A proposal that all commercial fire alarm systems be certified has failed. The proposal, 72-381, put forward at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 2002 World Safety Conference, would have required that all commercial fire safety systems be certified by nationally recognized, independent third parties, such as Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL). The measure missed by a single vote, losing 81-80. Supporters considered the proposal an opportunity to raise the standard of commercial life safety systems, giving those protected a greater sense of safety, while decreasing false alarms. The Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) plans to put forward the proposal again in three years, the next opportunity.
