Supporting UL S Mission

UL Council Member Guidelines

Supporting UL’s Mission

Rev. 4/12

Rev. 3/02

UL’s Engineering and Advisory Councils provide valuable advice to support UL’s mission of public safety, public health and protection of the environment. The men and women appointed to serve as members of UL’s Councils are leaders in their professions, and their work has distinguished them as being highly competent and knowledgeable in their professional fields.

The purpose of UL’s Councils is to provide UL with substantial expertise in the development and maintenance of UL Standards for Safety, installation and use of UL Listed or Classified products, and investigations of new and innovative products, as well as management systems, international business and other conformity assessment related activities. The members of each council bring years of sound engineering experience, practical judgment, field experience and conformity assessment business expertise to UL, and are selected from enforcement authorities, government agencies, consumer groups, standards experts, educators and other individuals and organizations with special knowledge in their fields of expertise.

COUNCIL MEMBER SELECTION PROCESS

The process for the selection of new Members varies from Council-to-Council, but each Council seeks to maintain a balance in the various areas of interest in their corresponding field. Factors considered include a proposed new Member’s background, years of experience and current role in the given field.

TERM OF MEMBERSHIP

Council members are appointed to serve three-year terms. The members of each Council shall be divided into three classes, the classes to be as nearly equal in number as possible. The term of office of Council members of each class shall expire at the third succeeding Annual Meeting of UL’s Corporate Members. Terms shall be every six years for Councils that meet every other year.

UL does not endorse arbitrary term limits on Council Members’ service, nor does it believe in automatic re-nomination until Council Members reach the mandatory retirement age of 72. The Councils’ self-evaluation process is an important determinant for continuing service.

RE-APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS

Each Council shall have a process for evaluating whether the individuals sitting on the Council bring the appropriate skills and expertise, and how effectively each member works with the Council. Council Memberships should not be regarded as permanent. Council Members should serve only so long as they add value to the Council, and a Council Member’s ability to continue to contribute to the Council should be considered each time the Council Member is considered for re-appointment.

A Council-appointed committee consisting of at least six members representing an equal number of Council Members and UL staff shall identify the Council Members whose terms are expiring who will be asked to serve another three-year term, based on the results of the Council’s evaluation process.

REMOVAL OF A MEMBER FROM A COUNCIL

A Council-appointed committee consisting of at least six members representing an equal number of Council Members and UL staff is responsible for the review of all members of the Council, and where necessary, taking action to remove a Council Member, which requires the approval of the Council Committee.

CHANGE IN COUNCIL MEMBER OCCUPATION

Council Members must notify their Council chair in writing if there is a change in their employment, field re-assignment, or if any real or perceived conflict of interest arises during the Council Member’s term of service. In such cases, a Council-appointed committee, consisting of at least six members representing an equal number of Council Members and UL staff, shall determine whether the member should remain on the Council.

COUNCIL MEMBER RETIREMENT

No Council Member is eligible to continue to serve as a Council Member beyond the Annual Meeting of UL’s Corporate Members following his or her 72nd birthday. In establishing this tenure policy for Council Members, the Council may make exceptions to the policy as appropriate, in light of particular facts or circumstances, based on recommendations by the Council-appointed committee consisting of at least six members representing an equal number of Council Members and UL staff.

COUNCIL MEMBER COMPENSATION

Council Members are not compensated for their service as a Council Member. They are, however, eligible to receive reimbursement for any travel expenses they incur in the course of attending Council Meetings.

COUNCIL MEMBERS’ STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

On occasion, UL also seeks advice from Council Members in regard to the investigation of specific proprietary products, prior to dissemination of

product Listings, Classification or Recognition. The product information UL shares with Council Members is proprietary to the submitter, and UL takes every precaution not to disclose confidential information to potential competitors.

It is extremely important for Council Members to preserve the trust of UL subscribers in its ability to keep their material confidential. Accordingly, UL has established the following Standard of Conduct to which it expects Council Member to subscribe:

As a UL Council Member, I will:

§ Respect the trust associated with my appointment to the UL Council by serving its mission of public safety, public health and protection of the environment to the best of my ability.

§ Utilize my technical and business knowledge and set aside any private business, personal or undisclosed special interest or motivation. In the event I am presented with any conflicts of interest, I will advise the Council chair and abstain from Council participation with respect to that issue or related issues.

§ Hold in strictest confidence any proprietary or confidential information provided to the Council. That obligation will continue to be in effect at all times during and after completion of my Council service.

