CE, TÜV SÜD, UL, RoHS: What the Certification Marks on Illuminated Signs Mean

An illuminated sign hangs on your wall for years, often runs for many hours a day and is connected to the mains. That's why certification marks are worth a look. They tell you whether the electrics have been tested and whether the materials meet the rules. Here's what's behind the four most important marks, and which ones our signs carry.

The four marks at a glance

MarkWhat it meansWho issues it
CEThe product meets the applicable EU rules, for signs mainly on electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility.The manufacturer declares conformity in an EU Declaration of Conformity.
TÜV SÜDAn independent body has tested safety and substances.TÜV SÜD as an external testing and certification body
ULTested to US safety standards; for illuminated signs, to UL 48.UL, an independent US testing organisation
RoHSCertain hazardous substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium are only present within very tight limits.EU directive; compliance is shown by a test report.

CE: mandatory, but not a quality seal

The CE mark is required for electrical products sold in the EU. Many people take it for a test seal, but in most cases the manufacturer declares for itself that the product meets the rules. No independent body has to test it. CE is the minimum requirement for a sign to be sold, and says little about quality beyond that, as the EU explains on its Your Europe portal. In Great Britain, CE-marked products of this kind can still be sold alongside the UKCA mark.

TÜV SÜD: independently tested

This is where a TÜV mark comes in. TÜV SÜD is an independent testing and certification body based in Munich. Unlike CE, a third party has actually done the testing, rather than the manufacturer confirming it on paper. On illuminated signs, that covers the LED fixtures themselves and, through a test report, whether heavy metals, brominated flame retardants and plasticisers (phthalates) stay within the RoHS limits.

UL: the North American standard

UL is a US testing organisation whose standards are the benchmark for electrical safety in the USA and Canada. Illuminated signs have their own standard, UL 48 for electric signs, which covers overload protection, heat and moisture resistance among other things. For customers in Europe and the UK, UL is an extra quality marker; for customers in the US it's often essential.

RoHS: fewer hazardous substances

The RoHS rules (Directive 2011/65/EU) restrict certain hazardous substances in electronics, such as lead, mercury, cadmium, certain flame retardants and plasticisers. For you, that means the sign in your shop, office or living room only contains these substances in tightly limited amounts, and it can be disposed of more responsibly later.

Which marks do our signs carry?

The production of our illuminated signs is certified, with the underlying testing carried out by independent, accredited bodies:

  • UL to UL 48 for illuminated letters, lightboxes and LED neon signs.
  • CE with an EU Declaration of Conformity for illuminated letters, lightboxes and LED neon signs.
  • TÜV SÜD: engineering evaluation of the LED fixtures and a test report on RoHS substances.
  • RoHS-compliant: heavy metals, brominated flame retardants and phthalates tested and passed.

On top of that come mounting and electrical components from 3M. Non-illuminated signs such as flat cut letters, stainless steel letters or moss signs have no electrics, so they don't need electrical certification.

What our signs are made from

  • LED neon flex: flexible LED strips that light up instantly and evenly, with no glass and no gas. More on our LED neon signs page.
  • Acrylic: precision contour-cut, as the backing for LED neon, as the face of illuminated letters and lightboxes, or solid as a letter. UV-stable for outdoor use.
  • Aluminium: for the returns and backs of illuminated letters and the cabinets of lightboxes, painted or powder-coated.
  • Stainless steel: brushed or polished for metal letters, rust-free and long-lasting.
  • LED modules and drivers: for even light with no hotspots; LED neon is rated for around 50,000 hours.

Tested before it ships

Every illuminated sign runs for 24 hours straight in a burn-in test before dispatch. Most faults, such as a weak LED or a loose contact, show up in that time and are fixed before the sign reaches you.

What to check before you buy

  • Ask which marks the sign carries and which products they apply to.
  • A CE mark alone doesn't mean anything was independently tested.
  • Pay particular attention to the driver: it works at mains voltage and is the most safety-critical part.
  • For permanently installed, mains-connected signs, the connection is always made by a qualified electrician. Our installation guide explains how it works.

Sources

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