Protect your customers and meet global compliance standards with F2 Labs’ accredited product safety testing services. We help ensure your products are tested to meet UL, IEC, and other regulatory requirements—delivering confidence and market access.
Product Safety Testing & Certification
F2 Labs is a top, full-service product testing company. Our safety laboratory is set up to test/evaluate products for the United States, Canada, Europe, and International Certifications. Our safety facilities are A2LA Accredited, and our safety test data and evaluations are accepted by an OSHA accredited Nationally Recognized Test Lab (NRTL). Our experienced team of engineers can develop an efficient plan for addressing your product’s safety and work with you at our facility or yours to complete the product safety testing and certification.
Design Review
Our engineers offer you product safety testing at the early design and prototype stages of your product development. This work can be done at our facility or yours. This allows you to be part of the product safety certification process and provides you with a better understanding of the requirements.
Testing Capabilities
Our technical experts can provide onsite or offsite testing services. We also provide normal or hazardous location testing. F2 Labs offers you fully equipped testing laboratories that provide a range of product safety testing for the United States, Canada, Europe (UL, CSA, CE), and other international standards and marks.
Debugging
F2 Labs identifies non-compliance during a thorough examination and testing process and uses the results to help you fix the problems. This decreases your turnaround time and gets your products to market in the time frame that you need.
Documentation Preparation
Once we have completed testing, F2 Labs can provide you with completed test reports which include test data, photos, construction reviews, supporting documentation, and technical files.
Consulting Services
Our product compliance consulting team is ready to help your product each phase of the way from prototype to shipment.
Educational Services
We deliver training on critical compliance information and knowledge transfer to improve efficiencies, save time, and save money on new products.
Field Labeling Services
Field Labeling Services – We can provide on-site testing, evaluation, and labeling of your products.
F2 Labs can assist you in obtaining approval for the Following Types of Products/Equipment:
- Information Technology Equipment (ITE)
- Scientific Equipment; Industrial Equipment
- Test & Measurement Equipment
- Lighting Equipment
- Household Appliances/Electric Tools
- Audio/Video Equipment
- Medical Equipment
- Electrical Control Equipment
- Electrical Laboratory Equipment
Directives:
- ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU
- General Product Safety Regulation 2001/95/EC
- Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU
- Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
- Medical Devices 93/42/EEC
Helpful Links:
Product Safety Testing
Low Voltage Directive – F2 Labs can provide the product safety testing services you need in order to prove that your product is compliant with the Low Voltage Directive.
Machinery Directive Testing – Our product testing company can perform the evaluation and testing required by the Machinery Directive at our facility or yours.
EU Authorized Representative – F2 Labs offers can serve as your Authorized EU Representative serving as the contact point.
Medical Device Testing – F2 Labs can assist you in determining what standards and collateral standards are required for product safety testing and certifying your product in order to sell your medical device to global markets.
Medical Device Directive – Manufacturers must comply with the Medical Device Directive in order to sell their medical products into Europe.
General Product Safety Regulation – F2 Labs can assist you in testing the product to the appropriate standards under the General Product Safety Regulation.
UL Standards Testing – If you are selling your product in the United States, your product must comply with the applicable nationally accepted UL Standards.
CSA Testing – If you are selling your product in Canada, you must comply with the applicable nationally accepted CSA Standards.
Field Evaluation & Certification – Our service provides you with on-the-spot testing, evaluation, and labeling of your products.
IEC Testing – Our product testing company can assist you in testing your electrical products to the applicable IEC standards.
What is Product Safety Testing and Certification?
Product Safety Testing and Certification ensures that products comply with safety standards required for specific markets, including the United States, Canada, Europe, and international regions. This process evaluates products against standards like UL, CSA, CE, and others to ensure safe and reliable performance.
What is the Role of F2 Labs in Product Safety Testing?
F2 Labs is a full-service product testing company with A2LA Accredited facilities. They offer:
- Safety evaluations and testing accepted by OSHA-accredited NRTLs
- Development of efficient plans to address product safety requirements
- Testing services performed on-site or in F2 Labs’ state-of-the-art facilities
F2 Labs ensures products meet the necessary safety certifications for market entry.
