UL Solutions Breaks Ground on Global Fire Science Center of Excellence in Illinois
The advanced fire safety testing and R&D facility will be dedicated to identifying, evaluating and mitigating fire risks.
UL Solutions Inc. (NYSE:ULS), a global leader in applied safety science, today announced the beginning of construction on its state-of-the-art Global Fire Science Center of Excellence, one of the company's largest laboratory investments to date, helping to reduce fire risks globally.
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UL Solutions has announced the beginning of construction on its state-of-the-art Global Fire Science Center of Excellence, one of the company's largest laboratory investments to date, helping to reduce fire risks globally. From left: Dr. Robert Slone, senior vice president and chief scientist and innovation officer, UL Solutions; Kathi Quinn, president, Northbrook Chamber of Commerce; U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., 10th District; Jeffrey Smidt, senior vice president, Testing, Inspection and Certification – Industrial, UL Solutions; Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO, UL Solutions; State Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, D-Ill., 57th District; Karine Johnfroe, vice president and general manager, Built Environment, UL Solutions; State Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Ill., 29th District; Weifang Zhou, executive vice president and president, Testing, Inspection and Certification, UL Solutions; Cara Pavlicek, village manager, Village of Northbrook; and Heather Ross, trustee, Village of Northbrook.
Designed to identify, test and evaluate fire risks associated with both established and emerging building technologies, the innovative center will be situated on the company's 110-acre global headquarters campus in Northbrook, just north of Chicago. The multi-building complex will integrate applied research laboratories with leading-edge testing capabilities, including the modernization of existing fire science laboratories and new construction.
"Fire safety is fundamental to our mission of working for a safer world," said Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO of UL Solutions. "By merging more than a century of fire science expertise with cutting-edge facilities, we are championing our commitment to protect lives, safeguard property and strengthen the resilience of communities globally."
The extensive build-out will help UL Solutions meet its customers' needs as building technologies evolve. The facility will be equipped to test the next generation of innovative products and systems that consider the environmental impacts within the built environment, including water-saving extinguishing systems, energy-saving ventilation products, energy-efficient exterior wall design and fluorine-free extinguishing foam systems reformulated to remove PFAS, known as forever chemicals.
A central feature of the facility will be its dedicated applied research and development (R&D) hub, where UL Solutions' safety science experts will collaborate directly with manufacturers, consultants, trade associations and standards committees. By providing proactive, science-based guidance in design and development phases, UL Solutions helps stakeholders identify fire risks earlier, which can help accelerate innovation cycles and ultimately reduce time to market. The facility's R&D space will include modeling and simulation capabilities to help analyze how fires behave in real-world situations.
"As a global leader in applied safety science, UL Solutions is at the forefront of forging the future of fire safety right here in Illinois. That's why I am so thrilled to join them as they break ground on their new Global Fire Science Center of Excellence in Northbrook, Illinois," said U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL). "UL Solutions' work in fire safety is critically important to protecting our communities, and I'm proud to recognize their longstanding investments in our state. I look forward to continuing the partnership with UL Solutions to grow talent, support economic development and uphold Illinois' legacy of innovation."
Construction will roll out in carefully phased stages, with full project completion expected by mid-2027. Once operational, the facility is expected to serve as a pivotal resource for products originating in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America, reinforcing UL Solutions' role as the trusted benchmark for safety compliance and performance.
The facility will cover the full spectrum of certification services critical to commercial and residential construction, including:
- Testing and certification services for sprinklers, pipes, fittings and valves
- Testing and certification services for fire extinguishers, firefighting foam formulations and water mist systems
- Comprehensive evaluation of exterior wall assemblies and perimeter fire barrier systems
- Verification services to satisfy stringent insurance requirements and compliance with evolving building codes around the globe
About UL Solutions
UL Solutions Inc. is a global leader in applied safety science, transforming safety, security and sustainability challenges into growth opportunities for customers in more than 110 countries. The company offers comprehensive testing, inspection and certification services, along with software solutions and advisory expertise that drive product innovation and business success. The UL Mark is recognized worldwide as a symbol of trust and commitment to safety excellence. For more information, visit www.ul.com.
Certain statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements regarding future lab features and capabilities, as well as anticipated construction timelines. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results or performance to be differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements made in this press release, including the risks discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other factors described from time to time in our filings with the SEC. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake or assume any obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by law.
Source Code: ULS-IR
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