What is UL 695?

UL 695, also known as the Standard for Fire Testing of Fire Extinguishing Systems for Protection of Cooking Equipment, is a widely recognized safety standard in the fire protection industry. This technical article aims to provide an easy-to-understand explanation of UL 695 and its significance in ensuring fire safety in commercial kitchens.

Understanding the Purpose of UL 695

UL 695 sets forth the requirements and testing procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of fire extinguishing systems designed for use in commercial cooking environments. The primary objective of this standard is to verify that these systems can effectively suppress fires that may occur on or around cooking equipment such as stoves, fryers, and grills.

The Testing Process

Under UL 695, fire extinguishing systems are subjected to rigorous testing to ensure their functionality and reliability. During the testing process, a representative cooking appliance is positioned under a kitchen hood, and a controlled fire is ignited. The fire is allowed to grow until it reaches a typical size seen in real-life scenarios. At this point, the fire suppression system is activated, and its ability to suppress the fire is assessed based on various factors like extinguishing time, coverage area, and suppression effectiveness.

Significance in Fire Safety

The importance of UL 695 lies in its role in enhancing fire safety in commercial kitchens. By specifying performance requirements and testing protocols, this standard ensures that fire extinguishing systems used in these environments are capable of swiftly and effectively suppressing flames, minimizing property damage, preventing injuries, and potentially saving lives.

Compliance with UL 695 is often a prerequisite for obtaining insurance coverage for commercial kitchens. It provides assurance to insurance companies and regulatory authorities that appropriate fire protection measures are in place, reducing the risk of fire-related incidents and subsequent financial losses.