Can F2 Labs Assist During the Design Stage of a Product?
Yes! F2 Labs offers product safety evaluations during the early design and prototype stages, providing:
- Expertise to identify potential safety issues early
- Flexibility to work at F2 Labs facilities or directly at the client’s location
- Hands-on support to streamline the safety certification process
What Types of Testing Capabilities Does F2 Labs Offer?
F2 Labs provides a broad range of testing services, including:
- On-site and in-lab testing
- Normal and hazardous location testing
- Testing for compliance with various international safety standards and certification marks
How Does F2 Labs Handle Non-Compliance Found During Testing?
When non-compliance issues arise, F2 Labs:
- Identifies and pinpoints the problem areas
- Works closely with clients to debug and resolve issues
- Helps clients fix issues efficiently, minimizing delays for market entry
This proactive approach reduces turnaround time and ensures a smooth path to certification.
What Documentation Does F2 Labs Provide After Testing?
After testing is completed, F2 Labs provides comprehensive test reports, including:
- Test data
- Photos
- Construction reviews
- Supporting documentation
- Technical files
These detailed reports ensure clients have everything needed for certification and regulatory approval.
What Consulting and Educational Services Are Offered?
F2 Labs offers consulting and training services to assist throughout product development:
- Compliance Consulting: Guidance from prototype to shipment
- Educational Training: Compliance training to enhance efficiency and understanding during product development
What is Field Labeling Service?
Field Labeling Service involves on-site testing, evaluation, and labeling for products that require safety certification marks before going to market. This service is ideal for “one-off” or custom products needing immediate certification.
What Types of Products Can F2 Labs Certify?
F2 Labs provides certification services for a wide variety of products, including:
- Information Technology Equipment
- Scientific and Industrial Equipment
- Lighting Equipment
- Household Appliances
- Audio/Video Equipment
- Medical Equipment
What Directives Does F2 Labs Cover in Their Testing?
F2 Labs ensures compliance with numerous international directives, such as:
- ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU
- General Product Safety Regulation 2023/988
- ROHS Directive 2011/65/EU
- Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU
- Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
- In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Regulation (EU) 2017/746
- Medical Devices Regulation (EU) 2017/745
- EMC Directive 2014/30/EU
- Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU
How would you explain electrical safety testing to a non-engineer?
Many people assume safety testing is only about preventing shock. In reality, safety standards evaluate the product as a complete system and assess all reasonably foreseeable hazards such as fire, mechanical, temperature, and chemical risks in addition to electrical shock. Modern standards such as IEC 62368 take a hazard-based approach, identifying categories of risk and applying requirements based on the severity and type of hazard, rather than simply focusing on voltage or product type.
What risks does electrical safety testing help to prevent?
Electrical safety testing helps prevent user injuries, fires, overheating situations, and mechanical or material failures. Induction chargers that may overheat due to foreign conductive objects being present, which potentially lead to fire, is a real-world example of what electrical safety evaluations prevent. Safety testing also evaluates foreseeable misuse scenarios and component interactions to prevent these outcomes before products reach the market. The end goal is beyond compliance but also the prevention of harm liability.
What do customers most commonly misunderstand about safety requirements?
The most common misunderstanding is the belief that evaluation is unnecessary if a product is low-voltage, battery-powered, or built with approved components. Many assume that if there is no obvious shock hazard, the product cannot fail safety testing. In reality, safety standards assess much more than shock risk and consider the full hazard profile of the product. Customers are often surprised to learn that fire risk, material flammability, mechanical integrity, and system integration can all lead to non-compliance – even in products that appear safe on the surface.
How do you determine which safety standards apply to a product?
The first step is in selecting the correct safety standard is to gain a good understanding of what the product does, how it is intended to be used, and where it will be sold. We can then review the scope of the standards to match the product with the standard that best aligns with its intended function. If no single standard fits perfectly, relevant sections of multiple standards may be applied to ensure all hazards are properly addressed. The objective is comprehensive hazard coverage while not forcing a product into an ill-fitting category.
When is electrical safety testing mandatory versus recommended?
