Separating Fact from Fiction in UL 268

Separating Fact from Fiction in UL 268

What is UL 268, and why are we concerned about changes to this standard? Simply stated, UL 268 Smoke Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems is the Underwriters Laboratories safety standard for smoke detectors connected to fire alarm systems. There is a separate document UL 217 Standard for Smoke Alarms, for stand-alone devices that detect and sound an integral horn and are typically found in residential occupancies. 

So what has changed? First, the materials we have in our homes and offices today. The UL 268 6^th and UL 217 7^th edition testing standards were based on a legacy room that was filled with natural materials such as wood, linen, cotton, and silk. Today’s modern rooms contain more synthetic materials such as polyurethane foam, polyester, nylon, and engineered wood. In a legacy room, a fire can take up to 25 - 30 minutes for flashover to occur. In a modern room, that time is shortened drastically, with flashover occurring in 3 - 4 minutes. With the change in common furnishings and building materials, egress or escape time has gone from 17 minutes in 1970 to 3 minutes today. Due to this decrease in time available for egress, it is necessary to ensure we have early warning while minimizing nuisance events. The new 7^th edition 268 standard will narrow the detector sensitivity range to provide the early warning for notification and occupants.

The second major change to the UL 268 standard was to address nuisance alarms. NFPA 72 2022 edition defines a nuisance alarm as “An unwanted activation of a signaling system or an alarm initiating device in response to a stimulus or condition that is not the result of a potentially hazardous condition.” These changes were made to the existing UL 268 and UL 217 standards based on the results of several studies including the “Smoke Characterization Project” done by UL for the NFPA Fire Protection Research Foundation. This project had the following objectives: Develop smoke test protocols on selected materials in residential settings, develop smoke particle size distribution data and profiles for non-flaming and flaming modes of combustion, and provide data / analysis for potential initiatives. These initiatives included recommendations for The Standard for Smoke Alarms, UL 217, as well as providing data on materials and additives that could impact the advancement of technology for smoke sensing devices and smoke suppression.

The most significant of the changes to UL 268 are the additions of three fire tests: one based on cooking nuisance, and the other two based on polyurethane foam fire tests. Detection technologies for years had been based on either photoelectric or ionization principles. Ionization devices monitor the change in current created when smoke particles impact the ionized air between electrically charged plates. Photoelectric detectors detect the scattering or obscuration of light due to the presence of smoke particles in the detection chamber. It is critical that the engineer of record select the appropriate detector based on the space to be protected. However, these changes to materials in the spaces led to challenges with detection. Newer devices are based on a multi-sensor or multi-criteria to meet the early warning requirements while providing system stability. The new tests that were added utilize polyurethane foam to verify that detectors respond sooner to flaming and smoldering synthetic materials. They are also focused on nuisance alarm resistance to provide detectors that are less sensitive to nuisance events such as burned toast or hamburgers. These tests compress the sensitivity window by 70% from 3.5%/FT to 1.3%/FT.

This shift in sensitivity will challenge single sensor technology devices. Multi-sensor detectors will become the dominant solution as they are able to provide the early warning and minimize nuisance alarms.

In summary, the change from UL 268 6^th edition to 7^th is the biggest change to UL test standards for smoke detectors in the past 25 years. It was necessary due to the changes in materials in our homes and businesses. The new tests are focused on nuisance avoidance and providing a quicker response to smoldering synthetic materials. In today’s built environment, the furnishings and building materials used on a regular basis burn much faster. Occupant egress time has decreased from 17 minutes in 1970 to just 3 minutes. The updated standards will provide notification to occupants in a timely manner while minimizing nuisance events.

Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years

Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years

The 2002 edition of NFPA 72 requires smoke ALARMS to be replaced not to exceed 10 years from installation. The 2007 Edition of NFPA 72 required replacement within 10 years of manufacture. The requirement is only for installation in singe and two-family dwellings. 

Fire Prevention Week campaign’s focus is on smoke alarms, more specifically:

      ·        Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
·        Make sure you know how old all the smoke alarms are in your home.
·        To find out how old a smoke alarm is, look at the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm; the alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date.

