The Standard for the Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
The Standard for Solid Fuel Fireplace Inserts and Hearth-Mounted Stoves for Installation into Masonry Fireplaces
The Standard for Fire Test of Plastic Water Distribution Plumbing Pipe for Visible Flame and Smoke Characteristics
It may not be immediately apparent, but the built environment is engineered for safety. The walls around you, the floor beneath you, the roof above you, the electronic device you’re reading this on — engineers designed each one for its function, but also to keep you safe.
Consider where you are right now.
Several things surrounding you have been created to meet a standard. Safety standards are written documents that outline the process in which a product is tested to help mitigate risk, injury, or danger. Standards shape what a product looks like, how it’s put together, what it’s made of, how it performs, and most importantly, whether it is safe.
Think about it
Have you ever noticed those little logos on the backs of products? In many cases, those markings indicate that a product was tested and certified to a standard. Check the back of the device you’re using or the appliances you use in your home every day — once you know they’re there, it’s impossible not to see them.
A world without standards
How do standards keep us safe?
As one of the world’s leading standards development organizations, UL Standards & Engagement publishes standards that cover the safety, performance, environmental health, and sustainability of products, systems, and services.
Standards help protect people during catastrophic events like fires. Since publishing UL 217, the Standard for Smoke Alarms, in 1974, ULSE has continually updated smoke alarm standards to adapt to modern homes, including a cooking nuisance test to help reduce false alarms and prevent alarm deactivation.
Standards help to increase safety and performance across diverse applications, including aviation. ULSE advances aviation safety with standards like ANSI/CAN/UL 5800, the Standard for Safety for Battery Fire Containment Products, which helps mitigate battery fires from electronic devices to protect passengers and crew.
Standards establish the technical requirements needed to comply with legal mandates. In response to Reese’s Law, UL 4200A, the Standard for Safety for Products Incorporating Button or Coin Cell Batteries, was updated to ensure products like remotes and key fobs meet rigorous safety, performance, and labeling criteria — helping protect children from accidental battery ingestion risks.
Standards help address new risks from emerging technologies. UL 4600, the Standard for Evaluation of Autonomous Products, allows autonomous vehicles to be rigorously assessed for safety against hundreds of potential risks.
Standards help protect front-line workers, including firefighters. ANSI/CAN/UL 3741, the Standard for Photovoltaic Hazard Control, provides for PV systems that minimize shock risks, accounting for lower body impedance in female firefighters to provide equal protection for everyone.
Think about it
Considering what we’ve learned above, what do you think the world would look like if there weren’t any standards?