UL Extends Certification Date for Multi-criteria Smoke Alarms

UL released a customer bulletin on Nov. 23, 2020, announcing the effective date for ANSI/UL 217, the Standard for Smoke Alarms, 8th Ed., has been extended from June 30, 2021, to June 30, 2022. The effective date for ANSI/UL 268, the Standard for Smoke Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems, 7th Ed. remains the same, June 30, 2021. An effective date is the deadline by which product manufacturers certifying smoke alarms or smoke detectors must fully comply with all the requirements in the specified standard edition to be eligible to bear a UL certification Mark.

The decision to extend the effective date for ANSI/UL 217 to June 30, 2022, was based on several factors caused by the global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has significantly impacted the global supply chain for critical components needed for smoke alarm production to meet anticipated market demand. The pandemic has also caused a reduction to the availability of and access to the UL smoke alarm laboratories by manufacturer’s staff, which has limited their research time and availability of exploratory testing of the new technologies in these products. This date extension will allow manufacturers more time to gain certification to the new requirements. 

The NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code requirement for smoke alarm and smoke detectors to be Listed for resistance to common nuisance sources from cooking is effective on Jan.1, 2022. Currently, smoke alarm and smoke detector products certified to meet the new requirements and are available in the marketplace. Visit Product iQ™, the location for online certification information. For smoke alarms, search “217 8th” and select UTGT under the UL Category Control Number (CCN). For smoke detectors, search “268 7th ” and select UROX under the UL Category Control Number (CCN). 

With UL Certified products to the latest edition of UL 217 on the market now, and additional products coming to the market prior to Jan. 1, 2022, this change will not impact the fire service, existing smoke alarm giveaway or home installation programs.