Equally as important is to purchase a smoke alarm that has been approved by a nationally recognized third party testing laboratory, such as Underwriter Laboratories (UL) or Intertek/ETL. During the past few months, it has been discovered that online businesses have been selling inexpensive smoke alarms manufactured in China, that lack the proper testing. These untested products may not accurately detect fire, alert you properly, or perform other critical functions. Please do not confuse the household requirement for alarms with any for detectors (UL 268 type).  A few years back one unnamed manufacturer inadvertently stated in their technical data sheets that all detectors are to be replaced every 10 years. The Engineered Fire Alarm industry quickly responded that this statement was in error and the manufacturer immediately redesigned the spec data sheet for its detectors.  It is the intent of the Household Technical Committee that smoke ALARMS (UL 217) only are to be replaced within 10 years of manufacture.  One reason is that the sensitivity does change over time. NFPA 72 clause 29.10. 1 Unless otherwise recommended by the manufacturer's published instructions, single- and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be replaced when they fail to respond to operability tests or within 10 years from the date of manufacture.

FAQ about Replacing Smoke Alarms

Why do I need to replace my smoke alarms every 10 years?

It is required that smoke alarms be replaced within 10 years according to NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. They are not permitted to remain in use longer than 10 year from the date of manufacture. Also, the manufacturer’s instructions for most smoke alarms state they are to be replaced when they fail to respond or after 10 years. Combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms must be replaced when the end-of-life signal sounds or 10 years after the date of manufacture, whichever occurs first.

How do I identify my smoke alarm’s date of manufacture?

Remove the alarm from the ceiling or wall. Look at the back or side of the alarm for the date of manufacture.

How do I replace a battery-powered smoke alarm?

Remove the smoke alarm from the ceiling by twisting the alarm to remove it from the ceiling plate. It is best to replace the alarm with the same manufactured alarm. The new alarm from the same manufacturer can be placed on the ceiling or wall plate. Twist to secure the alarm. Test the alarm to be sure it is working.

If you are replacing with an alarm from a different manufacturer, you will need to remove the old ceiling plate and install the new ceiling plate included with the new alarm. Place the alarm over the ceiling plate and twist to secure the alarm. Test the alarm to be sure it is working.

How do I replace a hard-wired alarm?

If you know how to work with electrical wiring, follow manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure you have turned off the electricity to the smoke alarm before you begin replacing the alarm. Otherwise, contact a qualified electrician to replace hard-wired smoke alarms.

How do I install a hard-wired smoke alarm?

Contact a qualified electrician to install hard-wired smoke alarms.

Smoke alarms are to be replaced at 10 year intervals.  However Smoke detectors do not have a prescribed end of life and can stay in service as long as they past function and sensitivity tests. Please see http://www.systemsensor.com/en-us/Documents/Smoke-Detector_lifeExpectancy_techbulletin.pdf

We wish you a peaceful and safe holiday season, and an exciting, productive new year.

Why UL listing important

Why UL listing important

Standards are all around us, even if we are not always aware of them. One example of a widely-used standard is the A4 size for sheets of paper.

A standard is a document that sets out requirements for a specific item, material, component, system or service, or describes in detail a particular method or procedure. Standards facilitate international trade by ensuring compatibility and interoperability of components, products and services. They bring benefits to businesses and consumers in terms of reducing costs, enhancing performance and improving safety.

Standards are developed and defined through a process of sharing knowledge and building consensus among technical experts nominated by interested parties and other stakeholders - including businesses, consumers and environmental groups, among others.

“UL” is short for Underwriters Laboratories, an organization which has been testing and approving products for consumer safety since 1894. Originally known as the Underwriters Electrical Bureau, UL was founded in Chicago by William Merrill, and has since expanded to include 182 service centers in more than 70 countries. Underwriters Laboratories performs safety testing on 18,750 categories of electrical, mechanical and chemical products. So, UL a third-party certification company that’s been around for over a century.

When it comes to UL certification. Certifying products within your business can get expensive, fast. However, one thing that’s never worth skimping on is safety. Your customers’ and workforce’s safety are the most important thing to ensure brand loyalty. Safety and reliability can be the difference between long-term success and catastrophic failure.

