods: Wiring and connection are critical aspects of an electrical component. UL evaluates the wiring and connection of grow lamps to ensure they accommodate special requirements such as raising and lowering.
• Environmental conditions: If you see UL listed LED lights or UL listed strip lights, know they’re the best for growing tents or other indoor settings since they’re approved for use in different growing environments. This includes extreme temperatures, vibration, and wet environments.
• Ingress protection (IP): The IP rating is crucial when choosing grow lights. UL listed lamps are tested to meet indoor growing environments and show their degree of resistance against dust, water, and other foreign objects.
• Ultraviolet (UV) exposure to polymeric materials: UV exposure from light sources can detriment polymeric materials, leading to discoloration, breakages, or other forms of damage. UL certification certifies that grow lights from polymeric materials can withstand expected UV exposure and maintain their integrity over time.

One thing I love about grow lights is that you can design an ideal environment depending on your specific plant needs. With this in mind, I check the UL certification since it tests the photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) and spectrum details and efficacy of grow lights. This ensures growers use different wavelengths depending on plant type and growth stage for healthy plants and increased yield.

ETL Certifications for Grow Lights

ETL stands for Electrical Testing Laboratories, an internationally recognized certification that verifies the safety and performance of electrical products. While ETL tests electrical and electronic products, they don’t set the standards. The certification is from Intertek, an industrial leader in the testing, inspecting, and certifying of different products.

The main difference between UL LED grow lights, and ETL LED grow lights is that UL creates the standards they use for certification while ETL doesn’t. Furthermore, people widely recognize UL certifications more than ETL certifications. This doesn’t mean ETL grow lights do not meet high-quality standards. It’s a good alternative as it’s equally reliable and trustworthy since it tests the same safety standards as UL.

Using ETL listed LED grow lights ensures my indoor garden is safe and protected against electrical accidents, protecting my crops and extending the longevity of your lighting system.

Other Relevant Grow Light Certifications

From my experience and interaction with other indoor growers, UL and ETL certifications are the most trusted for growing lights. However, other certifications are available and worth considering. Some are specific to certain regions or countries. This means they may not be universally recognized as UL or ETL, but their main goal is to ensure safety and quality.

• DLC Certification (DesignLights Consortium): Most people recognize DCL certification as more specific in the lighting industry. In grow lights, this certification mainly focuses on performance and energy efficiency.
• CE (Conformité Européene): The CE certification on grow light means that it meets the environmental, health, safety, and protection standards of the European Economic Area (EEA)
• Qualified Products Listing (QPL): As the name suggests, QPL is a list of products that a particular organization or agency has tested, evaluated, and approved. Grow lights must meet the governing body’s specific quality, performance, and safety standards to be QPL certified. This includes reliability, durability, and functionality standards.
• IP Rating (Ingress Protection): Since your grow lights will be in a wet and dusty environment throughout their use, looking for a higher rating in water-resistant grow lamps is vital. IP certification on grow lights indicates the level of protection against liquid and solid objects. It has two digits; the first is for solid protection, and the second is for liquids. It’s good to note that the higher these numbers are, the better the protection.

How Do You Know Whether Your Grow Light Is Certified?

The easiest and quickest way I check for UL ETL certification is by looking for labels or marks on the packaging or the product itself. If there’s no sign of lamp certification on the package or the product, my manual comes in handy, or I contact the manufacturer.

Take Away: Choose UL ETL Listed Grow Lights for Your Indoor Plants

I hope this article helps you understand grow light certification. If you’ve been wondering why you need UL ETL listed LED grow lights. Grow light certifications contribute to the safety and performance of indoor farming, especially in a commercial setting such as cannabis cultivation. The most reputable LED certifications are UL and ETL certifications, which ensure that grow lights meet rigorous safety standards.

Using UL/ETL LED lights benefits you and your plants. You provide a safe environment for your crops to thrive in, ensuring their well-being. Furthermore, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your investment is protected against risks arising from electrical accidents.

On top of this, UL ETL listed LED grow lights are certified to provide optimal performance and be energy efficient. As a result, you can expect consistent light output, an extended lifespan, and reduced energy consumption. This translates to healthier plants, lower energy bills, and a more sustainable gardening solution.