Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), a global leader in product safety testing and certification, headquartered outside Chicago, IL, USA is pleased to announce it has expanded the scope of its original Memorandum of Understanding with SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden as it relates to the development of a strategic cooperation in product certification and testing.
The expansion of the existing cooperation between UL UK (UL International (UK) Ltd) and SP (Technical Research Institute of Sweden) is an important element of UL’s activities in Europe as it relates to fire testing and product certification and further assisting UL in growing its European capabilities as a Notified Body under the Construction Products Directive. SP operates from upwards of 30 sites across Sweden, with its headquarters and main fire testing facilities located in Borås.
With the addition of SP to UL’s growing global network of partner laboratories it enables both organizations to better serve more clients locally. Chris Hasbrook, UL’s Vice President of Global Building Materials and Life Safety & Security sector said, “SP has a very well earned and well respected reputation in Fire Safety product testing and certification. Partnering with SP is natural for UL as this relationship is a logical extension of our safety mission. To this point, we at UL strive to be the fastest, highest quality, most customer friendly certification organization in the world. We work hard to provide seamless interactions for our customers around the world, regardless of where they are located. Expanding testing and fire research capabilities in Europe through our agreement with SP will help UL achieve our goals”
SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden is a leading international research institute. Fredrik Rosén, SP Fire Technology’s Business Development Manager said “At SP we work closely with our customers to create value, delivering high-quality input in all parts of the innovation chain, and thus playing an important part in assisting the competitiveness of industry and its evolution towards sustainable development. This cooperation between our two companies will not only offer value to local or European clients, we believe that international companies located outside Europe will be able to benefit from this new cooperation as both SP and UL carry out fire technical evaluations of materials, products, structures, firefighting systems used in buildings, in vehicles, for shipping, in furniture etc. Both organizations engage in extensive research and development. Both organizations work closely with industry, other research institutes and universities around the world in support of public safety.”
Companies interested in learning more about the benefits of the expanded nature of fire product testing and certification services available to them going forward, can contact either Fredrik Rosén (fredrik.rosen@sp.se) or Gordon Biezeveld (gordon.biezeveld@nl.ul.com) for additional information.
Initial fire product service offerings include a combined UL Mark + P-mark for the listing of fire rated safes, UL Mark services for fire fighting foam, and different listings for fire resistant assemblies. Future plans call for evaluating the expansion of the portfolio of services, tests and certifications offered based on client demand, including but not limited to, Personal Protection.