UL markers are most commonly seen on industrial equipment and home appliances. These include furnaces, fuses, electrical panels, fire control panel, circuit breakers, cameras, smoke and CO2 alarms, fire extinguishers, sprinklers, glass, and thousands of low voltage equipment. UL Listing in this case means that the product is compliant with the American National Electrical Code (NEC), and is therefore regarded as "safe", i.e., not prone to electrical faults or failures which may cause damage to equipment, facilities, or people.

If your surveillance or safety equipment is not UL listed, it can be ripped out. Technically speaking, cameras and other low-voltage devices do not require UL listing, as they fall under the limited power source (LPS) category. Products in this category do not require listing themselves. Instead, the power source, whether it be a low-voltage supply, midspan, or PoE switch, is to be listed. In practice, however, inspectors often do not follow this, requiring the UL mark other products, as well.

In the surveillance industry, UL listing varies. Many mainstream brands are UL listed. However, it may not apply to every camera in their portfolio, with some lower-cost or SMB/SOHO product being unlisted. Others have only listed the current generations of their equipment. Finally, many lower-cost brands are completely unlisted, limiting their use in some jurisdictions. Users should be aware of these variances when selecting product, and make no assumptions.

In the safety industry, UL listing must be in Detector, Fire Control Panel, MCP, Module, sprinkler, Pump etc. Some OEM follow EN listing of said item for safety i.e., not prone to electrical faults or failures which may cause damage to equipment, facilities, or people.

Listing can generally be found on data sheets, normally in an "approvals" section, though not always. Sometimes it is found only in installation manuals, and other times users must contact the company to get listing information. All these variables make UL compliance a tedious process.

While 'UL Certification' implies electrical safety, the actual standard number it satisfies varies.

For surveillance gear, there are below certification standards that address different safety aspects:

• UL 60950: Is the most common for cameras, and applies to low voltage safety (ie: non combustibility)
• UL 1492: Audio/Video Products and Accessories
• UL 1995: Heating and Cooling Equipment
• UL 2802: Tests related to performance quality of Camera image quality.
• UL 2043: Standard for Fire Test for Heat and Visible Smoke Release for Discrete Products and Their Accessories Installed in Air-Handling Spaces.
• UL 60065: Audio, Video and Similar Electronic Apparatuses: Safety Requirements

For Life Safety gear, there are below certification standards that address different safety aspects:

·        UL 217: Single- and Multiple- Station Smoke Alarms

·        UL 268: Smoke Detectors for Fire Protective Signalling Systems

·        UL 268A: Smoke Detectors for Duct Application

·        UL 294: Standard for Access Control System Units

·        UL 1023: Standard for Household Burglar-Alarm System Units

·        UL 1610: Standard for Central-Station Burglar-Alarm Units

·        UL 864: Standard for Control Units and Accessories for Fire Alarm Systems

·        UL 1626: Residential Sprinklers for Fire Protection Service

·        UL 1971: Signalling Devices for the Hearing Impaired

·        UL 1741: Inverters, Converters, Controllers and Interconnection System Equipment for Use with Distributed Energy Resources

For Wire and Cable gear, there are below certification standards that address different safety aspects:

·        UL 62: Flexible Cords and Cables

·        UL 758: Appliance Wiring Material (AWM)

·        UL 817: Cord Sets and Power Supply Cords

·        UL 2556: Wire and Cable Test Methods

 

Someone is shopping for a new circuit breaker or contactor; UL certification might sway their decision. If two identical products or services are side-by-side and one is UL certified and one isn’t, which one would you likely choose? It’s been shown that the UL mark can be a powerful marketing tool for businesses, and so many of them strive to get their products approved. The UL logo gives the consumer peace of mind, and the business a public seal of approval.

Whether the UL mark is required on all electrical parts in an installation varies tremendously, depending on the municipality, and even between different inspectors. We have seen various requirements for listing, in different municipalities:

• No UL listing required: Some municipalities are extremely lenient, never checking any product for UL certification. 
• Ceiling-mounted products: One of the most arbitrary requirements we have seen is that all ceiling-mounted equipment must be listed, but no other parts of the system were checked. 
• High-voltage only: In other cases, only high-voltage products require UL listing. This means that electricians are required to comply, but low-voltage security equipment is exempt. 
• Strict, 100% listing: In the most extreme cases, the building inspector will require every last part of an installation to bear the UL mark, whether it be servers, cameras, cable, or any other components. 

