In April 2001, the Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), one of the world's foremost product safety testing and certification organizations, announced acquisition of Environmental Health Laboratories (EHL). EHL is one of the nation's leading facilities for compliance testing and analysis of drinking water. Acquired as a new division, EHL provides chemical and microbiological analyses of drinking water for municipalities throughout the U.S. The company is accredited in 47 states and Puerto Rico, and has helped more than 7,000 public water supplies, both domestic and abroad, comply with the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). In addition, EHL provides similar services for environmental engineers, government agencies, water and beverage bottlers, industrial clients, and other laboratories.The acquisition of EHL adds analysis of drinking water samples in accordance with requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to UL's growing portfolio of environmental and public health certification programs. UL's current environmental and public health services include the testing and certification of food service equipment, drinking water system components, component materials and treatment additives. The acquisition allows EHL access to UL's global network of customers, laboratories, inspection centers and standards development expertise. UL plans to expand EHL's testing capabilities, continue to support research of contaminants that cannot readily be measured by current technology, and potentially develop a global standard for drinking water. Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that has evaluated products, materials and systems in the interest of public safety for more than 105 years. More than 17 billion UL Marks appear on products each year, and more than 18,000 types of products are tested at UL's five U.S. laboratories located in Northbrook, IL; Melville, NY; Santa Clara, Calif.; Research Triangle Park, NC; and Camas, Wash. Worldwide, the UL family of companies includes more than 190 inspection centers in 72 countries; an affiliate in Canada; and subsidiaries in Mexico, Brazil and countries throughout Europe and Asia.