In Europe, safety testing is mandatory under the Low Voltage Directive for products rated between 50 and 1,000 VAC and between 75 and 1,500 VDC. If a product contains a wireless radio, it falls under the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU, which also mandates compliance with applicable safety standards regardless of voltage. In the United States, OSHA requires workplace equipment to be certified to the UL standards, but it is not mandatory for household products. However, due to liability exposure, litigation risk, and private purchasing requirements, safety evaluations are often strongly recommended, even when not explicitly mandated. Companies that bypass certifying their products to the UL standards risk significant legal and financial consequences if an incident occurs.
What happens when safety testing is performed too late in development?
When safety testing occurs late in development, failures can require major, expensive, and disruptive design changes. For example, replacing an unapproved power supply after enclosure tooling is finalized may require resizing enclosures, relocating mounting features, or reworking layouts. These changes become increasingly costly as development progresses. In addition to redesign costs, certification delays can delay product launches, disrupt product marketing, and damage credibility if the product’s appearance changes significantly after promotion.
What design choices most often cause safety non-compliance?
Non-compliances frequently arise from component decisions made without the final safety review in mind. Wiring color coding errors, grounding inconsistencies, and enclosure sizing limitations also create potential rework. Engaging in a Preliminary Design Review early in the process, with the end product standard in mind, can help to minimize these issues before they become costly modifications in the final product design.
What are the most common safety failures you see?
Common safety failures often stem from improper component selection, particularly power supplies or materials that are not approved for the target market. One pitfall manufacturers sometimes fall into is selecting components based on performance or form factor without verifying the certifications. Misrated components, incorrect wiring practices, and overlooked market-specific requirements are recurring issues. Many of these oversights can be avoided through a Preliminary Design Review or early consulting services.
How does accredited safety testing support regulatory approval?
Accredited testing supports regulatory approval by ensuring reports meet recognized standards and withstand external scrutiny from Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) or other regulatory bodies. F2 Labs partners with certification bodies such as SGS, who is an OSHA approved Nationally Recognized Test Lab (NRTL) and is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). Our reports undergo additional internal engineering review and external review before the certification marks are issued. This rigorous review process strengthens credibility and streamlines approval.
Why is ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation important for safety testing?
ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation ensures that a testing laboratory operates under verified technical competence and quality systems. Accreditation bodies audit the lab to confirm it has the expertise, procedures, and controls necessary to perform evaluations correctly with calibrated test equipment. Without accreditation, there is no independent verification that testing is conducted properly. Accreditation provides confidence that results are reliable and defensible.
What does a typical electrical safety evaluation look at?
The typical electrical safety evaluation will examine insulation integrity, grounding effectiveness, temperature rise, flammability of materials, creepage and clearance distances, mechanical construction, and component approvals. The electrical safety test plan will verify that the product meets applicable hazard thresholds and that components are properly rated for their intended use. The goal is to confirm that the product remains safe under normal & abnormal operation conditions.
Describe a difficult safety issue you helped a customer resolve.
In one case, a large industrial machine intended for international markets had incorrect wiring color coding throughout the entire system. A design review early in the process quickly identified that the ground wiring alone, spanning thousands of feet, did not meet the required standards. Addressing the issue before shipment prevented massive rework across multiple cabinets and avoided the high cost and delay of retrofitting.
What advice do you give customers to avoid repeat safety testing?
The most effective way to avoid repeat testing is to consult with F2 Labs before making design changes. F2 Engineers can provide guidance on whether component substitutions or product modifications will trigger any level of re-testing. Open communication between the lab and manufacturer is critical and allows all parties to understand the compliance impact of changes before implementation, preventing unnecessary retesting while protecting certification status.
What differentiates reliable safety testing from checkbox testing?
Effective and reliable safety testing goes beyond checking a box or simply filling out forms. Reliable safety compliance testing leans on sound engineering judgment, defensible documentation, and the ability to explain and support technical decisions if questions arise later. Checkbox testing may generate paperwork, but it does not provide the technical depth needed to defend compliance in regulatory reviews or international scrutiny. Our core values and proven process are fundamentally rooted in reliable testing to deliver technical expertise, high-quality results, and long-term support.
