Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

About UL | Careers | Contact Us

Information Related to the Development of Safety Requirements for E85 Dispensers and Components

May 2007 Update

Product Certification: Options Prior to Formal Adoption of a Standard

Normally, requirements that serve as the basis for UL product certifications are documented in standards, such as those that are published by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. On occasion, however, UL receives submittals of products for which no published standard exists. When no published standard exists, new requirements may be developed. To accomplish this, UL establishes certification requirements based on a hazard based safety analysis of the product involved, consideration of requirements in any related existing standards, and consideration of research that is either available to UL or undertaken by UL in its investigation of the product under review. When it is not practical to immediately establish these requirements in a standard, UL documents the requirements in an Outline of Investigation or Certification Bulletin.

Outlines of Investigation are commonly used by UL to certify products under the scope of the Outline. An Outline of Investigation is maintained until such time that a new standard is developed or the requirements in the Outline of Investigation are incorporated into an existing standard, at which time the Outline is superseded and is withdrawn. Outlines of Investigation and UL Certification Bulletins are not UL Standards, and are not developed through UL's ANSI accredited, consensus based Standards Technical Panel ("STP") process. Frequently, Outlines of Investigation and Certification Bulletins become the basis for standards proposals through UL's STPs.

Recognizing the timeliness by which the market place is seeking to incorporate safe higher-alcohol fuel distribution systems, Underwriters Laboratories is planning to utilize one of these alternative channels for product certification. This product certification program will occur simultaneous to undertaking a formal standards development program. Once a formal standard is adopted, UL will use that published document for its certification program.

Top of Page