Industrial Factory Automation

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) recently began a research project to help fire services worldwide improve firefighting tactics and reduce firefighter fatalities and injuries. UL has built two houses and is setting controlled large-scale fires inside a cavernous 10,000 square-foot test chamber at its Large Scale Fire Test and Training Facility in Northbrook. Data gathered from the study is hoped to enhance understanding of fire behaviour in residential structures when affected by natural ventilation (for example, open doors and broken windows) as well as strategic ventilation tactics used by firefighters during an attack on a fire. UL is conducting the high-tech simulations in full-scale 1,500ft2 and 3,200ft2 dwellings that are representative of homes built prior to 1980 and homes built in recent years. Based on prior research, fire experts believe that changes in newer contemporary-style construction, including the use of manufactured lumber components, new building materials, more syn...

A recent survey by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has revealed that consumers may not be equipped with the right information to protect themselves from the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The study showed that 62 per cent of people surveyed in the US couldn't correctly detect CO poisoning symptoms, which typically result in flu-like symptoms. Another 70 per cent do not inspect common household sources of CO emission, such as a furnace or hot water heater, at least once a year. Additional survey results point to the lack of general knowledge about preventing CO poisoning. Around 60 per cent could not identify any potential signs of a CO leak in the home. Only one in five knew that rusting on flue pipes - one of the most telling signs - signified a risk of a CO leak. Two-thirds did not know what common household items can potentially emit CO, such as hot-water heaters, charcoal grills and portable generators. CO is produced and emitted by incomplete burning of fuel, such ...

ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) have established a dual PMG listing programme for plumbing, mechanical, and fuel gas (PMG) products. The purpose of the programme is to provide code officials and construction professionals with a reliable means to verify that PMG products to comply with applicable codes and standards. Manufacturers of PMG products who take advantage of this alliance are said to benefit from the combined strengths of ICC-ES and UL. The programme will provide a scheme for the testing, inspection, certification, and listing of PMG products, with independent listings covering both code compliance and compliance with applicable technical standards. It provides ready acceptance of products by authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), due to the high recognition of the ICC-ES and UL marks, and the ability to leverage the strength of the two brands. There is a choice in service providers to show compliance through listing to both the Internatio...

The A_S-1W Series of 1W DC/DC converters from Mornsun America are designed to provide distributed power and 1,000V DC of input-to-output isolation in a miniature SIP package. Standard models operate from 5V DC, 12V DC, 15V DC, or 24V DC inputs, providing dual outputs of +/-5V, +/-9V, +/-12V, or +/-15V DC. Features include efficiency as high as 80 per cent and a MTBF calculated to 3,500,000 hours. Full load operation for the A_S-1W Series is specified over the -40C to +85C temperature range. The Series is UL approved to UL60950-1 standards and are compliant with RoHS requirements.