Fire Safety Regulations Then And Now: Comparing UL 268 6th And 7th Editions

For the first time since 1976, the worldwide standards for smoke detectors have been updated. The Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard for Smoke Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems recently published the UL 268 7th Edition, the biggest change to smoke alarms in 30 years. The new regulations in fire safety aim to tackle modern fire threats and simultaneously improve building occupant’s life safety.

How much can fire threats and safety change in 30 years? In a rapidly changing world, advancements in technology also means safety threats become more advanced alongside it. According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), the average escape time from a fire in 1978 was roughly 17 minutes. However, thirty years later, that time sharply decreased to an average escape time of only 3 minutes. With modern day threats becoming faster and more dangerous, smoke detection systems need to be strides ahead to keep people safe.

The primary difference between the UL 268 6th and 7th editions is the update to better address synthetic materials. More often than not, the items in our homes, offices, schools and other places are made of synthetic materials like polyester or polyurethane foam. These materials are very flammable in comparison to natural materials that were more widely used 30 years ago, like cotton and wood. The UL 268 7th Edition can distinguish between these different materials and has the capability to react to synthetic fires quickly.

The other major update from the 6th edition to the 7th is the technology to distinguish between real fire threats and nuisance alarms. Has this ever happened to you? You are cooking and accidentally set off the smoke detector, so to stop the noise, you deactivate your smoke detector or take the batteries out altogether. The 6th edition was designed to activate at any sign of smoke, but in the long run, it led to more tenants turning off their smoke detectors and not turning them back on, increasing their risk of not knowing if there is a real fire threat. The UL 268 7th Edition was designed with this exact circumstance in mind, and is now able to differentiate between fire threats and nuisance alarms such as cooking smoke or even dust that accumulates over time.

In 2018, Edwards became the first multi-criteria smoke detector manufacturer to receive UL 268 7th edition certification with the new Signature Optica detectors. Edwards’ Optica Duct Detectors are uniquely designed to resist the environmental challenges of the HVAC environment and use detection algorithms to differentiate between nuisance particles, like cooking smoke, dust or steam, and serious threats.

Modern day fire threats require modern solutions, and the new regulations included in UL 268 7th Edition ensure that you and your community can stay safe and more aware of your surroundings. For more information about how you can update your system to the 7th edition, contact esscoe.com!