An  OPEN  LETTER  to the World’s  “Standards”  Groups

  From:  George E. Kerr, March 17, 2003  

First, I am very sorry that I was unable to attend our UL-2034 STP meeting in January; however, after having purchased my Airline Tickets and making my Hotel Reservations to attend, a family medical problem forced me to stay home.

My “Message” is really quite “Simple”, and as all of you that know me well, are Very Much Aware, I have repeated the SAME MESSAGE for so many years that it may sound “Like a Broken Record”, ... it DOES however, continue to be TRUE.

All of the “Tweeking & Rewording” in the World, will not make UL-2034 a “Life-Safety”  Standard, until you REQUIRE: “Time of Manufacture”, ... and “Life-Time” Reliability” Testing.

The present “Proposal” to go out to Retailers once a year to buy “Off the Shelf”  CO  Alarms  for “Follow-Up” Testing, ... as a “Replacement” for Mandatory “Life-Time” Reliability Testing, as Defined, and set forth in CSA-6.19-01, .....  IS RIDICULOUS  ! ! !  

Better than the NOTHING,  UL has done in the past; however, just stop to consider:  On October 01, 1998, UL began “Listing” C O Alarms to a New Revision of UL-2034, ... and on March 19, 1999, about 5 ½  MONTHS Later, a CPSC RECALL Action required 650,000 RECENTLY LISTED CO Alarms, [as well as 350,000 Older CO Detectors]  to be Recalled.

650,000 Defective C O Alarms had ALREADY reached the Homes, [and Stores], in North America, ... in just 5 ½ Months, ..... HOW MANY MORE would it have been a YEAR LATER ? ... Equally Important, HOW MANY of the “RECALLED” CO Alarms were REALLY REPLACED, ... and HOW MANY Homes in North America, that THINK that they have a “Good”, “Functioning”, UL Listed CO Alarm, PROTECTING their Family, ... when in FACT,  the  SENSOR  IS  DEAD  ?

For ONCE, ... do what is RIGHT for the Consumer, ..... NOT what is MORE CONVENIENT and “Cost Effective” for the Manufacturer.

While you are at it, ... how about Establishing some “Accuracy Requirements” for CO Sensors. A Product that ADMITS that at Perfect Temperature and Humidity Conditions, the “LACK” of Accuracy is Plus 100%, and Minus 40%, ... Should  NEVER BE LISTED.

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