Underwriters Laboratories explains why UL 1981 and UL 827, standards that cover central station facilities and services, are being updated to reflect the times.
UL’s relationship with the alarm industry spans more than 90 years. At the outset, Underwriters Laboratories was asked by both the alarm and insurance industries to develop a means for defining alarm services and uniform performance of equipment. In those days central stations built equipment and designed facilities based on their business goals. Although the industry was more than 50 years old, at the time there were significant variations in the delivery of central station service and performance of the equipment. The first UL central station standard was developed in 1924 with substantial input from stakeholders in both industries. Central stations brought an innovative perspective to the table, insurance concerns were focused on loss control and UL created the performance criteria. The collaboration between these three stakeholders has sustained a balance in UL’s standards that continues today.
However, how will standards keep up with the current wave of innovation that has been growing over the last decade and shows no sign of cresting? A number of years ago, it was recognized that the Standard for Central-Station Automation Systems, UL 1981, was in need of an update to address changes in the way automation systems are being used. In addition, it was clear many of the requirements in that standard address how the automation system is configured in a central station, and thus were more applicable to the Standard for Central-Station Alarm Services, UL 827.