UL 588, Seasonal and Holiday Decorative Products

Effective July 16, 2018

Standard Information
Standard Number:
UL 588
Standard Name:
Seasonal and Holiday Decorative Products
Standard Edition and Issue Date:
19th Edition Issued October 26, 2015
Date of Previous Revisions to Standard:
18th Edition Revised November 4, 2013
 
Effective Date of New/Revised Requirements

Effective Date (see Schedule below): July 16, 2018

 
Impact, Overview, Fees and Action Required

Impact Statement: A review of all Listing Reports is necessary to determine which products comply with new/revised requirements and which products will require re-evaluation. NOTE: Effective immediately, this revised standard will be exclusively used for evaluation of new products unless the Applicant requests in writing that current requirements be used along with their understanding that their listings will be withdrawn on Effective Date noted above, unless the product is found to comply with new/revised requirements.

Overview of Changes (Specific details of new/revised requirements are found in table below):

  • Revisions to the scope of the standard
  • Revision to requirements for Class 2 power supplies
  • Revision of decorative outfit product accessory length
  • Addition of CXTW-S
  • Revision to Requirements of Tree Poles Employing Seasonal Use Extension Cords
  • Revised Requirements for Parallel-Connected Lighting Strings
  • Motorized Products Employing 20 AWG SPT-2W

If the applicable requirements noted in the table are not described in your report(s), these requirements will need to be confirmed as met and added to your report(s) such as markings, instructions, test results, etc. (as required).

Client Action Required:

Information – To assist our Engineer with review of your Listing Reports, please submit technical information in response to the new/revised paragraphs noted in the attached or explain why these new/revised requirements do not apply to your product (s).

Current Listings Not Active? – Please immediately identify any current Listing Reports or products that are no longer active and should be removed from our records. We will do this at no charge as long as Intertek is notified in writing prior to the review of your reports.

 
Description of New/Revised Technical Requirements
ClauseVerdictComment
1.6 New clause added;

Modification of the scope. New scope for Christmas Trees that are greater than 30in and less than 12 feet tall and for wreaths greater than 48” in diameter shall additionally be investigated to Fire Tests of UL 2358.
Table 6.1 Miscellaneous revisions for consistency with the wattage marking

Wire types and overcurrent protection ratings for series-connected seasonal lighting products

Revised “Total maximum number of strings allowed to be connected together, end toend” to “Total maximum wattage of strings allowed to be connected together, end-toend”
Table 6.1/6.2 Motorized Products Employing 20 AWG SPT-2W

Revise power supply cord of motorized product from “min. 18AWG SPT-2 cord” to “Min. 20AWG SPT-2 cord”.
13InfoSupply Connections
13.1.9 exceptionInfoAdded “Decorative outfit accessories are intended to be installed and fixed inside a decorative outfit” in the exception to be permitted to have a cord longer than 18 inches.
13.2.4 Exception No. 6InfoNew exception added permitting a series-connected lighting string to employ a single conductor CXTW-S cord.
Table 13.1 Revised Maximum ampacity of conductor and overcurrent protection amperes.
Additions to existing requirements are underlined and deletions are shown lined out below

Maximum conductor current and overcurrent protection
Wire size, AWG (mm2)Maximum conductor current of a fully loaded seasonal product amperesOvercurrent protection amperes
12 (3.31)12N/A
14 (2.08)1012N/A
16 (1.31)81010b
18 (0.82)3.58a8a
20 (0.52)3.53.65
22 (0.32)1.83
a The maximum conductor current flow for a series connected light string which employs polarized line and load fittings is 3.6 A.
a When an 8 A fuse is employed, the maximum current shall not exceed 8 A. When a 5 A fuse is employed, the maximum current shall not exceed 3.6 A.
b Overcurrent is required only when more than 3 load fittings are employed. A maximum of 6 load fittings are permitted when overcurrent protection is provided.
13.3.3 Exception No. 2InfoAdded exception for Tree poles allowing them to employ load fitting (maximum of 9) as long as the seasonal use cord set is compliant with the requirements of UL 817.
13.3.6 Revised Minimum wiring device rating. The minimum wiring device ratings were relocated from clause 13.3.6 to table 13.2, except for the 8 A device rating which was newly added to table 13.2. Additions to existing requirements are underlined and deletions are shown lined out below

An attachment plug, a power inlet, or a load fitting employed in a seasonal product shall be rated in accordance with Table 13.2. a minimum of 15 A for use with 12 AWG (3.31 mm2), and 14 AWG (2.08 mm2), 10 A for use with 16 AWG (1.31 mm2) wire, 5 A for use with 18 AWG (0.82 mm2) or 20 AWG (0.52 mm2) wire and a minimum of 3 A for use with 22 AWG (0.32 mm2) wire. A current tap shall be rated 15 A.
Table 13.2 As referenced above, this newly added table contains content from clause 13.3.6 (18thEd.)

A minimum wiring device rating of 8 A if the only new addition to the content of this table.
18InfoClass 2 Circuits
18.1 (c)InfoAdded “L.P.S” of UL60950-1 equal to Class 2.
29.1 Parallel-Connected Strings

Revise Maximum acceptable number of lampholders to Max acceptable total wattage.
Additions to existing requirements are underlined and deletions are shown lined out below

A parallel-connected string shall employ only intermediate- or candelabra-screw lampholders and shall have at least 7 lampholders but not more than the number indicated in Table 29.1the total wattage of the lighting string shall not exceed 216 Watts (1.8 A) when a cord connector is provided or 432 Watts (3.6 A) when no cord connector is provided.
Table 29.1 (18th Ed.)InfoTable Deleted
Maximum acceptable number of lampholders in a string
Lampholder typeWire size AWG (mm2)Maximum acceptable number of lampholders
With cord connectorWithout cord connector
Candelabra- or intermediate20 (0.52)3060
screw18 (0.82)3060

125InfoCord Tag Markings
125.1.6 New marking for a product rated at the maximum conductor current shown in Table 13.1;

CAUTION – Do not connect to another lighting string, decorative outfit, or seasonal product.
From Clause 82 to endInfoOnly clause numbers were changed. No content change.

CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE: This Table and column "Verdict" can be used in determining how your current or future production is or will be in compliance with new/revised requirements.

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