Is Your Building Protected by UL/ETL Certification or an FM Placard?

Posted on: July 6, 2017

Learn the importance of making sure that your building is protected by these third-party safety organizations.

As a building owner, the safety of your structure and the contents within it are of the utmost importance. One way to protect your building is to install fire and alarm monitoring equipment that communicates with a central station which can provide around-the-clock monitoring and reporting services.

These central monitoring companies must comply with the NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code, which requires that they are placarded or certified by a third-party organization, such as FM Approvals, UL or ETL.

What’s the difference between FM placarded and UL or ETL certified?

FM Placarded:

An FM Placard shows that your building’s fire alarm system has been tested, installed, monitored, and maintained based on NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code requirements.

If you’re a central station company, this certification can help to differentiate your offerings from other suppliers, while also benefiting from the brand recognition attached to the FM placard.

UL/ETL Certified:

Both UL and ETL are referred to as Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL). These labs exist to offer independent quality and safety certifications on various products. UL actually develops the standards and tests to them, while ETL tests using UL standards.

The difference between UL and ETL really comes down to a preference as to which laboratory provides you with the best service and responsiveness. When you need a product tested, you want to work with a lab that will keep your best interests in mind, and provide you with greater efficiency throughout the testing process.

How can your building benefit from being UL/ETL certified or FM placarded?

First of all, if your building handles any type of hazardous materials, it must be inspected and certified by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). One of OSHA’s requirements is that your fire equipment be certified by a third party organization such as FM Approvals, UL or ETL.

Being UL or ETL certified or FM placarded ensures that your building is protected in the event of a fire or other accident. These certifications verify that, as a building owner, you are doing all you can in terms of promoting safety within your establishment.

Interested in learning more about UL/ETL certifications or FM placards?

If you’re looking to learn more about the benefits of UL and ETL certifications or FM placards, don’t hesitate to contact LifeSafety Management today. We’re a fully licensed inspector that can come out to your building and ensure that your fire safety system has been properly maintained and approved in accordance with the NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code requirements. To speak with one of our fire safety experts, give us a call today at (800) 330-1158 or fill out our online contact form.