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Underwriters Laboratories Announces New UL Water Quality Mark

Northbrook, Ill., USA - March 18, 2005 - Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is introducing a new Mark for the certification of water-related products to better serve the needs of water products manufacturers, users, regulators and consumers. The new UL Water Quality Mark indicates UL certification of drinking water products for compliance with applicable water quality standards.

The effective date by which all current UL water products customers must use the new UL Water Quality Mark is Jan. 21, 2010. Current customers have until then to change their product markings. All water product customers new to UL will begin using the UL Water Quality Mark on their UL-certified products immediately. Affected products include:

  • Treatment chemicals and additives
  • System components and materials
  • Treatment units
  • Plumbing products

Previously, these products carried the UL Environmental & Public Health Mark (EPH). After the effective date, only food service equipment will continue to carry the EPH Mark. The new Water Quality Mark replaces the UL EPH Mark on products certified for water quality. In turn, the UL EPH Mark will differentiate UL sanitation certifications from other safety certifications, such as those for electrical and gas, and will continue to appear on food service equipment certified to sanitation standards.

"UL's water products certification business has grown to include more customers and a broader range of products, justifying the need for a dedicated Mark that is unique to this industry," said Dr. Ann Marie Gebhart, global business manager of the Environmental Services business at UL. "In addition, the new UL Water Quality Mark more closely resembles the traditional UL mark and should help consumers to more immediately tap into the recognition and reputation of UL."

The UL Water Quality Mark consists of the UL in a circle symbol with the word "Classified" in an arc above the circle and the words "Water Quality" below the circle. It will also include:

  • Product type
  • Four-digit control number
  • Standard to which the product complies

Both the UL EPH Mark and the Water Quality Mark are valid indications of UL water-quality certification until the Jan. 21, 2010 effective date. Regulators are advised that they will see both Marks on water-related products over the next several years.

"We want to make the transition process as easy as possible for our customers," said Gebhart. "Customers will have five years from the announcement to adopt the new Mark on water quality products."

For more information on the UL Water Quality Mark, please contact Ann Marie Gebhart, in Northbrook, IL, USA, by phone at +1-847-664-1782 or via e-mail at annmarie.gebhart@us.ul.com.

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is an independent, not-for-profit product safety certification organization that has been testing products for more than 110 years. UL tests more than 19,000 types of products annually, and more than 19 billion UL Marks appear on products each year. Worldwide, UL's family of companies and its network of service providers include 58 laboratories, and testing and certification facilities.

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