FM vs UL for Class 1 Div 1 2

[Autofire]

We have a horn loudspeaker that is FM approved for Class 1 Div 1. Unfortunately many of the clients we try to sell this to say they need to see a UL mark on there.

As far as I understand FMs standard FMRC-3615 and ULs standard 1203 fulfill NFPA 70, Article 500 where the criteria for Class & Division are stated. So shouldn't FM and UL be equal here? Are there any difference in OSHA's eyes or in Authority Having Juristicion's practices? Or is it because cusomers are more familiar with UL than FM that they require UL?

If a spec specifies a certain UL 1203 listed product "or equivalent" wouldn't an FMRC-3615 be equivalent?

 

[Noway2]

UL and FM approach the equipment from opposite ends of the spectrum and rely on each other to certify different aspects of it. Having worked with both agencies to get fire protection equipment approved, I can attest to the fact they freely admit that they rely on each other to concentrate on different aspects.

UL is primarilly concerned with, is it (electrically) safe and does it meet the electrical specifications of NFPA and the NEC. I say primarilly because they have a set of operational requirements, these requirements are often limited compared to FM's.

FM's is more concerned with how does it work and will it work continuously and reliably. Their testing will involve a lot more aspects of consistent operation over a wide temperature and voltage range as well as per unit variation.

 

[DRWeig]

Hiya Autofire,

I personally would accept the FM labeled product. However, I'm not the authority having jurisdiction or your client. It's often an uphill battle to convince them of markings that are "equal" to UL. The only real exception to this has been with intrinsically safe products -- FM seems to be more readily accepted for barriers and IS field products.

When I have run into this in the past, I have found it much more cost-and-time-effective to find a UL product than to argue.

Let us know how it goes -- especially if you end up persuading the clients to accept FM. I'd like to know what argument worked if so!

Good on ya,

Goober Dave

 

[DM2]

AutoFire,
Some end users will say they require a "UL Listed" product. It may be that they don't understand that the codes (i.e. building, NFPA, etc) do not require equipment to be "UL" listed but rather NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory).
Many codes will have statements to the affect "...acceptable to the Authority having jurisdiction..." (AHJ) and some will assume that when it comes fire protection the local fire marshal is the AHJ. The AHJ will depend on what the variance is. For example, while the local fire marshal may allow something that's on NRTL Listed to be installed, OSHA will eventually supersede him/her.
With regard to your horns FM is NRTL approved to test and certify your horns to both UL 1203 and FM 3615, but before I go into that, you need to understand the paper trail law, so...

OSHA provides the minimum requirements for fire protection under 29 CFR 1910.155 "Subpart L Fire protection". Section 1910.155(c)(3) states that equipment is "...approved..." based on one of three options:
a. The equipment is "...determined to be safe by a nationally recognized testing laboratory; or;"
b. If the equipment is of a nature "...which no nationally recognized testing laboratory accepts, certifies, lists, labels, or determines to be safe..." it may be used if "...inspected or tested by another federal agency and found to be in compliance with..." NFPA 72, or;.
c. If the equipment is "...custom made…for use by the manufacture..." and testing data is made “…available for inspection to the Assistant Secretary"
- Link to above reference: (see

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_08/29cfr1910_08.html

and than scroll down to 1910.155)

You may be asking "...who defines a NRTL?" Well, OSHA does under 29 CFR 1910.7 which defines a NRTL as:
"(b) Laboratory requirements. The term nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) means an organization which is recognized by OSHA in accordance with appendix A..."
(go back to the previous web page and find 1910.7)

So next your probably asking "...who is an NRTL?". Well to find the answer to this question you need to go to OSHA's NRTL web site at:

http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl

Here you'll see a number of testing laboratories including UL and FM. Now not every lab is qualified to test devices for Class 1, Div 1 locations. But as you mentioned, the UL standard your looking to have your equipment tested to is UL 1203.

To find out if FM is recognized by OSHA to test equipment to this standard, click on the FM link (

http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/fm.html).

If you scroll down the page, you'll see "UL 1203" as one of the standards OSHA has recognized FM as being qualified to test to. Scroll down further and you'll see "FM 3515" as being a NRTL test standard.

The real question is whether or not the application of your horn is suitable for Class I, Division 1 areas, based on the "FM 3615" test. To find that out you should go to the "UL White Book" (

http://www.ul.com/global/eng/documents/offerings/perspectives/regulators/2008_WhiteBook.pdf

) and look on page 410 of the book. Here you'll find the cross reference to NFPA 70, Article 500 through 506. This section is a cross reference to "UL Category Codes".

Equipment (i.e. your horn) falls under section III, and I suspect your horns fall under 501.150(A). According the page 454 of the white book, you need to be looking at the following UL Category Codes:
- UGKZ (Page 324) <--(Hint...Audible-signal Appliances for Use in Hazardous Locations)
- UGYX (Page 324)
- UHMV (Page 325)
- UIAZ (Page 325)
- UIOR (Page 325)
- UIPV (Page 325)
- UIRV (Page 326)
- UJFT (Page 326)
- UJPX (Page 326)
- UJQO (Page 326)
- UJTK (Page 328)
- UXWC (Page 328)
- WZAT (Page 357)

If you took the hint and went to page 324, you'd find that UGYX references Category Code AAIZ (Equipment for Use In And Relating to Class I, II, and III, Division 1 and 2 Hazardous Locations), however it isn't until page 46 that you'll see a reference to UL 1203.

Now...understand that the White Book only cross references the NFPA 70 standard to UL standards, not FM Standards.

You'll now need to review the the FM standard and see if it's similar.

You should also get a letter in writing from you contact at FM stating that the FM 3615, addresses devices intended for use under NFPA 70, section 501.150(A)

For information on how to use the UL White book, you can take an online course at:

http://www.uluniversity.us/catalog/display.resource.aspx?resourceid=194559

, You'll have to register online with UL, but the course is a flash animation and is free, so it couldn't hurt.

Regards,
Dan Marr