Why UL Listed Light Fixtures are Preferred by Electricians and Builders (and how we can help)

We have big news from the Quittner workshop! In early January, we kicked off 2025 by receiving UL General Coverage certification for our workshop in Germantown, NY. This is a huge deal. We're building beautiful and safe lighting, just like we were before, but now our work carries the UL Listed designation.

Many electricians and contractors, and some local building codes, require UL Listing to install a light fixture. Now, it's easier than ever to use Quittner lighting in your projects, and eligible restored antique and vintage fixtures available on our website. We also offer UL Listing as an add-on to our restoration services, so designers can bring us their vintage finds, have them assessed for eligibility, and then rewired and UL Listed for easy install in a project. 

Ben, our co-founder and Lead Designer, spent months working with UL to obtain this coverage. He answered some questions about why UL Listing is important when specifying lighting, and how our new status as a UL General Coverage facility impacts designers, architects, builders, and other members of the trade. 

What does it mean when a light is UL Listed? 

A light being UL listed means that the product has been tested against the safety standards set by the Underwriters Laboratories and has passed , meeting nationally recognized safety requirements. It is the gold standard for commercial and industrial applications, as well as the nationally recognized benchmark for consumer safety standards.  

Why are UL Listed fixtures often preferred, or even required, by electricians and contractors? 

Essentially, when a fixture has been certified as meeting the UL standard, it stands as a guarantee that the piece has been built to the best possible safety standards. Many electricians and contractors are unwilling to use fixtures that do not carry that guarantee, lest something go wrong and they be held liable.  

What Quittner lighting is impacted by our UL General Coverage program? 

The great majority of our own lighting designs already met the UL standard, and we are already offering these designs with UL certification. The few designs that did not meet the standard are being modified to meet the requirements such that they will be offered with the UL certification within the next month.

How can we better serve our Trade community of designers and architects now that we offer UL Listing? 

With our workshop certified under the UL General Coverage program, any antique or international light that qualifies for UL certification can be certified by our team at Quittner. This should help reduce the chances for difficulties with contractors or electricians who may insist that all fixtures in a project be certified. 

What should clients do if they are curious to know more about the UL program, Quittner lighting, and obtaining UL Listing for antique or vintage fixtures?

Reach out and speak with one of our team members! We are more than happy to walk clients through the process and scope of our new certification program.