Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Requirements

Owned by Anand Rajaraman
Last updated: Jun 20, 2024 by Del Gonzalez
8 min read

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is an independent safety science company that develops safety-related standards and tests products to determine whether they meet a specific measure to be certified as UL-listed. There are various UL standards related to security systems or their components, such as UL 1076, the Standard of Safety for Proprietary Alarm Units.

Velocity is a flexible software that can control various hardware components, enabling you to design a custom system that meets your particular security needs. This topic provides information about creating a security system using Velocity software and DIGI*TRAC\Mx hardware that meets specific UL standards.

General Information

The UL-listed Velocity System may be comprised of the following components: Central Supervisory Station, XBox, M1N, M2, M8, M16, Mx, Mx-1, DS47L, DS47L-HI, DS47L-SPX, DS47L-SPX-HI, Power Limitation Board (CL2), DTLM1, DTLM2, DTLM3, MELM1, MELM2, and MELM3. The M2, M8, M16, and Mx controllers may employ the following expansion boards: MEB/BE, AEB8, REB8, SNIBSNIB2, and SNIB3. (Note: The SNIB3 board has not been evaluated with the M16 controller.)

UL 1076 compliance requires the use of a listed reader. Previously listed readers included the Dorado Models 540 and 640 and the Sensor Engineering Models 30387, 31880, and 32005. UL has verified the compatibility of the following Identiv TS Readers with the Mx-1 Controller: 8210, 8230, 8330, and 8336.

Wiring methods shall be by the National Electrical Code (ANSI/NFPA70), Canadian Electrical Code (C22.1), local codes, and the authorities' jurisdiction. All cabling and wire used must be Listed or Recognized AWM wire, suitable for the application. Class 2 or 3 conductors must be segregated from electric light, power, Class 1 conductors, non-Class 2 or 3 signaling conductors, battery backup, and medium-power network-powered broadband communications-circuit conductors.

When using the initial version of the SNIB3 communications board (which has a serial number of the form SNIB3-S-nnnnn), surge protection must be provided for the master SNIB3 in each chain of connected controllers using the Sankosha Guardian Net LAN-CAT5e-P+ surge protection device. For details, see “Providing Surge Protection for a Master SNIB3” in Revision AC (dated July 8, 2016) or later of the DIGI*TRAC Systems Design & Installation Guide (MAN001).

The system shall not be installed in the fail-secure mode unless permitted by the local authority having jurisdiction, and it shall not interfere with the operation of Listed panic hardware. The UL has not evaluated the use of panic hardware.

For proprietary burglary system use, all status changes at the protected premise must be programmed to cause both an audible and a visual annunciation at the central receiving station. An acknowledgment signal and local annunciation must be programmed from the central receiving station to the protected premise.

UL terms that apply to this application can be found in Appendix B, “Glossary” of the DIGI*TRAC Systems Design & Installation Guide (MAN001).

Summary of UL 294 Performance Levels for Access Control Features:

Feature

Level I

Level II

Level III

Level IV

Feature

Level I

Level II

Level III

Level IV

Destructive Attack

No attack test

Withstand attack test for 2 minutes

Withstand attack test for 5 minutes, or generate an alarm event in 2 minutes

Withstand attack test for 5 minutes, or generate an alarm in 2 minutes which cannot be silenced for 2 minutes

Line Security

No line security

Standard line security

Encrypted line security 128 bits

Encrypted line security 256 bits

Endurance

1,000 cycles

25,000 cycles

50,000 cycles

100,000 cycles

Standby Power

No secondary power source

Can maintain normal operations for a minimum of 30 minutes

Can maintain normal operation for a minimum of 2 hours

Can maintain normal operation for a minimum of 4 hours

Destructive Attack

Level I

Level I

Level I

Level I

Line Security

Level IV

Level IV when using XNET3 (with a SNIB3 expansion board and optionally an RREB); Level III when using XNET2 (with a SNIB2, or a SNIB3 and optionally an RREB);

Level IV when using XNET3 (with a SNIB3 expansion board and optionally an RREB); Level III when using XNET2 (with a SNIB2, or a SNIB3 and optionally an RREB)

Level IV when using XNET3 (with a SNIB3 expansion board and optionally an RREB); Level III when using XNET2 (with a SNIB2, or a SNIB3 and optionally an RREB)

Endurance

Level IV

Level IV

Level IV

Level IV

Standby Power

Level I

Level II with 1.3 Ah battery; Level IV with 7.2 Ah battery

Level IV (with supplied 7.2 Ah battery)