§ Acknowledge that I am not a representative of UL and will not act on behalf of UL or the UL Council, except in any form of UL Council meetings or as the UL Council shall otherwise delegate.

§ Adhere to the UL Council Guidelines

§ Exercise good judgment to ensure my conduct enhances the reputation of UL and the UL Council on which I serve.

UL’S STANDARDS OF CONDUCT – WHAT COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN EXPECT FROM UL

For more than a century, UL has provided industry-leading technical expertise and quality service while maintaining the highest legal and ethical standards. This work ethic has earned UL the confidence of consumers, industries and safety professionals worldwide.

Additionally, UL Council Members have the satisfaction of knowing their support serves the safety community. UL owes a great debt of gratitude to each Council Member for the time and thought that they contribute to UL and to UL’s Mission of Public Safety through participation as a member of a UL Council. UL likewise owes a debt of gratitude to the various organizations that support the Council Member’s participation in Council activities, both at the UL Council meetings and in various ways throughout the year.

Membership on UL’s Councils provides a forum of top-level experts in the safety community to learn from each other, enhancing their expertise, and the safety community as a whole.

Council members are invited each year (some Councils every other year) to attend UL’s Annual Meeting of its Corporate Members and their Council meetings held in conjunction with the Corporate Members’ Annual Meeting.

In addition to the guidelines stated herein, each Council may have its own, additional guidelines specific to its Council Membership.

OVERVIEW OF UL’S VARIOUS COUNCILS

Here is a brief look at each of UL’s councils:

Security Council

(formerly named Burglary Protection Council)

Formed in 1921, members of the Security Council are drawn from inland marine and property insurance industries, law enforcement, corporate security, federal government and academia. They advise UL on the performance, use and application of security and property protection products.

Commercial Insurance Council

The purpose of the UL Commercial Insurance Council will advise UL on a broad set of issues shaping the Insurance Industry, including advising UL on the products, systems, structures, and services that the Insurance Industry supports. The Council will also review with UL potential and new services that UL might provide that would potentially be of benefit to society.

Consumer Advisory Council

This council, established in 1967, is composed of representatives of academia, insurance and government agencies, along with home economists, public safety officials, retailers and individuals associated with consumer-oriented media. The group advises UL on establishing levels of safety for consumer products, user experiences and product failures, and educating the general public on the limitations and safe uses of specific consumer products.

Electrical Council

Advising UL on new services to support the inspection community, field experiences on product failures, installation practices, field experiences with UL-Listed products and materials, code requirements and UL requirements is this council’s main responsibility. Authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), independent leaders, federal government officials and insurance representatives comprise the membership of this council, which was established in 1913.

UL Environment Council

This council advises UL Environment on issues that shape the future of UL Environment's service

offerings, market position, program improvements and enhancements, future courses of action and emerging validation and certification needs in the environmental services fields. Membership includes environmental and business leaders, including individuals from business, not-for-profits, government and universities.

Environmental and Public Health Council

Formed in 1995, the council advises UL on issues that shape the future of UL’s Environmental and Public Health Program (EPH) program, proposed actions on EPH-related activities, program improvements, future courses of action and emerging safety needs in the EPH fields. Membership includes environmental and public health leaders, including EPH consultants and individuals from government and universities.

Fire Council

Individuals representing academia, building officials, federal government agencies, fire service, along with independent fire safety experts, consultants, insurance authorities, and other related categories make up this council, which was formed in 1913. The council advises UL on the establishment of safety performance requirements for fire suppression equipment, fire resistance, building designs, fire and smoke detector equipment and building materials.

Follow-Up Services Council

Formed in 1976, the council provides expertise and assistance to UL in appropriately maintaining its current inspection and market surveillance programs and in the development of new follow-up services, surveillance and inspection programs. Individuals representing manufacturers, retailers, professional societies, trade groups, distributors, insurance, government and academia compose the group.

Health Sciences Council

Formed in 2012, the council advises UL on issues that shape the future of UL’s Health Sciences Programs, proposed actions on Health Science related activities, program improvements, future courses of action and emerging safety needs in the Health Science fields. The Council will also review with UL potential and new services that UL might provide that would potentially be of benefit to society. Membership includes individuals representing academia, federal government agencies, professional societies, trade groups, consultants, insurance, and other related categories.”

PERIODIC REVIEW OF UL COUNCIL MEMBER GUIDELINES

These guidelines are reviewed by UL’s Councils at least annually.

Revised: 2012-04-30