On November 5, 2025, volunteers from UL Research Institutes, UL Standards & Engagement, and UL Solutions joined the American Red Cross of Illinois to install 105 free smoke alarms for 32 families during a Sound the Alarm home fire safety event in Evanston, Illinois.
The UL organizations share a long history of advancing fire safety through research, testing, and standards development — a legacy that dates back more than a century to the early work of Underwriters Laboratories on electrical components and appliances, fire doors, fire extinguishers, and more. Partnering with the Red Cross for the Sound the Alarm event continues this shared commitment to helping reduce home fire deaths and injuries.
In 2023, ULRI and ULSE relocated their headquarters to Evanston from nearby Northbrook, where UL Solutions remains. The UL organizations support employee volunteerism as part of their commitment to investing in the communities where employees live and work.
The smoke alarms installed are UL-certified to UL 217, the Standard for Safety for Smoke Alarms, and feature enhanced sensing technology to reduce nuisance alarms from cooking smoke – a common reason why people often disable smoke alarms.
Smoke alarms provide the earliest warning of a home fire, and with only three minutes or less to escape (according to research findings by ULRI), early detection is critical.
ULRI, ULSE, and ULS are thankful to the American Red Cross for leading the Sound the Alarm campaign, and we are proud to partner with the organization through our ongoing support for the ARC’s disaster relief efforts and events like the Red Cross Heroes Breakfast, where lifesaving efforts are championed each year. We look forward to future Sound the Alarm events and opportunities to support the Red Cross.
