[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/US Appliances Compliance USAppliances # Home Appliance Certification in the US: DOE, EnergyGuide, Safety Listing and State Rules Home appliance certification in the US is not one program but several. Most mains-powered appliances need a safety listing from a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (UL, ETL, CSA). If the product type has a federal efficiency standard, it must also be tested and certified to the Department of Energy before sale, and many major appliances must carry the FTC's yellow EnergyGuide label. On top of that come FCC rules for electronics, a handful of CPSC rules, voluntary ENERGY STAR, and California's own appliance database. This guide shows which apply to your product and in what order to tackle them. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fus-appliances-compliance) At a glance Energy (mandatory) DOE certification in CCMS Label FTC EnergyGuide (16 CFR 305) Safety NRTL listing (UL, ETL, CSA) Voluntary ENERGY STAR (DOE-led from 2026) State California MAEDbS ## The US appliance certification map Program Authority Status What you do DOE energy conservation standards US Department of Energy (10 CFR 429, 430, 431) Mandatory for covered products Test to the DOE test procedure, certify each basic model in CCMS before sale, re-certify annually EnergyGuide label Federal Trade Commission (16 CFR 305) Mandatory for listed products Print the yellow label from DOE test data; show it on the product and on websites that sell it Electrical safety listing (UL, ETL, CSA marks) OSHA-recognized NRTLs; demanded by retailers, codes and inspectors Not a single federal law for household products, but required in practice Have the product tested and listed to the applicable UL standard (often UL 60335-2-x) CPSC rules and reporting Consumer Product Safety Commission Mandatory where a rule applies; reporting duty for all Meet product-specific rules (e.g. refrigerator door safety), report hazards under Section 15(b), eFile certificates where required ENERGY STAR DOE-led since March 2026 (formerly EPA) Voluntary Test in a recognized lab and certify through a recognized certification body California appliance efficiency (Title 20) California Energy Commission Mandatory to sell regulated appliances in California Certify each model to the CEC so it is listed in MAEDbS ## DOE covered products and EnergyGuide labels DOE sets minimum efficiency standards under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. Each basic model must be tested to the DOE test procedure and certified in CCMS before it is distributed, with an annual re-certification after that (10 CFR 429.12). Through 2025 and 2026, DOE withdrew or postponed several amended standards that had not yet taken effect; the standards already in force still apply, so always check the current text of 10 CFR 430.32. For the standards themselves, see our [DOE energy efficiency standards guide](/guides/doe-energy-efficiency-standards). ### Refrigeration **Examples:** Refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, freezers, miscellaneous refrigeration products (wine coolers, beverage centers) **Requirements:** DOE standard and certification; FTC EnergyGuide label for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and freezers ### Laundry **Examples:** Clothes washers, clothes dryers **Requirements:** DOE standard and certification for both; EnergyGuide label for clothes washers only (dryers do not carry one) ### Kitchen **Examples:** Dishwashers, cooking products (ranges, ovens, cooktops), microwave ovens (standby power) **Requirements:** DOE standard and certification; EnergyGuide label for dishwashers only ### Water heating **Examples:** Gas, electric and heat pump water heaters, pool heaters **Requirements:** DOE standard and certification; EnergyGuide label ### Room comfort **Examples:** Room and portable air conditioners, dehumidifiers, ceiling fans, air cleaners, furnace fans **Requirements:** DOE standard and certification; EnergyGuide label for room and portable ACs and ceiling fans ### Small appliances and chargers **Examples:** Battery chargers for cordless products, external power supplies **Requirements:** DOE standard and certification; no EnergyGuide label. Easy to miss on cordless vacuums, tools and kitchen gadgets ## Safety certification (NRTL listing) Who requires a safety listing There is no single federal law that says every household appliance must carry a UL or ETL mark. OSHA requires NRTL approval only for electrical equipment used in workplaces. In practice, listing is required by major retailers and marketplaces, by electrical inspectors for installed appliances under the National Electrical Code, by some state and local rules, and by insurers. A household appliance without a recognized listing mark is hard to sell. Treat a NRTL listing as a market requirement for any mains-powered appliance Which standard US appliance safety standards are increasingly the UL 60335 series (US adoption of IEC 