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NICHIBOU’s Erase Tube Fire-Extinguishing Device is the First to Achieve UL Certification to UL 2166P

Innovation and safety meet to protect lives and property

Erase Tube Fire-Extinguishing Device (ETD)

September 17, 2019

Thanks to UL’s long association with fire safety, integrity, quality and performance, fire suppression products that carry the UL Mark gain a decisive competitive edge through the instant recognition to the global fire safety community. We work to stay at the forefront of fire safety advancements by supporting the fire suppression industry as they develop new standards and safety certification approaches to meet evolving needs in fire protection.

This commitment led to our collaboration with NICHIBOU in Tokyo. Its Erase Tube Fire-Extinguishing Device (ETD) is now the world’s first to achieve UL Certification to UL 2166P, Outline of Investigation for Plastic Pipe and Fitting Assemblies used as Self-Contained Automatic Extinguisher Units for Total Flooding Applications, requirements as a self-contained automatic extinguishing unit. The units are designed for total flooding protection against Class A surface burning, Class B flammable liquid and Class C fires occurring within an enclosure per NFPA 2001.

The requirements for UL 2166P were developed from several UL Standards including UL 2166, the Standard for Halocarbon Clean Agent Extinguishing System Units; UL 1821, the Standard for Thermoplastic Sprinkler Pipe and Fittings for Fire Protection Service; and UL 521, the Standard for Heat Detectors for Fire Protective Signaling Systems. The development of UL 2166P resulted in a new product category and evaluation parameters. NICHIBOU did its research when it designed the ETD system by utilizing tubing material that was already UL Component Recognized. The use of this material allowed UL to complete the ETD system certification in a reduced time frame because the tubing material already carried the UL Component Recognition Mark. The tubing material was evaluated according to UL 521, the Standard for Heat Detectors for Fire Protective Signaling Systems.

Hiroyuki Sugiyama, CEO of NICHIBOU said, “in order to mitigate the damage arising from fires, it is most important to detect the occurrence of a fire as it begins and extinguish it quickly before it grows. The ETD is an electric-power-free tubular automatic fire extinguisher unit equipped with the functions of a sensor, extinguishing agent cylinder and nozzle, and has achieved the world's first UL certification to UL 2166P.

NICHIBOU’s engineering and UL’s safety science expertise have helped to make people and property safer knowing that ETD has UL certification for this life-saving device.

UL is a full-service provider to the fire safety community. To learn more about us, please visit UL.com/firesuppression.

Fire Suppression Systems and Standards

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Fire Suppression Systems and Standards