You can find out exactly how a product is tested for Approval at FM by
reading the Approval Standard for the product at:
http://www.fmglobal.com/approvals/resources/standards.asp
I believe UL still charges for their testing standards,
In addition to testing products, Both FM and UL perform regular audits
to attempt to make sure that the product being shipped is the same one
that was tested.
Joe
Reza Esmaeili wrote:
Thanks all, everyone noted some valuable points, I got the difference between
UL and FM which I list some below some of your nice points:
UL is is a product safety testing and certification organization serving insurance
industry and "list" items that meet their minimum safety standards. NFPA
requires that the equipments to be tested by a recognized organization, so UL listed
products are accepted by NFPA. FM is a fire insurance company, when FM insures a project,
it has to write a check when a product does not perform (like sprinkler failure), so FM
standards are usually more than minimum. Unlike FM, UL is not the insured company and
will not write a check if a product does not perform, so UL standard usually meet the
minimum safety requirements. UL mark is enough, but if a project is going to be insured
by FM, then usually FM approved products are needed. A UL listed product is enough for
NFPA, no matter Chinese or American, however an American UL listed sprinkler may have
better quality than chinese, because American manufacturers have to compete on both cost
and quality. Chinese manufacturers may feel
they only have to compete on price.
Thanks for your kind comments, I got the point.
Reza
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Reza:
You had it right the first time. When a product does not perform, as in a sprinkler failure, the insured "FM" has to write a check. Therefore they are more likely to look at other aspects than UL.
Case in point, when UL is asked why they approved a product, that later failed to
function, their PR department started cranking out crap about "industry
standards, and consensus opinion.
Good Luck
Joe Manning
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