ISSUE 2

FIRE SAFETY
NEW CHALLENGES

NEW MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES ARE MAKING FIRE-RELATED RISKS MUCH GREATER AND THE
CHALLENGES OF FIRE SAFETY VERY DIFFERENT TODAY.

every

30min

67%

A CIVILIAN FIRE INJURY IS

REPORTED 5

INCREASE IN FIREFIGHTER
DEATHS DUE TO TRAUMATIC
INJURIES OVER THE PAST
30 YEARS 1

49% OF U.S. HOME

FIRES INVOLVE
SOME TYPE OF
ELECTRICAL FAILURE
OR MALFUNCTION 4

today
in less than

3min

EVERY

85sec

A HOUSE FIRE CAN

BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE 2

ONE RESIDENTIAL FIRE IS

REPORTED 3

NEW SCIENCE

IS THE FUNDAMENTAL DISCOVERY, TESTING, EQUIPMENT, PROCEDURES, SOFTWARE

AND STANDARDS UL IS CREATING TO MAKE THE WORLD SAFER.

WIRELESS CHARGING OF
ELECTRIC VEHICLES

STATISTICALLY PREDICTING
ELECTRICAL ARCING

ADVANCED
COMPUTER MODELING

NEW DYNAMICS OF
BASEMENT FIRES

UL pioneered a methodology for testing

UL engineers are conducting research

UL is using sophisticated computer

Basement fires are among the most

technical expertise and advanced

quantify risk and advance standards

materials behave in specific situations.

critical role in examining the hazards

wireless EV chargers. Leveraging our

engineering capabilities, we created new

computational modeling techniques to

gauge safety, compatibility and efficiency.

and using predictive modeling to help

related to electrical arcing. We showcase
a broad range of updates on arc-related
research initiatives.

NEW CHALLENGES. NEW RISKS. NEW SCIENCE.

modeling to understand and predict how

We focus on the behavior and structural

response of steel fire doors and wood

beams in a fire environment.

challenging and dangerous. UL plays a

associated with various types of residential
flooring systems to better understand this
important topic.

LEARN MORE: UL.COM/NEWSCIENCE

UL and the UL logo are trademarks of UL LLC 2013. New Science Fire Safety cannot be copied, reproduced, distributed or displayed without UL's express written permission. V.2 | 1. Examination of the Impact of Ventilation and Exterior Suppression Tactics on Residential Fires, FDNY, NIST and UL, July 2012. 2. Performance of Home Smoke Alarms, NIST, February 2008,
http://www.nist.gov/el/fire_protection/buildings/upload/ExecSummaryfromNIST_TN_1455-1_Feb2008.pdf. 3. The U.S. Fire Problem, National Fire Protection Association, 2013, http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=953. 4. John R. Hall, Jr., Home Electrical Fires, National Fire Protection Association, January 2012,
http://www.nfpa.org/itemdetail.asp?categoryid=2439&itemid=55501&url=research/statistical%20reports/major%20causes/. 5. The U.S. Fire Problem, National Fire Protection Association, 2013, http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=953.