Mother putting kid to bed

What UL Testing Standards Mean for Your Safety

Imagine it’s the middle of the night. Your home is quiet, everyone’s asleep and you’re cozy under your comforter. Suddenly, a fire starts. In that moment, the one thing standing between safely getting outside and potential disaster is your smoke alarm. But is yours up to the task?

Some products simply claim to be safe, while others earn that trust with independent testing from UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and ETL (Intertek). When a product carries a UL or ETL mark that means it’s been put through intense electrical and fire safety testing that simulates real-world emergencies, ensuring your alarm meets the safety and reliability requirements that could literally help save your life.3
image of fire safety alarm

What is the Latest Safety Standard for Smoke Alarms?

UL 217 10th Edition is the latest safety standard, built on years of fire research by UL Solutions. It’s designed to catch both fast flaming fires and slow smoldering ones. It also helps cut down on annoying false alarms from cooking — so you don’t end up waving a dish towel at the ceiling. That means, you get alerts when there’s real danger and not when you’re boiling pasta. 1 2

Why Testing Matters

Only alarms tested and listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), such as UL or ETL, can verify compliance with UL 217. This certification ensures your alarm will perform exactly the way you need it to in a real emergency. 3

UL and ETA logos

How to Check for a Listed Product

Here’s how to verify if your current smoke alarms — or ones you’re considering buying — are UL or ETL listed:

  • Look for the mark - Locate UL or ETL logos on the product, packaging or manual. Packaging may have a logo from UL or ETL or phrasing like “Conforms to UL 217.” The product label on the back of the alarm should also include the UL or ETL logo.
  • Verify online - UL and ETL maintain directories of certified products.
Mom helping son put on backpack

Kidde’s Commitment to Your Safety

Meeting the highest safety standards shouldn’t even be a question. In fact, we’re constantly pushing our technology forward, driving to not only meet those standards, but to exceed them. Our advanced smoke and combination smoke + CO alarms are certified to UL 217 10th Edition and ETL listed, so you can count on them to perform when it matters most.

When it comes to helping protect your quiet, restful home and the people inside it, peace of mind should never be optional. Choose the brand that puts your safety first.

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Properly installed and maintained, smoke alarms are one of the best and least expensive ways to provide an early warning when a fire begins. Smoke alarms save lives, prevent injuries and minimize property damage by alerting residents early to a fire hazard.