Fire Safety Engineering
More than 100 years of fire testing expertise
Underwriters Laboratories.® is the North American leader in fire safety testing, certification and research. UL is a leading resource on fire safety and applies modern test methods and analyses to fire-related issues. UL is dedicated to working with regulatory authorities, manufacturers, insurers, retailers and other partners in the fire safety community toward the common goal of protecting lives and property.
While safety is our primary focus, UL understands that you're also concerned about getting reliable, timely results to satisfy customer requirements and meet your bottom-line objectives. That's why we strive to deliver excellence and value. We set the standard in our industry, offering the highest level of regulatory acceptance and market recognition, expertise and service to help manufacturers get safer products to market faster.
UL services span the spectrum of safety needs for the built environment
Our fire safety resources serve all the key industry segments, including:
- Fire suppression - sprinklers, sprinkler pipes and fittings, fire extinguishers and extinguishing systems
- Fire resistance and containment - doors, dampers, firestops, safes and fire - resistive materials
- Building products - roofing, gypsum board, insulation, wall coverings, furnishings, plastics, foams and other materials
- Building content - mattresses, futons, wall coverings and upholstered furniture
- Telecommunications - wires, cables, fiber optics and central office equipment
- Fire equipment services - aerial devices, ground ladders and pumpers
- Fire alarm products - control panels, smoke detectors, sensors and other alarm system components
- Insurance, material handling, retail, warehousing and industry consultants - fire research to assist with product development, standards development, systems and materials investigations, and regulatory acceptance of innovative new products
The value of UL
UL is best known for its testing and certification work to national, international and industry standards. With more than 21 billion UL Marks appearing on products, UL is the most visible and reliable confirmation of a product's compliance with applicable requirements. Behind the Mark is an organization known for integrity, independence and leadership in U.S. safety standards development. A dedicated team of fire safety professionals, catalog of published and widely referenced UL Safety Standards and Directories, world - class facilities and comprehensive services combine to make UL the most prominent and trusted source for the industry. UL offers:
- World - class facilities - UL has state - of - the - art facilities throughout the world to help manufacturers test their products, including the Center of Excellence for Fire Safety just 20 miles north of Chicago
- Standards development - UL is the only certification organization with standards development capabilities and has authored 150 U.S. fire safety standards
- Large - scale fire testing facility - An impressive large - scale fire testing facility that offers a total of 20,000 square feet of specialized testing cells to collect data necessary to assist with product and system development; substantiate proposals for code revisions; assist with development of new standards; and support regulatory acceptance of new and innovative products
- Customized solutions - UL's facility accommodates different ceiling heights, roof slopes and sprinkler configurations, so test programs can be tailored for almost any situation
- Bundled service offering - UL has bundled services to meet multiple needs more efficiently (e.g., fire testing of ceiling tiles with acoustical testing)
- Product Directories - The online and print versions of UL Product Directories list companies with UL certifications. These directories are widely referenced by contractors, architects, and building and fire inspectors
- Predictive analysis - Helps save time and money for manufacturers by employing less expensive, smaller scale methods to generate data indicating how products will perform during actual testing
- Witness testing programs - These programs make it more convenient for manufacturers to obtain UL certification
- Consulting and training - UL offers a wide range of public and private training opportunities, global market access and consultative services that can help you "design safety in," and anticipate and address critical needs throughout your product life cycle
The value of the Mark
Choosing UL for your fire safety needs gives you a distinct advantage and unmatched value:
Market acceptance
- Confidence that your UL certified products will be accepted in the United States and Canada
- A dedicated regulatory services team to support code compliance decisions
Comprehensive coverage
- A toll-free "hotline" for architects to source UL certified products. Information about your products is also available online (www.ul.com/database), in searchable UL certification directories that make it easy for buyers and specifiers worldwide to identify compliant products and source your products
- A unique marketing advantage afforded by the high level of recognition of the UL Mark by U.S. consumers and demand drivers in the supply chain
Ability to differentiate your products
- The UL Mark makes your products stand out from those that can't pass the UL test
- Preference for your UL certified products through UL's continued investment in its brand and its relationships with consumers, retailers and regulatory authorities
Peace of mind
- Management of risk and company reputation by demonstrating that you took the extra step to protect end users from harm when you subjected your product to UL's rigorous testing and thorough follow-up inspections
Expert assistance and service
- Access to UL expertise developed through extensive product investigations, research and standards development activities
Regulatory support
- Continuous training and information on current fire code requirements and future trends
- Robust compliance tools, including the Online Certifications Directory and Product Directory CD
To start the submittal process or access more information:
- Contact UL Customer Service at 1-877-854-3577.
- Learn how to submit a product for testing.
- Begin the product submission process.
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