Underwriters Laboratories , protection

Underwriters Laboratories 333 Pfingsten Road Northbrook, Id. 60062 Standards for Safety is ahst of more than 200 standards that provide specifications and requirements for constmetion and performance under test and in actual use of a broad range of electrical apparatus and equipment, including household appHances, fire-extinguishing and fire protection devices and equipment, and many other nongenerady classifiable items, eg, ladders, sweeping compounds, waste cans, and roof jacks for trader coaches. 

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) requires that consumer batteries pass a number of safety tests [3]. UL requires that a battery withstand a short circuit without fire or explosion. A positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device [4] is used for external short-circuit protection. The resistance of a PTC placed in series with the cell increases by orders of magnitude at high currents and resulting high temperatures. However, in the case of an internal short, e.g., if the positive tab comes lose and contacts the interior of the negative metal can, the separator could act as a fuse. That is, the impedance of the separator increases by two to three orders of magnitude due to an increase in cell temperature. 

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), UL 1709, Safety Rapid Rise Fire Tests of Protective Materials for Structural Steel. First Edition, UL, Northbrook, IL, 1991. 

ASTM E 1529 Standard Test Methods for Determining Effects of Large Eiydrocarbon Pool Fires on Structural Members and Assemblies and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. 1709 Standard for Rapid Rise Fire Tests of Protection Materials for Structural Steel are two tests which are used to evaluate the performance of structures, equipment, and protective materials to hydrocarbon fires (see Figure 5-17). 

Listed equipment is typically defined as materials that have been tested to a standard by an organization that is acceptable to the AHJ. The listing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM), maintains a periodic audit of listed equipment or materials to ensure that the equipment or material meets appropriate designated standards or has been tested and found suitable for a specified purpose. The testing organization then publishes a list of equipment that has passed the evaluation process. Hence, the fire protection community uses the term "listed" to define equipment that has been specifically evaluated for use in fire protection applications. 

Electrical safety. Most common commercial instruments have been certified for electrical safety by an organization such as UL (Underwriters Laboratory), CE, or CSA (Canadian Standards Association). However, certain less common instruments or custom-built instruments may have to go through a certification process at the time of installation. Certification required for electrical safety may take time to complete. A protective shield or casing may be required for automated systems with robotic arms for sample manipulation, to protect operators. 

Printing Office(1946) 5 )H. W.Heinrich. Indus trial Accident Prevention A Scientific Approach5, 3rd ed, McGraw-Hill,NY( 1950) 6)National Safety Council,"Accident Prevention Manual for Industrial Operations, 2nd ed, Chicago,111(1951) 7)Underwriters Laboratories,Inc, Lists Relating to Accident Equipment , NY(1951) 8)National Fire Protection Association,"National Fire Codes for the Prevention of Dust Explosions, Bostoh(1952) 9)W.M.Kunstler,"The Law of Accidents, Oceana Publications,NY( 1954) 10)US Bureau of Mines,"Accidents from Explosives at Metal and Non-metallic Mines, JuIy(1956)(See also Safety Measures in Industry)... 

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., List of Inspected Fire Protection Equipment and Materials (January 1951 and bimonthly supplement). 

UL Rapid rise fire tests of protection materials for structural steel, UL 1709, 1994, Underwriter Laboratories. 

Table 2.2(b) Protection methods (by courtesy of Underwriters Laboratories Inc., Northbrook, Illinois/USA)... 

Underwriters Laboratories, Fire Protection Equipment 1996. Northbrook, IL, 1996... 

Approval Instimte of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE Military-MIL National Aeronautical and Space Administration, NASA National Fire Protection Association, NFPA Underwriters Laboratories, UL)... 

USA (examples of government agencies department of transportation, DOT military-MIL National Aeronautical and Space Administration, NASA. Examples of private agencies American National Standards Institute, ANSI, American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM Building Officials Code Administrators International Inc., BOCA Electronic Industries Alliance, EIA FM Approvals Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE National Fire Protection Association, NFPA Underwriters Laboratories, UL). 

Flame retardants are in a unique position among plastics additives in that they are both created by regulations and yet are threatened by other regulations. The huge 2.3 billion industry was created over the years by various industry, federal, and state statutes, which aimed to protect people from fire and smoke situations. Indeed, the Underwriters Laboratories (UL), whose standards are integral to the success or failure of flame retardants, were created by the insurance industry. Without these regulations, the plastics industry, which accounts for 85 to 90% ( 2 billion) of the global sales of flame retardants, wouldn t use these products because they are expensive and lower the physical properties of the plastics in which they are... 

Underwriters Laboratories and FM Global are independent, third-party nationally recognized laboratories that list (UL) or approve (FM) Safety Cans to stringent construction and performance (test) criteria. Both have follow-up quality assurance programs that insure compliance to OSHA, the National Fire Protection Association, and give confidence to users in the field. 

The primary consensus-based organizations in the United States developing and maintaining fire and flammability test standards are ASTM International (previously the American Society for Testing and Materials) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Committee EOS on Fire Tests is the primary committee in ASTM that develops fire and flammability test standards (25). Several material- or product-oriented Committees have subcommittees that develop fire and flammability test standards as well. For example. Committee D20 on Plastics has a subcommittee on thermal properties (D20.30) that develops and maintains some fire and flammability test standards for plastics. The Fire Test Committee is responsible for all fire and flammability test standards that are used by any of the fire safety codes and standards published by NFPA. A number of test laboratories in the United States, such as Underwriters Laboratories and FM Global, have established a consensus process that meets the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) so that they now can publish American National Standards. 

For indoor applications, where fire-retardant properties are required, cables can be supplied with a fire-retardant jacket, usually listed by Underwriters Laboratories. Note that under the provisions of the National Electrical Code, outside plant cables such as standard black polyethylene-jacketed coaxial line may be run as far as 50 ft inside a building with no additional protection. The line can also be placed in conduit for longer runs. 

CLC-S603.1-M Standard for Galvanic Corrosion Protection Systems for Steel Underground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids, Underwriters Laboratories of Canada. 

Type 2 protection. When Type 2 protected, the equipment is not damaged during a fault/short circuit, and the equipment is protected by semiconductor, rectifier, and in some instances RK-1 fuses. Note that the semiconductor and rectifier fuses do not qnahfy as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or NEC branch-circuit protection devices. However, occasionally a control manufacturer will use SCRs that can be protected by RK-1 fuses. Consult the manufacturer to be certain. 

For Underground Fire Protection Systems Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., 333 Pfingston Road, Northbrook, IL 60062 Factory Mutual Research Corporation, 1151 Boston-Providence Turnpike, P.O. Box 688, Norwood, MA 02062... 

The use of unapproved extension cords is a violation of both OSHA and National Fire Protection Association codes. As such, cords must be properly approved by a recognized testing laboratory (e.g., Underwriters Laboratory). 

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