60335: Part 1 general requirements plus a Part 2 for the product type). Some product types are still tested to legacy UL standards, such as UL 1082 for household coffee makers. Your NRTL will confirm the right standard for your product. Confirm the standard with the NRTL before design freeze Gas appliances Gas-fired ranges, water heaters and dryers are certified to ANSI Z21 / CSA standards for gas safety, in addition to any electrical safety listing. Separate gas design certification Factory follow-up A listing is not a one-off test. The NRTL inspects the factory periodically to confirm production still matches the tested design. Unannounced component changes are a common reason listings are suspended. Ongoing obligation for as long as you use the mark More detail on choosing a lab and keeping a listing active is in our [UL and NRTL safety listing guide](/guides/ul-nrtl-safety-listing). ## ENERGY STAR and state efficiency rules ### ENERGY STAR ENERGY STAR is voluntary. Products must be tested in a recognized laboratory and certified by a recognized certification body before they can use the label. Congress funded the program for fiscal year 2026, and since 3 March 2026 DOE has been the lead agency in place of EPA, with management moving across under a transition plan. Expect program details, such as partner portals, to change during the move. See our [ENERGY STAR certification guide](/guides/energy-star-certification). ### California Title 20 and MAEDbS California's Appliance Efficiency Regulations (Title 20) require manufacturers to certify regulated appliances to the California Energy Commission, including many that are federally regulated. A model that is not listed in the Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System (MAEDbS) cannot legally be sold or offered for sale in California, and the whole supply chain, including retailers and importers, can be penalized. Several other states have their own appliance standards for products without federal standards, so check each state you sell into. ## Other rules that catch appliance makers FCC rules for appliances with electronics Appliances with digital electronics, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth need FCC authorization under Part 15. Microwave ovens and induction cooktops are consumer ISM equipment under Part 18, authorized by Supplier's Declaration of Conformity or certification. Smart appliances, microwave ovens, induction cooking FDA microwave oven performance standard Microwave ovens must meet 21 CFR 1030.10: leakage no more than 1 mW/cm² at 5 cm before sale (5 mW/cm² over the product life) and at least two safety interlocks. Manufacturers also file reports with FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Microwave ovens CPSC product-specific rules A few CPSC rules target appliances directly. The Refrigerator Safety Act rule (16 CFR 1750) requires household refrigerator doors to open from the inside. Hand-held hair dryers must have immersion protection. Every manufacturer, importer and retailer must also report defects that could create a substantial hazard under Section 15(b) of the CPSA. Refrigerators, hair dryers, all consumer products (reporting) Product marking Model number, electrical ratings, manufacturer or importer name, the NRTL listing mark and required warnings go on the rating plate. Country of origin marking is required for imported products under US Customs rules. All appliances ## Step by step: certifying a new appliance for the US 01 Check whether your product is a DOE covered product: look it up in 10 CFR 430.32 (consumer products) or 10 CFR 431 (commercial equipment). Remember chargers and external power supplies, which catch many small-appliance makers. 02 If covered, test to the DOE test procedure in the appendices to 10 CFR 430 subpart B, using the sampling plan in 10 CFR 429. DOE generally does not require a third-party lab, but your test records must be kept and defensible. 03 Certify each basic model in DOE's Compliance Certification Management System (CCMS) before you distribute it, then re-certify every year. Importers count as manufacturers under the law, so a foreign factory's certification does not cover you unless it is filed for your brand. 04 If the product needs an EnergyGuide label, generate it from your DOE test results, attach it as 16 CFR 305 specifies, and give online sellers the label image. 16 CFR 305.9 requires labels to be shown on websites that sell the product. 05 Get a NRTL safety listing (UL, Intertek ETL, CSA, TUV and others) to the right UL standard, plus FCC authorization if the product has electronics or radios. 06 If you sell in California, certify each regulated model to the CEC so it appears in MAEDbS. Retailers and distributors can be penalized for selling unlisted models. 