UL History
In 1894, William Henry Merrill, an electrical engineer, founded UL. Prior to founding the company, Merrill had served as an electrical inspector for the Boston Board of Fire Underwriters, an electrician for the Chicago Underwriters Association and as an electrical inspector for the Chicago World’s Fair.
At the World’s Fair, Merrill was hired to examine the electrical safety of the Columbian Exposition’s Palace of Electricity, the first large-scale use of electricity for illuminating. The proliferation of untamed DC circuits and the new, higher voltage AC currents caused a great deal of concern and a rash of fires. Critics questioned if the new technology would ever be safely harnessed. Merrill assured that it could be with the proper care, handling and understanding of its potential hazards.
With this goal in mind, Merrill conceived of the idea of an independent testing facility that could render expert opinions concerning fire hazards and certify electrical devices. At first rejected, the need for such a laboratory became clear and UL came into being. From that point forward, UL has been a pioneer and leading authority in testing and creating safety standards.
Timeline
1894 – The Birth of UL: Founder William Henry Merrill opens Underwriter’s Electrical Bureau, which later became the Electrical Bureau of the National Board of Fire Underwriters. The Bureau’s first test is conducted on March 24, 1894, on non-combustible insulation materials for a “Mr. Shields.”
1903 – First Standard for Safety: UL publishes its first Standard for Safety titled, “Tin Clad Fire Doors.”
1908 – Fire Safety Matches: To test safety matches, UL engineers placed them in a test tube immersed in oil and heated by an electric burner, and then checked the ignition point.
1915 – UL Aids the World War I Effort: UL reviews flame arresters for World War I ammunition plants. Today, flame arresters are used in many important military and industrial plants.
1921 – UL Certifies First Refrigerator: Today, 28 special requirements and 51 separate tests consider everything from shock hazards associated with cleaning up food spills, to injuries that could be caused by collapsing or broken shelves, as well as the ability of a small child to open the door from the inside.
1930 – UL Certifies First Automatic Dishwasher: The first dishwasher, invented in 1850 by Joel Houghton, was simply a wooden machine with a hand-turned wheel that splashed water on dishes. 1930 saw the first practical, automatic dishwasher made available to consumers. UL certified it for safety.
1942 – UL Aids the World War II Effort: UL is classified as an “essential” industry in World War II, testing devices to protect against sabotage of U.S. plants producing or storing important material to the war program. Standards for Safety were revised at this time to allow “temporary” changes to requirements to address shortage of critical materials needed for World War II.
1953 – Advancement in Television: Imploding picture tubes dominate testing. UL works with television set makers to develop protective shields and glass laminates. New models incorporating these innovations and meet new UL tests are listed.
1960 – Advances in Fire Safety: UL publishes its first Standard for Safety for smoke alarms. By 1965, UL is certifying the first fire equipment for use by the fire service – including entire fire trucks.
1971 – First Life Vest Certified: UL certifies the first personal flotation devices (life vests) for buoyancy and flammability. In 1972, the U.S. Coast Guard names UL as the official testing agency for personal flotation devices.
1980 – UL Embraces Alternative Energy: UL certifies its first solar collectors. These technologies have been in place for decades, but newer technologies are evolving and need improved certification.
1990 – UL Leads the Way in Ozone Protection: UL receives a Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This is the year in which UL issues its first Standard for Safety for recycling systems that clean and save refrigerants used in automobile air-conditioning systems.
1993 – Anti-Counterfeiting Operations: UL introduces holographic labels to prevent counterfeiting of the UL Mark. In 1996, UL establishes a full-fledged anti-counterfeiting program in conjunction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
2007 – The Changing Face of Fire Safety: UL releases a groundbreaking smoke characterization study using the latest scientific measurement equipment indicating that materials in today’s homes burn faster, leaving occupants less time to exist a burning building.
2009 – Going Green: UL begins validating environmental product claims and providing comprehensive certifications to sustainability standards through UL Environment.
To learn more, click here for an in-depth interactive timeline