These variations, and others, are why we suggest users should check with their AHJ before installation. In some cases, bids and RFPs may also provide requirements for UL certification, taking the guesswork out of the process.

Since the level of compliance required may vary significantly, it is recommended that users check requirements with the authority having jurisdiction before installation takes place, or even before furnishing estimates.

If unlisted products are being used, but the inspector requires certification, users have two options:

1. Replace the non-compliant product with compliant. This is often the simplest way to gain compliance. The major downside is, of course, that product must be removed and replaced, incurring additional material, shipping, and labor costs.
2. Contract UL to provide a one-time certification of the system of the whole. In this case, a UL engineer visits the site and performs testing of the system in place. While this may alleviate listing issues, it is extremely expensive, commonly in the $10,000+ range for even small installations. It is therefore considered a last resort.

UL Certification allows a company to innovate its safety standards and align themselves with industry-wide best practices. Being UL certified illustrates a businesses’ dedication to consumer safety, as well as the quality of their products. Another important caveat of UL certification is for insurance purposes and customer security.

Why is this important? If, say, an inspector determines a fire was caused by a circuit breaker that was not UL certified, an insurance company can choose to deny the claim. For this reason alone, many consumers opt for certified products, not just for large appliances but for small ones as well as laptop and cell phone chargers. UL certification adds a layer of protection and accountability for accidents, as well. UL is a third-party service; consumers of your products can be confident that the UL seal is not a superficial sales ploy. Instead, it’s a true indication of an item’s safety and longevity. It protects brand’s reputation by having an established certification company standing behind what you sell. Remember if you use UL product due to some malfunction you decided to repair your device / panel. Then you must involve said product OEM/ authorised professional. Do not repair through technician / engineer / repairing centre, if you do then UL listing is void. It assumed as zero safety. In case further malfunction or electrical hazard happened then OEM are not responsible for it.

So, don’t immediately assume your products aren’t safe just because it doesn’t have a UL certification. It’s never a bad idea, however, to seek out UL certification when designing into new electronics and appliances.

Even if it might cost a bit more for your business or take extra testing time, UL gives a consumer the peace of mind and a brand a big marketing boost. In the long run, third-party certifications from a trusted source will only help your business. UL Certifications have the ability to add accountability and enhance your brand’s reputation over time.

Hopefully, now you feel a bit more familiar with that little UL logo and have a better idea of what it means and why it’s important for you and your business. When manufacturers are UL certified is shows their continued commitment to safety and quality.

Ready to upgrade your home or workplace with UL certified parts and products? Shop our full assortment of devices, switches, and other electronics.

In the fire alarm and life safety industry, UL (Underwriters Laboratories) is the "gold standard" for reliability. Without it, you are essentially guessing if a life-saving device will work when a building is on fire.

