Standard for Automatically Operated Roof Vents for Smoke and Heat

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)
Standards Development Organisation:
Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
Working Program:
View the UL work program
Designation Number:
ANSI/CAN/UL 793
Standard Type:
National Standard of Canada - Domestic
Standard Sub-Type
Joint Canada-U.S. National Standard
Standard Development Activity:
New Standard
ICS code(s):
13.220.20
Status:
Proceeding to development
SDO Comment Period Start Date:
SDO Comment Period End Date:
Posted On:

Scope:

The scope of UL 793 covers automatically operated roof vents for smoke and heat that fall into two general categories: mechanically-opened and gravity-opened. Mechanically-opened vents consist primarily of a body frame, one or more damper covers and hatches, and operating mechanisms which generally include a heat responsive device and spring(s). Gravity-opened vents consist primarily of a body frame and nonmetallic drop-out panel. The vents covered by these requirements are operated manually or automatically in the event of fire to remove smoke and heat from the building. Automatic operation does not depend on electrical power or other energy sources that may be interrupted during a fire, but rather depends upon operation of a heat responsive device or on the action of a plastic cover shrinking and falling from place due to fire exposure, or the like. These vents are not intended for use as general purpose building ventilation devices.

Project need:

Stakeholders have requested that we merge the third edition of the USA standard, the Standard for Automatically Operated Roof Vents for Smoke and Heat, UL 793, with ULC-ORD (Other Recognized Document)-C793 to create a Joint standard. The standard will be designated as a joint ANSI/SCC standard and is intended to support certification programs in Canada and the US. AHJs are increasingly reluctant to use ORDs and Outlines for regulatory requirements. This activity will result in a joint Canada/US standard. Manufacturers will benefit from reduced administrative burden when product only needs to be tested to a single standard. Regulators will benefit from reduced overlap in standards requirements.

Note: The information provided above was obtained by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and is provided as part of a centralized, transparent notification system for new standards development. The system allows SCC-accredited Standards Development Organizations (SDOs), and members of the public, to be informed of new work in Canadian standards development, and allows SCC-accredited SDOs to identify and resolve potential duplication of standards and effort.

Individual SDOs are responsible for the content and accuracy of the information presented here. The text is presented in the language in which it was provided to SCC.