Essential tips for a successful ETL application journey

Insights from the team

2024 has seen the highest number of ETL applications in the past three years, with 60 applications (and counting) submitted by manufacturers seeking to have their products listed.

Applying to the ETL is an opportunity for manufacturers to showcase their energy-efficient technologies and benefit from increased visibility. However, ensuring a smooth and successful application requires understanding the ETL’s requirements and best practices. To this end, we spoke with the ETL Team, asking Alexis Carl Pienaar, Punit Kumar, Todd Leddy, and Tom Lock to share their valuable insight for future product applications to the ETL.

This guide offers key tips to streamline your ETL application, avoid common missteps, and navigate the ETL application portal with ease and confidence.

Understanding the ETL application portal 

The ETL application portal has been designed with usability in mind, allowing manufacturers to complete their application process efficiently. The layout resembles common upload portals, enabling navigation even for those unfamiliar with the ETL infrastructure. Here are some essential portal features that applicants should use to their advantage: 

• Companies House Integration: When registering, UK-based manufacturers can simply input their Companies House registration number to populate essential information. This is especially useful for verifying the legal requirements quickly and accurately. 

• Multi-User Access: The ETL portal allows multiple team members from the same company to access and work on the application. This can significantly streamline the process, enabling collaboration across departments like compliance, engineering, and administration. 

• Bulk Uploads for Large Portfolios: For companies applying with multiple products, the portal supports batch uploads through Excel files, letting you compile and upload large volumes of product data at once. This is ideal for companies with similar products that only vary slightly, such as different model numbers or colours. 

Required documentation - avoiding common errors 

To proceed smoothly, applicants should ensure that all required documents are prepared, signed, and translated into English, if necessary. Common document requirements include: 

• ISO Certificates and Declarations of Conformity: Each document must be up-to-date, signed, and in English. This is essential for demonstrating compliance with ETL criteria requirements. 

• Application Checklist: This document should be fully signed and dated before submission. Simple omissions, such as missing dates or signatures, are among the most common errors that lead to delays in processing your application. 

Submitting complete and consistent documentation at the outset saves significant time by avoiding additional requests for information. 

Product and model alignment 

An often-overlooked detail is the need for model numbers and product names to align across all submitted documents. This alignment is especially important for companies with products that may have slight variations, such as different colours or minor design changes. Here are a few tips to ensure consistency: 

• Label Variations Clearly: If a product model is offered in several variations, such as colour or specification differences, be sure to specify this in your application. For instance, if a model has colour variations, note that “Model X-W” represents a white version and “Model X-S” denotes silver. 

• Explain Minor Discrepancies: Occasionally, model numbers might differ slightly due to naming conventions. Please provide a brief note clarifying any such discrepancies to minimise delays in processing your application. 

Testing requirements 

A common misconception is that products need to undergo third-party testing for ETL approval. However, the ETL offers various paths for manufacturers to demonstrate compliance without incurring significant additional costs: 

• Representative Testing: This allows you to test one product within a family of similar models and use that data to extrapolate the results. For example, when products share the same constructional design but feature minor modifications. Section 1.5.1 of the ETL’s criteria for inclusion provides specific details. 

• Testing Standards: ETL requirements for many products align with product specific eco-design regulations, which manufacturers already use to bring products to market. Applicants can often repurpose existing test reports that meet these test method/parameter requirements, saving time and resources.  

Manufacturers can find the verification routes for each sub-tech in section 1.5 of their criteria. 

By understanding and utilising these testing options, manufacturers can avoid unnecessary additional expenses and submit applications that meet ETL criteria requirements. 

Ensuring data privacy 

The ETL’s application process emphasises confidentiality, which can be a concern for manufacturers submitting sensitive data within test reports. Rest assured that the ETL maintains strict privacy protocols to protect applicants' proprietary information.  

For manufacturers worried about sharing detailed product information, the ETL’s legal policies provide additional protection, ensuring that sensitive data is handled with care. Understanding this can help applicants feel secure in providing the necessary technical data to support their application. 

Navigating the two-stage application review process 

The ETL application review involves two key stages, each designed to ensure that only compliant products are listed: 

• Completeness Check: During this stage, the ETL verifies that all required documents have been submitted, signed, and dated correctly. If any required documents are missing, the ETL team will reach out with a request for further information. The ETL administrators can edit the submitted application on behalf of applicants, meaning you don’t have to start the process again. 

• Technical Assessment: After passing the completeness check, applications proceed to the technical assessment. Here, evaluators review product performance data to confirm compliance with ETL criteria requirements. If additional details are required, the ETL may issue a “Further Information Request” (FIR) so applicants can provide supplementary information. 

Applicants can expect a response within a few days after each submission, and the overall review process typically takes three to five weeks if all documents are in order. 

What to do if your application is declined 

If an application is initially declined, applicants will receive feedback provided by the ETL team. 

Common scenarios include: 

• Technical inconsistencies in model data 

• Application submitted within the wrong sub-technology 

• Uploaded product information that contradicts the product literature. 

Applicants are encouraged to address identified issues and resubmit their applications promptly. The portal’s "Copy Application" feature preloads previously uploaded documents, allowing manufacturers to correct and enhance their submissions, to ensure their application meets all ETL requirements effectively. 

The ETL aims to support manufacturers through the application process.  We are committed to working with applicants to help them achieve product listings.  

The ETL portal is designed to screen out products that don’t meet performance requirements before submission, thus helping manufacturers with their application. 

Additional tips 

ETL listings offer manufacturers significant visibility, so it’s worth investing a bit of time in optimising the listing itself. Here are some final tips to enhance the quality of your ETL application: 

• Include High-Quality Product Images: Clear images of each product make listings more appealing and informative to potential customers. 

• Verify Contact Information: Ensure that contact details, such as email addresses and company website URLs, are accurate and up to date. ETL listings can drive leads directly to your sales team, so having the correct information is critical. 

By following these tips and leveraging the ETL portal’s resources, manufacturers can increase the likelihood of a smooth, successful application.  

Remember, the ETL also offers resources like FAQs and video tutorials on the ETL YouTube channel, making it even easier to complete the application process. For further guidance, visit the Manufacturers page on the ETL and check out the comprehensive application resources available with the ETL Guidance Note. 

Get started today 

If you’re ready to showcase your product’s energy efficiency on the ETL, prepare your documents, log in to the ETL portal, and start the application process today!  

Feel free to email info@etl.energysecurity.gov.uk if you have any queries – we aim to respond to all enquiries within one working day. 

With a streamlined application and an efficient portal, the ETL offers a valuable opportunity for your products to stand out in the energy efficiency market, and independent verification, by a government backed scheme of your product’s energy efficiency performance, also provides peace of mind for potential purchasers.