Fire Detection & Signaling System - UL
Product Short Name	UL Standard	Letest Edition	Brand	Model
Fire Alarm Control Panel	UL 864	10th	Edwards	EST4  and EDGE
			Notifier	INSPIRE  and ONYX Series
			Simplex	4100ES, 4010ES, 4007ES
			Morley-IAS	STX and SMX Series
			Kentec	Taktis
Smoke Detector (Commercial Systems)	UL 268	7th	Edwards	SIGA-OSD
			Notifier	FSP-951 Series
			Simplex	4098-9754, 4098-9714, 4098-5601
			Morley-IAS	HM-PSE-UL-W
			Kentec	KSU-OPT-7
Smoke Alarm (Residential Alarms)	UL 217	8th	Kidde	20SAR (Hardwired), P3010k-CO
			First Alert  / BRK	ZCOMBO (Z-Wave), SA304CN3 (with Escape Light), PRC700 (Slim Profile)
Heat Detector	UL 521	8th	Edwards	SIGA-HRD, SIGA-HFD, 281B-PL, 282B-P, SIGA-PHS.
			Notifier	FST-951,FST-951R, FST-951H and FST-851, FST-851R
			Simplex	4098-9733, 4098-9734, 4098-9754, 4098-9401 / 9402
			Morley-IAS	MI-HSE-S2-IV/WH, MI-RHSE-S2-IV/WH, MI-HTSE-S2-IV/WH
			Kentec	ATJ-EA, ATG-EA, 55000-400APO, ACC-V
Notification Appliances - hooters, horns, sirens, and bells.	UL 464	11th	Edwards	EG1-HDVM, EG1H-HDVM, G4AVRF, G4LF Series, 757 Series (Integrity), 860 Series
			Notifier	P2RL / P2WL, HRL / HWL, PC2RL / PC2WL, HWL-LF / HRL-LF, P2R / P2W
			Simplex	49AO-WRF / 49AO-WWF, 49HF-WRF / 49HF-WWF, 4901-9820
			Morley-IAS	System Sensor L-Series, P2RL / P2WL, HRL / HWL, HRL-LF / P2RL-LF
			Kentec	GEC3-24WR, P2RL / P2WL, HRL-LF, ASBL-LF,
Notification Appliances - Speakers	UL 1480	7th	Edwards	Genesis LED GCS Series, Genesis GC Series, Genesis G4 Series, 757 Series
			Notifier	System Sensor L-Series, SPSWL-LF / SPSRL-LF, SPRK / SPWK,
			Simplex	49SO-WRF / 49SO-WWF, 49SOP-WRF / 49SOP-WWF, 49SOC-WRF / 49SOC-WWF
			Morley-IAS	System Sensor L-Series, SPSWL-LF / SPSRL-LF, SPRK / SPWK,
			Kentec	System Sensor L-Series, SPSWL-LF / SPSRL-LF, SPRK / SPWK,
Notification Signaling Devices for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing	UL 1971	3rd	Edwards	Genesis LED Series, Integrity Series
			Notifier	System Sensor L-Series,
			Simplex	TrueAlert ES Series
			Morley-IAS	System Sensor L-Series,
			Kentec	System Sensor L-Series,
Visible Notification  Signaling Devices	UL 1638	6th	Edwards	Genesis Series, Integrity Series
			Notifier	SpectrAlert Advance,  System Sensor L-Series,
			Simplex	TrueAlert ES Series,  4906-9101
			Morley-IAS	SpectrAlert Advance,  System Sensor L-Series,
			Kentec	SpectrAlert Advance,  System Sensor L-Series,
Visible Notification  Signaling Devices	UL 1971	3rd	Edwards	Genesis LED (EG1/G4)
			Notifier	System Sensor L-Series
			Simplex	TrueAlert ES
			Morley-IAS	MI-HSR / MI-HSW
			Kentec	System Sensor L-Series
Manual Signaling Boxes . MCP , MPS	UL 38	8th	Edwards	SIGA-278 and SIGA-270
			Notifier	NBG-12LX
			Simplex	4099-9005
			Morley-IAS	System Sensor M400K, MI-MCP or F/MCP
			Kentec	DCP-AMS
Control, Relay, and Monitor modules.	UL 864	11Th	Edwards	SIGA CT1, SIGA CC1, SIGA CR, SIGA CT2, SIGA MM, SIGA IM
			Notifier	FRM-1, FCM-1, FMM-1
			Simplex	4090-9001, 4090-9002, 4090-9008, 4090-9117, 4090-9116, 4007-9801
			Morley-IAS	HM-D240CMO-UL
			Kentec	DCP-FRCME-M, DCP-FRCME-4, DCP-SOM-A, DCP-SCI, K758
Power Supplies	UL 1481	5Th	Edwards	3-BPS/M, 4-PPS/M
			Notifier	AMPS-24 / AMPS-24E, HPF24S6 / HPF24S8, FCPS-24S6 / FCPS-24S8
			Simplex	4100-5125 / 5126, 4905-9929, 4009-9201 / 9301, 4009-9401
			Morley-IAS
			Kentec

 Ref:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UL_(safety_organization)

2. https://standardscatalog.ul.com/

3. https://ipvm.com/reports/ul-listing-overview