Q: What is the difference between a Fire Alarm System that has been Listed vs. Certificated by Underwriters Laboratories (UL)?
A: All Fire Alarm System components in Washington State must be UL Listed, but less than 10% of the systems installed are UL Certificated!
A properly designed and installed Fire Alarm System is one of your best allies in providing an early warning life safety service for your building’s occupants, but how do you know if the system will work when it is needed? Does your system increase or decrease your exposure to liability?
UL Listed Fire Alarm Systems have gone through extensive testing at Underwriters Laboratories to be electrically safe, function as they are designed, and operable with other devices listed for that system.
UL Certificated Fire Alarm Systems are not only use UL Listed components, but have been independently verified by a third party (UL) to be designed, installed, maintained, and documented to NFPA-72 Standards.
A UL Certificated System must be maintained, inspected, and documented by a “Prime Contract” meaning one individual company is responsible for all aspects of the system’s performance, maintenance, and monitoring, and must undergo periodic site inspections by UL to verify compliance by the building owner and the company issuing the certificate.
This extra step of “Certification” is sometimes driven by your local jurisdiction’s Fire Code, your Insurance Company, or your own Corporate Requirements.
The benefits are:
- Lower Insurance Costs (discounts)
- Decreased exposure to liability
- A feeling of safety for your building’s occupants (employees, guests, etc.)
- Lower operating costs (scheduled testing and maintenance by a service provider)
Pacific Fire and Security has proudly been offering UL Certificated Systems since 2004; we offer turnkey solutions for new and existing systems.
For more information:
http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/offerings/industries/lifesafetyandsecurity/alarmsystems/cert/
