Grooming Safely: Understanding Electrical Certification in the Pet Industry

By Frank Zahner, P.Eng, MBA – Co-owner, Custom Pet Boutique

Electric grooming tools might make your day smoother—but are they putting your safety at risk? In a landscape filled with convenience and custom products, it's easy to overlook the invisible details that could cost you more than you bargained for. Electrical certification for grooming equipment isn't just a regulatory box to check—it’s a legal and personal responsibility that affects your business, your staff, and your pets.

Why Electrical Compliance Matters

Most grooming professionals use a wide range of electrical tools daily—clippers, dryers, grooming tables, and more. Unfortunately, many of these devices aren’t compliant with Canadian or U.S. electrical codes. What does that mean for you?

If you plug it into a wall, it's considered a permanent fixture, and legally, it must meet electrical code requirements. As a business owner, you bear the liability for using non-compliant equipment, and that’s no small matter. Should an accident occur, the legal and financial consequences fall squarely on your shoulders—not the supplier’s.

Who Enforces the Rules?

You may assume compliance is handled by manufacturers or sellers, but that’s not always the case. Municipalities are the enforcers of electrical codes, especially when permits are involved. Certified tradespeople won’t install non-compliant equipment—meaning if you're doing DIY installations without inspections or permits, you’re bypassing not only safeguards but legal requirements.

Here’s a sobering fact: non-compliant equipment can void your insurance. Even if the equipment works, if it’s not certified, any related claim could be denied. Worst of all, some vendors still legally sell non-compliant devices, leaving the burden of legality and safety on you.

The Knowledge Gap

One of the biggest problems in the industry is simple ignorance:

• Many vendors and customers don’t know the law.
• Few can accurately verify certification.
• Some vendors intentionally mislead buyers.
• And sadly, some customers don't care—or don’t know they should.

But electrical certification protects everyone involved—from groomers and employees to the pets themselves. It ensures the devices are built and tested to meet safety standards.

Common Tools That Require Certification

Here are the types of grooming tools most often found in violation:

• Grooming tables
• Bath tubs
• Clippers and clipper charging stations
• Dryers
• Other grooming accessories and miscellaneous tools

When shopping, don’t just take a vendor’s word for it. Always request proof of certification.

How to Recognize Certified Equipment

Look for a certification symbol on the device’s nameplate—ideally on the control panel, base, or power cord label. This mark should come from a reputable certification agency. Some reliable symbols include:

• UL
• ETL
• CSA
• MET
• TUV
• QAI
• SGS

If you see “C” and “US” in the corners of the symbol, that means the equipment complies with both Canadian and U.S. standards. Note: the “CE” mark relates to European packaging standards—it does not qualify as North American electrical compliance.

Documentation is Just as Important

Certification isn't only about symbols—it should come with proper documentation:

• A title page showing the complete assembly and the certification mark
• An index listing all components
• Individual documentation of each component’s certification
• A registration number tied to a searchable database on the certifying agency’s website

One certified component does not mean the whole product is compliant. An example in the grooming space is a control box that bears a UL certification but doesn’t guarantee the surrounding assembly meets full certification.

What You Can Do

Don’t leave safety to chance. Here's how to proactively verify equipment compliance:

• Request a photo of the nameplate showing the certification symbol.
• Ask for supporting documentation.
• Consult a professional who understands electrical codes and can review documents with you.
• If the seller can’t or won’t provide certification? Walk away.

Final Thoughts

North America operates on single-phase, 120V, 60Hz power. Any motor or control designed outside those specifications might not function—or could pose serious hazards.

If groomers consistently demand certified equipment, vendors will stop supplying substandard goods. Ultimately, it's baffling that anyone would accept responsibility for risks they can't properly evaluate.

Don’t be that customer. Be the professional who keeps safety front and center—for your team, your clients, and your pets.