December 12, 2008
JEBEL ALI FREE ZONE, United Arab Emirates, December 12, 2008 -- Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a world leader in product safety testing and certification, announced today that the National Fire Fighting Company (NAFFCO) headquartered in Dubai became the first company outside of North America to be certified by UL for safety in the Local, Auxiliary, Remote Station & Propriety Fire Alarm Service category. A UL Fire Alarm certificate provides confidence that fire alarm systems installed and maintained by NAFFCO meet the standards of NFPA 72, the locally-enforced fire code. This represents UL's continuing commitment to ensure that buildings and populations in the rapidly-developing Middle East are made safer from the threat of fires.
"Dubai's fire code requires credible third-party safety certification, and UL is pleased to help NAFFCO meet this requirement," stated Chris Hasbrook, global vice president of UL's Fire & Security sector. "The demand for UL's services in the Middle East is growing, and we are committed to expanding our work there to ensure that safety is a consistent component of development in the region."
To receive UL Fire Alarm system certification, NAFFCO's alarm system installation, documentation, repair & maintenance policies and procedures were tested and evaluated by UL field inspectors. UL also conducted on-site inspections of properties where NAFFCO alarm systems are in place. For fire alarm systems to earn UL certification, critical components of the system must also be ULLISTED and proven to comply with applicable industry safety standards.
Moving forward, as NAFFCO begins issuing UL Fire Alarm Certificates to certain protected properties, these certificates will be placed in UL's Certificate Services database and will be subject to annual audits by UL staff.
The UL Fire Alarm Certificate service program allows Dubai Civil defense, the main governing body, as well as regional insurers to have additional confidence about fire code compliance.