UL Solutions Enhances Fire Safety with Upgraded Center
UL Solutions Inc. (NYSE: ULS), a global leader in applied safety science, has unveiled plans for a new Global Fire Science Center of Excellence in Northbrook, Illinois. This significant investment highlights the company’s ongoing commitment to fire safety, security, and building and construction markets, reinforcing its position as an industry leader in these critical sectors.
The new Global Fire Science Center of Excellence will be located on UL Solutions’ expansive 110-acre campus north of Chicago, combining innovative new construction with the modernization of its existing fire science laboratories. The facility will feature cutting-edge technology and enhanced research capabilities, enabling UL Solutions to address the growing and evolving needs of the fire safety and sustainability industries.
“Fire safety testing is central to UL Solutions and represents a core component of our business,” said Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO of UL Solutions. “Since our founding more than 130 years ago, our mission has been focused on public safety, and fire safety continues to be a cornerstone of our work. The development of this new Global Fire Science Center of Excellence allows us to enhance our research, testing, and certification capabilities while continuing our legacy of helping to make the world a safer place.”
The Global Fire Science Center of Excellence is designed to support UL Solutions’ extensive range of customers in the fire safety industry. The new facility will deliver comprehensive testing and certification services for various fire safety products, including commercial and residential sprinklers, pipes, fittings, valves, fire extinguishers, firefighting foam, exterior walls, and perimeter fire barrier systems. These services are essential to helping customers mitigate risk, meet regulatory requirements, and support efforts to safeguard property and protect lives.
This state-of-the-art facility will also provide critical verification services for fire protection systems, helping manufacturers, designers, and developers ensure compliance with building codes and insurance requirements. The center’s capacity to test products from diverse regions—including Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America—will enable UL Solutions to offer its services to a global market, ensuring the products meet the highest safety standards across all regions.
“We are proud to support the global fire safety industry with this new facility,” said Karine Johnfroe, vice president and general manager of the Built Environment group at UL Solutions. “With more than a century of experience in fire safety testing, we have developed a wealth of knowledge and expertise. By combining our legacy with the capabilities of the new Global Fire Science Center of Excellence, we will be able to support the next generation of fire safety innovations.”
A key component of the new center will be a dedicated research and development hub. This space will focus on applied R&D services and provide science-based guidance to manufacturers, consultants, trade associations, industry groups, and standards development committees. The center’s proactive approach will enable the fire safety industry to mitigate risks associated with new product development, accelerating innovation timelines, and ensuring products are both safe and effective.
The R&D hub will also serve as a platform for collaboration, bringing together industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders to drive innovation and improve fire safety standards globally. This initiative will contribute to advancing safety technologies, enhancing building resilience, and supporting the ongoing evolution of fire safety practices.
UL Solutions has long been recognized as a trusted authority in fire safety testing. The company’s expertise in evaluating the fire resistance of products, materials, and systems has made it an essential resource for ensuring public safety and regulatory compliance. UL Solutions offers a comprehensive range of services designed to help businesses and organizations mitigate risks and ensure their products are fit for use in a wide range of environments.
The UL Mark, which is awarded to products that meet UL’s rigorous safety standards, serves as a universally recognized symbol of trust. It indicates that a product has been tested and certified for safety, offering confidence to consumers, building inspectors, architects, designers, and authorities responsible for ensuring the safety of buildings and infrastructure.
“The development of the Global Fire Science Center of Excellence is a reflection of our commitment to supporting our customers in their efforts to design, manufacture, and deploy the safest and most effective fire protection products available,” Scanlon added. “The center will allow us to continue our mission of advancing fire safety technologies and helping our customers navigate the increasingly complex regulatory and safety requirements of the global market.”
The fire safety industry faces numerous challenges, from evolving regulatory standards to the development of new building materials and construction techniques. UL Solutions is positioning itself as a leader in addressing these challenges through its comprehensive testing and certification services, as well as its proactive approach to R&D. By supporting manufacturers and industry stakeholders with advanced research, testing, and certification capabilities, UL Solutions is helping to ensure the safety of both commercial and residential properties worldwide.
The Global Fire Science Center of Excellence will also play a critical role in helping the industry address the growing demand for sustainable fire safety solutions. As building materials and technologies continue to evolve, UL Solutions is committed to staying ahead of the curve by offering testing and certification services that support sustainability and fire safety simultaneously. The center’s ability to assess and verify the fire resistance of emerging materials will ensure that new products meet the necessary safety standards without compromising environmental goals.
“By investing in this new center, we are not only enhancing our fire safety testing capabilities but also supporting the broader goal of creating safer, more sustainable buildings,” said Johnfroe. “The center will allow us to continue to innovate and provide our customers with the tools and resources they need to bring safer, more sustainable products to market.”
About UL Solutions
UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS) is a global leader in applied safety science, with operations in more than 110 countries. The company provides a broad range of testing, inspection, certification, software, and advisory services designed to help customers address safety, security, and sustainability challenges. Through its expertise and innovative solutions, UL Solutions empowers businesses to improve product safety, navigate complex regulatory landscapes, and drive growth in global markets.
For more than a century, UL Solutions has helped manufacturers, designers, and developers ensure that their products meet the highest safety standards, delivering confidence to consumers and authorities alike. The company’s UL Mark is a widely recognized symbol of trust, reflecting the company’s unwavering commitment to advancing safety standards and improving public safety globally.
