Electrical Certification in Quebec
ELECTRICAL CERTIFICATION IN QUEBEC
Electrical certification in Quebec is not a spec-sheet detail: it is illegal to sell, rent or install electrical equipment that is not approved. The rule comes from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec and covers anything fed by an electrical installation, LED lighting included, low-voltage strips and their power supplies among them. The products LEDCO sells carry the cULus and cETLus marks, recognized by the RBQ. Here is what that means, where to look on a mark, and what DLC does not replace.
The 12 V and 24 V trap
Many people assume low-voltage products are exempt. That mistake gets expensive at inspection time. There is an exemption for equipment rated at most 100 VA and at most 30 V, but it does not apply to signs, lighting equipment or luminaires. In other words, a 12 V or 24 V LED strip must be approved, even if it draws less than 100 VA. Same goes for its 12 V or 24 V power supply.
What the obligation covers in an LED lighting project
In a typical project, here is what the inspector looks at:
- 12 V and 24 V LED strips: approved despite the low voltage, indoors and outdoors.
- 120 V strips: at 120 V, the 30 V exemption does not even come into play.
- Power supplies: the same rule as the strip they feed.
- Luminaires and lighting equipment: excluded from the 100 VA exemption, so approved in every case.
- Signs: excluded from the exemption as well.
Our indoor LED strips, outdoor LED strips and 120 V LED strips all fall under this logic, which is why we only sell approved products.
The two routes to approval: certification or special inspection
The first and usual route is certification: a body accredited by the Standards Council of Canada verifies the product against Canadian standards, then applies its mark. That is what the products we sell carry. The second is special inspection, for specialized equipment or short production runs: an accredited inspection body comes on site, evaluates the equipment against SPE-1000 or SPE-3000 (CSA Group), then applies a special inspection label.
The detail that matters: the small "c" at 8 o'clock on the mark
A certification mark on its own is not enough. What you look for is the "c" indicator at the 8 o'clock position of the mark, bottom left: that is what says the product meets Canadian standards. Without it, the product may be certified for another market only, and you need to check with the certification body. Some marks are used in Canada exclusively and need no extra indicator, but when in doubt, verify.
cULus and cETLus: what LEDCO products carry
Our products are certified cULus and cETLus. The cULus mark is issued by UL LLC; the cETLus mark is the ETL mark, issued by Intertek Testing Services NA Ltd. In both cases, the "c" indicates compliance with Canadian standards, and both bodies appear on the RBQ's list of accredited certification organizations. In practice, the equipment you buy from us can be installed in Quebec without a surprise at inspection, and the ETL or UL lighting certification reads directly on the product. Our LED sauna lights page shows what that changes for a custom-built fixture.
What about DLC? Performance, not electrical certification in Quebec
One clarification that prevents a common misunderstanding: some of our products are also DLC listed (DesignLights Consortium), and that is not a safety certification and it does not replace the approval required in Quebec. DLC is an energy performance program: it confirms a luminaire meets an efficiency threshold. A product can be DLC listed without being approved, and approved without being DLC listed. For compliance, the cULus and cETLus marks are what count.
Technical tips for electrical certification in Quebec
Look for the "c" before the logo. A UL or ETL mark without the Canadian indicator may be valid for another market only.
The power supply counts as much as the strip. An approved strip connected to a power supply that is not approved is still a non-compliant installation.
DLC replaces nothing. It speaks to efficiency, never to electrical safety; look for the mark next to it.
Keep the product sheet with the job file. It is what the inspector asks for; we pull it for you on request.
House the power supply in its own box. Our power supply junction boxes keep the connection clean and reachable; for wire lengths, see our 12 V and 24 V voltage drop chart.
Check for yourself, at the source
The list of accredited bodies and valid marks changes over time. For current information, always go to the source: see the official RBQ page. We also keep a PDF copy of the October 2023 document (7 pages), handy for the mark images, but the online version is the one that governs. Question about whether a product is compliant for your job site? Write to us or call 450 444-4007: we will pull the product's sheet for you.
Electrical Certification in Quebec FAQ
Does electrical certification in Quebec really apply to a 12 V or 24 V LED strip?
Yes. The exemption for equipment rated at most 100 VA and 30 V does not apply to lighting equipment or luminaires. The strip and its power supply must therefore be approved, even at low voltage.
What is the difference between cULus and cETLus?
Two bodies, one recognition: cULus is issued by UL LLC, cETLus by Intertek under the ETL mark. Both appear on the RBQ's list of accredited bodies, and the "c" on each indicates compliance with Canadian standards.
Does DLC replace certification?
No. DLC confirms energy performance, not electrical safety. A DLC product must also carry a mark such as cULus or cETLus to be installed in Quebec.
How do I recognize an approved product?
By its certification mark with the "c" indicator at 8 o'clock, bottom left, or by a special inspection label applied after an on-site evaluation. When in doubt, ask us for the product sheet or check with the certification body.
What about a product with no Canadian mark?
There is still the special inspection route: an accredited inspection body evaluates the equipment on site against SPE-1000 or SPE-3000 and applies its label. For an ordinary strip or power supply, it is simpler to buy a product that already carries LED certification.
