UL Standards & Engagement has shared that it has been selected by the Standards Council of Canada to create a portfolio of wildfire-related safety standards to equip communities with resources to mitigate the risks of wildfires.
The announcement comes during peak wildfire season in Canada and on the heels of the country’s intense 2023 and 2024 fire years.
Jeff Marootian, President and CEO of UL Standards & Engagement commented: “Wildfires are a growing global risk and Canada has experienced exceptionally destructive fires in recent years that caused unfathomable damage and took the lives of firefighters and citizens.
“ULSE has a long legacy of fire safety and we want to be part of a safer future as we confront the growing threat of wildfires.”
Over the next three years, ULSE has revealed that it will create three standards that support community risk assessment, preparation and guidance.
This standard will examine community risks in the face of WUI fire events and serve as a resource to municipalities, landowners and land use planners, land management agencies and community officials.
A resource for engineers, architects and infrastructure practitioners, this standard will assess WUI fire ignition hazards and exposures and issue recommendations for new construction to reduce the potential risks of wildfires.
Supplementary Wildland Urban Interface Standards Guidebook: The guidebook will offer developers, builders, and suppliers support in the implementation of standards into their construction activities.
Chantal Guay, CEO at the Standards Council of Canada said: “The devastation in recent years has created this critical moment to take action to confront the growing risk of wildfires in our country.
“UL Standards & Engagement is a leader in standards development with a long legacy in fire prevention and we are proud to partner with them on this important effort.”
The guidance standards will be developed through ULSE’s consensus process that brings together experts across sectors and disciplines to serve on its technical committees and ensure diverse perspectives inform a holistic view. ULSE is currently recruiting stakeholders to its technical committees for the wildfire standards.
Marootian continued: “Wildfires are not confined by borders. It is our hope that these standards will have value beyond Canada and offer critical takeaways that will help mitigate or prevent future devastation.”
UL Standards & Engagement has shared that it has been selected by the Standards Council of Canada to create a portfolio of wildfire-related safety standards to equip communities with resources to mitigate the risks of wildfires.