07 Decide whether ENERGY STAR is worth it for your category. It is voluntary but often expected by retailers and needed for some utility rebates. ## Common compliance mistakes Assuming a UL listing covers energy compliance. Safety listing and DOE certification are separate systems with separate filings. Shipping before the DOE certification report is filed in CCMS. Certification is required before distribution, not after the first container lands. Forgetting the battery charger or external power supply. A cordless product that is not itself a DOE product can still contain one that is. Putting an EnergyGuide label on a product that does not need one, or omitting it online. Clothes dryers and cooking products are DOE-regulated but do not carry an EnergyGuide label. Relying on the factory's certification. As the importer or brand owner you are the manufacturer for DOE purposes, and the basic model must be certified under your brand. Skipping California. A product can be legal federally and still be unsellable in California if it is not listed in MAEDbS. ## Frequently asked questions ### What certification do home products and appliances need in the US? Most household appliances need three things: a safety listing from a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory such as UL, Intertek (ETL) or CSA; DOE energy efficiency certification in CCMS if the product type is covered by DOE standards; and an FTC EnergyGuide label for the product types listed in 16 CFR 305. Products with electronics also need FCC authorization, and California requires separate certification to the California Energy Commission. ### Do all appliances need DOE certification? No. Only products covered by a DOE energy conservation standard need DOE certification. The consumer product list in 10 CFR 430.32 includes refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, cooking products, water heaters, room and portable air conditioners, dehumidifiers, ceiling fans, air cleaners, battery chargers and external power supplies. Many countertop appliances, such as toasters and blenders, have no DOE standard, though their chargers or power supplies might. ### What is the EnergyGuide label and which appliances need it? The EnergyGuide label is the yellow FTC label (16 CFR 305) that shows estimated yearly operating cost and energy use compared with similar models. It is required on refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers, water heaters, room and portable air conditioners, pool heaters, televisions, ceiling fans, and central air conditioners, heat pumps and furnaces. Clothes dryers, ovens and microwave ovens do not carry one. ### Is UL certification legally required for household appliances? Not by one federal law. OSHA's NRTL program applies to equipment used in workplaces, and the CPSC does not require a UL listing for most consumer products. In practice, though, retailers, marketplaces, electrical inspectors, some states and cities, and insurers expect a recognized listing mark, so an unlisted appliance is very hard to sell. ### Does DOE require testing at an accredited lab? Not for most products. Manufacturers may test in their own labs as long as they follow the DOE test procedure and sampling plan and keep the records. ENERGY STAR is different: it requires testing in a recognized lab and certification by a recognized certification body. ### Is ENERGY STAR still running in 2026? Yes. EPA proposed ending the program in 2025, but Congress funded it for fiscal year 2026, and under a memorandum of agreement effective 3 March 2026, DOE became the lead agency. Program management is moving from EPA to DOE under a transition plan. ENERGY STAR remains voluntary. ### What are the best tools for checking appliance energy compliance requirements? Start with official, free sources: the eCFR text of 10 CFR 430.32 for standards, DOE's Compliance Certification Database to see how competing models are certified, the CCMS templates for your product type, the FTC EnergyGuide label pages, and the California Energy Commission's MAEDbS for state requirements. These show exactly what applies and how others in your category report it. **Disclaimer:** This guide provides general information about US appliance compliance, current as of October 2026. DOE standards are changing quickly, so product-specific determinations require checking the current text of 10 CFR 429 to 431, 16 CFR 305 and applicable state rules. Always verify requirements with agency resources or qualified compliance professionals. 🇺🇸 US roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇺🇸 US compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. See compliance services](/services) Related guides * [US Market Compliance OverviewComprehensive overview of US regulatory landscape: FCC, FDA, CPSC, EPA, OSHA, DOE, FTC requirements for market entry.](/guides/us-market-compliance-overview) * [CPSC Consumer Product SafetyComplete guide to CPSC consumer product safety requirements.](/guides/cpsc-consumer-product-safety) * [DOE Energy Efficiency StandardsComplete guide to DOE energy efficiency standards.](/guides/doe-energy-efficiency-standards) * [FTC Labeling RequirementsComplete guide to FTC labeling requirements.](/guides/ftc-labeling-requirements)