Marketing a product without UL Listing?

Asked by grumpyfish (6657

) February 25th, 2010

In the next few months, I’m looking to bring a bit of electrical test gear to market. It’s a very niche market, and I expect to sell no more than 50 of these to a specific industry.

One portion of the gear connects to high voltage (120v) circuits to test them. It will be fused, but due to the small market I won’t be able to afford UL (or other NRTL) testing.

I’m planning to purchase liability insurance to cover this (and discuss the issue with my agent), but are there issues with marketing a non-UL product in the US?

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4 Answers

There is little chance of getting liability insurance to cover an unapproved electrical device.

DarkScribe (15505

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Perhaps if the target market wants the equipment badly enough, they would buy it with a disclaimer of liability.

ETpro (34605

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@ETpro good point!

Considering this is replacing self-built test gear, probably can get away with a waiver of liability. Won’t protect me 100%, but should be better than nothing.

grumpyfish (6657

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@grumpyfish At least it gives you leverage for out-of-court settlement if there is a lawsuit, and something to hang a defense on if it does go to trial.

ETpro (34605

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