UL LLC: What has been your recent exp...

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Author Message Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: michael_chusid Post Number: 173 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Monday, July 11, 2016 - 05:05 pm:    I have have become aware of several disappointing developments related to UL LLC - the for profit company that acquired Underwriters Laboratories, and am curious about the experience others have had: 1. One of my clients spent 6 years on their task team developing sustainability standards for ceilings. UL summarily decided to abandon the project without asking committee members for input in that decision. 2. UL has an inspection program that certifies lightning safety system installation. They now offer certifications for installations that do not meet UL's own standards, for products that do not provide the alleged protection. What are your impressions of the new company? Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS www.chusid.com www.buildingproduct.guru Dewayne Dean Senior Member Username: ddean Post Number: 65 Registered: 02-2016 Posted on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 - 03:33 pm:    Was UL bought out by a foreign company?? Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: michael_chusid Post Number: 203 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2016 - 11:35 am:    As far can I can discern, the move to make UL a private company was lead by company management and it is not owned by another company. See http://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1134/ML113460925.pdf Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS www.chusid.com www.buildingproduct.guru 818-219-4937 John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1692 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Sunday, August 28, 2016 - 04:58 pm:    According to the letter in the link, the original UL was not acquired, rather the other way around. UL LLC was formed as a subsidiary owned entirely by the UL 501(c)3 non-profit. Thus, UL LLC is not exactly private. I don't know why they did this. As a non-profit, however, no assets are allowed to be transferred out unless they go to another non-profit or governmental entity. I don't know all the ins and outs of this legal structure, but it seems to me that any profits that UL LLC earns must go to the non-profit arm.