Fire-resistive assemblies

For more than a century, UL has been a single-source provider of fire testing for a variety of building assembly materials, including floors, roofs, walls, beams and columns. UL offers a variety of standard test programs for products such as gypsum board, spray-applied fire-resistive materials and intumescent coatings. By drawing on an extensive database and decades of experience, UL can customize a test program that limits the amount of full-scale testing required, reducing testing costs. UL can also conduct engineering studies on changes in previously evaluated construction to determine if those changes would affect the fire-resistive performance. Our research and development services staff is experienced in creating new standards to cover innovations in the field.

The UL fire safety team provides unmatched experience, having helped to write many of the industry test standards that are referenced in building codes. And UL offers a global reach, with an established presence across North America, Asia and the Middle East.

Products and standards

UL tests for a wide variety of current-edition standards for fire-resistive assemblies:

• UL 263, Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials (ASTM E119, NFPA 251, UBC 7-1)
• ISO 834, Elements of Building Construction
• UL 1709, Rapid Rise Fire Tests of Protection Materials for Structural Steel

Available test equipment includes:

• 14'x36' horizontal furnace
• 14'x17', 5'x9', 4'x4' and 3'x3' horizontal furnaces
• Vertical furnaces (full-scale and small-scale)
• Column furnace

The UL advantage

UL testing and certification services offer several advantages for fire-resistive assemblies testing. One advantage is product listing in an appropriate UL product directory, an invaluable resource used by thousands of regulatory authorities, building owners and insurance companies. UL directories contain a list of companies that have demonstrated compliance with UL requirements and applicable standards and are authorized to use a UL Mark.

Because UL offers comprehensive, state-of-the-art testing facilities and a highly experienced technical staff with extensive code knowledge, the UL Mark is immediately recognized and respected by fire-safety professionals around the world.