Level IV (with supplied 7.2 Ah battery)

Standby Power Requirements for Various UL Standards:

UL Standard

UL 294

UL 1076

CAN/ULC-S319-05

UL Standard

UL 294

UL 1076

CAN/ULC-S319-05

Required Duration of Standby Power

30 minutes for Access Control Performance Level II; 4 hours for Access Control Performance Level IV

24 Hours

30 minutes for Class I equipment

When the available controller power is insufficient, an external power supply can be used to power attached devices such as a Scramble Pad or MATCH2 interface. That power supply must be a UL-listed low-voltage Class 2 power-limited power supply, which is capable of providing standby power for the duration required by the UL standard your physical access control system must meet:

  • UL 294 Access Control Performance Level I: not applicable

  • UL 294 Access Control Performance Level II: 30 minutes

  • UL 294 Access Control Performance Level III: 2 hours

  • UL 294 Access Control Performance Level IV: 4 hours

  • UL 1076: 24 hours

  • CAN/ULC-S319-05: 30 minutes (for Class I equipment)

A Velocity system with Mx controllers meets the requirements of CAN/ULC-S319-05 Equipment Class I.

Velocity

  1. For the software and minimum hardware requirements of Velocity servers, clients, and standalone workstations, see Hardware and Software Requirements.

  2. For burglary use, all status changes at the protected premise must be programmed to cause both an audible and a visual annunciation at the central receiving station, and an acknowledgment signal and local annunciation must be programmed from the central receiving station to the protected premise.

  3. If the user assigns Alarm Priority levels, then the following priority must be given for UL applications:

    1. Fire alarm and industrial supervision involve a risk of injury to persons, or damage to or destruction of property.

    2. Hold-up or panic alarm.

    3. Burglar alarm.

    4. Watchman tour.

    5. Fire-alarm supervision.

    6. Burglar-alarm supervision.

    7. Industrial supervision where a risk of injury to persons, or damage to or destruction of property will not be involved.

    8. Other supervisory services.
      Items (b) and (c) may have equal priority; items (e) and (f) may have equal importance, and items (g) and (h) may have equal emphasis.

  4. The Alarm Stacking feature is not to be used for UL applications.

  5. The Return to Normal feature is not to be used for UL applications.

  6. UL has not evaluated the Video capability of the Velocity software.

Central Supervisory Station

  1. The data processing equipment and office appliance and business equipment used as central supervisory station equipment shall be Listed under Office Appliances and Business Equipment (UL 114), Information Processing and Business Equipment (UL 478), or Part 1: General Requirements of Information Technology Equipment (UL 60950-1).

  2. A redundant server configuration should be employed, where the servers and workstations are networked via a dedicated Ethernet LAN. The network interfaces the protected premise units through an Xbox with a serial-to-Ethernet converter or a SNIB2.

  3. A “panel logged off” event may be a compromise attempt on the system.

  4. Supply line transient protection complying with the Standard for Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors (UL 1449), with a maximum marked rating of 330 V, shall be used on Central Monitoring Station equipment.

  5. Suppose the XBox is not installed in the Central Monitoring Station. In that case the signal line transient protection complying with the Standard for Protectors for Data communications and Fire Alarm Circuits (UL 497B) with a maximum marked rating of 50 V shall be used on communication circuits extending more than 25 feet from the computing systems.

  6. Secondary protectors for communication circuits shall protect communication circuits and network components connected to the telecommunications network. These protectors shall comply with the Standard for Secondary Protectors for Communication Circuits, UL 497A. These protectors shall be used only on the protected side of the telecommunications network.

  7. The Central Monitoring Station Equipment shall be installed in a temperature-controlled environment. A temperature-controlled environment is defined as one that can be maintained between 13–35°C (55–95°F) by the HVAC system. Twenty-four hours of standby power shall be provided for the HVAC system. The standby power for the HVAC system may be supplied by an engine-driven generator alone; a standby battery is not required to be used.

  8. In addition to the main and secondary power supply required at the Central Supervisory Station, the system shall be provided with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) with sufficient capacity to operate the computer equipment for a minimum of 15 minutes. If more than 15 minutes is required for the secondary power supply to supply the UPS input power, the UPS shall be capable of providing input power for at least that amount of time.

  9. The UPS shall comply with the Standard for Uninterruptible Power Supply Equipment (UL 1778) or the Standard for Fire Protective signaling Devices (UL 1481).

  10. To perform maintenance and repair service, a means for disconnecting the input to the UPS while maintaining continuity of power to the automation system shall be provided.

