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UL Announces New Security and Signaling Marks

New Marks distinguish products that undergo extensive performance testing

May 1, 2005 - Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) today announced three new Security and Signaling Marks to clearly identify products that are tested to perform as required in security and signaling environments. The effective date for UL security and signaling customers to implement these Marks is May 1, 2007.

The new Marks signify that products have been specifically evaluated and tested to UL requirements for signaling and security applications.

"These new Security and Signaling Marks provide manufacturers with a clear distinction and marketing advantage from competitive products that have not been evaluated for their performance in these specific applications," said Chris Hasbrook, general manager of the UL Fire, Safety & Security and Environmental Services SBU. "The new Marks are a vital tool for regulators, insurers, retailers and consumers who need confirmation of a product's reliability performing in these particular applications."

The three new Marks are:

Signaling Mark

The UL Signaling Mark applies to products such as fire and life-safety alarms. Typical products in this category are smoke detectors, fire alarms and hospital nurse call systems.

Security Mark

The UL Security Mark applies to products such as intrusion detectors, burglar alarms, access controls, anti-theft alarms, surveillance systems, safes and vaults.

Combination Security and Signaling Mark

The combination UL Security and Signaling Mark applies to products that serve both security and signaling functions. A typical example is a combination fire and burglar alarm system. Such products are evaluated for both applications. Consequently, they are eligible for the combination Mark.

About Performance Testing

UL's series of performance tests for security and signaling products varies significantly by product type and individual Standard. The purpose of these tests is to verify performance under many of the conditions that security and signaling products will encounter during the course of normal use, including:

Supervisory

These tests verify the ability of a particular product to alert an appropriate authority if it is unable to function properly.

Temperature and Atmospheric

These tests verify the ability of a particular product to function properly under conditions such as varying degrees of humidity, heat, cold and interference from radio or electronic frequencies.

Natural Environment

These tests verify the ability of a particular product to function properly when subjected to natural environmental variables such as dust, corrosion or physical changes (if a product is dropped or hit, for example).

Component Lifecycle Testing

These tests verify the ability of a particular product and its individual components to function properly during standard use. UL evaluates how the components are used and stressed in a working product and how that use impacts both the performance of each component and the product as a whole.

"Today millions of individuals and businesses depend on automated systems and devices for protection from fire and crime," said Hasbrook. "With UL's 111 years of experience in testing brought to bear, users of these approved systems can be secure that they will perform as promised when facing the most critical situations."

To learn more about the UL Security and Signaling Marks, please visit www.ul-securityandsignaling.com or contact Chris Hasbrook, general manager of the Fire, Security and Signaling SBU, at +1-847-664-1055 or Chris.Hasbrook@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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