  11. The alarm system’s network settings shall be designed so that the maximum time lapse from initiating a device circuit until it is annunciated at the Central Supervising Station shall not exceed 90 seconds.

  12. The alarm system’s network settings shall be designed such that the maximum time for the Central Supervising Station to annunciate a single break, single ground, wire-to-wire short, loss of signal, or any combination of these, shall not exceed 200 seconds.

  13. The alarm system configuration shall be designed such that the number of signals on a single channel shall be limited to 1000.

UL-Listed DIGI*TRAC\Mx Components

The following DIGI*TRAC\Mx components are UL-listed.

M1N

  1. Input rating of the M1N is 120 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 500 mA.

  2. The Alarm/Control Relay contact rating is 24 VDC, 1 A, resistive.

M2

  1. UL has verified compatibility of the Hirsch DS47L, DS47L-HI, DS47L-SPX, and DS47L-SPX-HI with the M2.

  2. The Alarm/Control Relay contact rating is 24 VDC, 1 A, resistive.

M8

  1. UL has verified compatibility of the Hirsch DS47L, DS47L-HI, DS47L-SPX, and DS47L-SPX-HI with the M8.

  2. The Alarm/Control Relay contact rating is 24 VDC, 1 A, resistive.

M16

  1. Input rating of the M16 is 120 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 1 A.

  2. UL has verified compatibility of the Hirsch DS47L-SPX with the M16.

  3. The Alarm/Control Relay contact rating is 24 VDC, 1 A, resistive.

Mx

  1. Input rating of the Mx is 110-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 2 A.

  2. UL has verified compatibility of the DS47L, DS47L-HI, DS47L-SPX, and DS47L-SPX-HI with the Mx.

  3. The Alarm/Control Relay contact rating is 24 VDC, 1 A, resistive.

  4. The Ethernet cable connecting the SNIB2 or SNIB3 board's communications port to an external network must be shielded.

Mx-1

  1. When using an external power supply (via the Power terminal), the input rating of the Mx-1 controller is 24-28 VDC, 2 Amps. When using PoE+ (via the Ethernet jack), the input rating of the Mx-1 is 44-57 VDC, and the maximum output power is 25.5 W.

  2. The Mx-1 supports both a UL-listed entry reader and an optional exit reader, each with audible feedback capability, which can be connected using either the 8-pin Wiegand terminals or the 5-pin RS-485/OSDP terminal. For more information, see “Wiring for the Door” in Chapter 9 of Revision AF (dated October 30, 2017) or later of the DIGI*TRAC Systems Design & Installation Guide (MAN001).

  3. The Ethernet cable connecting the Mx-1's communications port to an external network must be shielded.

  4. UL has not tested the Mx-1 in a chain of controllers connected using RS-485 wiring.

  5. UL has not evaluated the Mx-1-ME controller.

  6. The Mx-1 controller does not require a Power Limitation Board (CL2).

  7. UL has verified the compatibility of the following Identiv TS readers with the Mx-1 controller: 8210, 8230, 8330, and 8336.

  8. For UL applications, the Mx-1 needs to be powered by either a UL 294, UL 1076, and ULC-S319 Listed power supply or PoE+, with the appropriate required standby power.

  9. Revision 1 of the Mx-1 controller has the model number of Mx-1 026-0000121-P and is described in the DIGI*TRAC Systems Design & Installation Guide (MAN001). Revision 2 of the Mx-1 controller has the model number of Mx-1 026-0000121-P-2 and is described in the same guide.

RREB

  1. Information about the RREB is provided in “RS-485 Readers Expansion Board (RREB)” (and its subtopics), and in “RS-485 Readers Expansion Board (RREB) Installation” in Revision AE (dated January 27, 2017) or later of the DIGI*TRAC Systems Design & Installation Guide (MAN001).

  2. UL has verified the compatibility of the RREB with the Mx-8 controller.

  3. The shielded cable must be used when connecting RS-485 readers to the RREB.

XBox

This device was only required for use with MOMENTUM systems.

  1. XBox configuration and installation are addressed in the “XBox Installation” topic of the DIGI*TRAC Systems Design & Installation Guide (MAN001).

  2. UL has not verified the XBox hookup for a remote dialup controller or the modem loop configuration.

  3. The alarm relay contact is rated 24 VDC, 2 A, resistive.

  4. Wiring to the RS-232 circuit is limited to the same room (25 feet).

  5. The shielded cable must be used on the RS-232 circuit.