Subject 1278

May 14, 2014

SUMMARY OF TOPICS

The following changes in requirements to the Standard for Movable and Wall- or Ceiling-Hung
Electric Room Heaters, UL 1278, are being proposed for preliminary review and comment only:

1. For Preliminary Review Only: Requirements for Smart Enabled Movable and Wall-or
Ceiling Hung Electric Room Heaters

COMMENTS DUE: June 13, 2014

This proposal is for review and comment only (no ballot at this time). Please note that comments on a
preliminary review document will not receive a response from the proposal author through CSDS.
Instead, the proposal author will be asked to review the comments and adjust the proposals and/or
supporting rationale as the author determines to be appropriate. The preliminary review process is an
informal mechanism that provides authors with the opportunity to refine their proposals before they
advance to the next stage in UL’s standards development process.

In some cases, the author of the proposals may choose to discontinue them. In this case, the author
need not do anything after preliminary review has ended. Normally, the next step in the process is the
more formal STP ballot and stakeholder review process. Only comments posted during the STP ballot
and stakeholder review process will be provided with a response in CSDS.

UL’s goal is to have no interest category comprise more than one-third of the STP membership
balance. To improve the current balance for STP 1042, UL is looking for participants in all interest
categories except Producer and General Interest. Definitions for these interest categories are available
on the Standards STP Internet site:

http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/solutions/standards/developstandards/participation/
interestcategories/

If you are interested in applying for STP 1042 membership or are aware of potential candidates for this
STP, please contact the STP Project Manager, Mitchell.Gold@ul.com.

For your convenience in review, proposed additions to existing requirements are shown underlined and
proposed deletions are shown lined-out.

1. For Preliminary Review Only: Requirements for Smart Enabled Movable and Wall-or Ceiling
Hung Electric Room Heaters

RATIONALE

Proposal submitted by: Joel Hawk, UL LLC

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The marketplace has recently experienced increasing demand for technologies that manage the
operation, power consumption, and monitoring of appliances. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
was charged under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007) with modernizing
the electricity grid to improve its reliability and efficiency. The term ″smart grid″ refers to the
modernization of the electricity grid. EISA 2007 required integration of Smart Appliances that can
interact with the Smart Grid. The term ″Smart Appliance″ refers to a modernization of the electricity
usage system of a home appliance so that it monitors, protects, and automatically adjusts its operation
to the needs of its owner.

In the small appliance industry, ″smart appliances″ are not expected to be as prevalent as in the large
appliance industry. However, other technologies that allow remote operation, monitoring, adjustment,
and/or control of appliances, such as cell phone applications, are expected to occupy a significant
market niche. These technologies involve similar hazard mitigation, and as such, both are considered
by these requirements.

These requirements are intended to provide consumers with increased functionality of heating
appliances while reducing reliance on continuous unattended operation and the use of general purpose
accessories intended for remote operation.

UL 1278 does not presently prohibit the use of timers on the product which provide the ability to initiate
unattended operations. Smart and remote enabled functions are similar in nature with the added benefit
of remote appliance monitoring and adjustments (e.g. remote shutoff).

In addition to a general preliminary technical review of the full proposal, comments are requested as to
whether:

1) Certain product types, communication technologies, and functions should be excluded (see
SF1.8 - SF1.11), and

2) Unattended remote activation functions should have temperature and/or power limitations.

This input among any other concerns will be considered for items to be covered or not covered within
the scope of the supplement.

PROPOSAL
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SUPPLEMENT SF - MOVABLE AND WALL- OR CEILING HUNG ELECTRIC ROOM HEATERS

SF1 Scope

SF1.1 These requirements apply to electric moveable heaters intended to receive and respond to
communication signals or data relating to power billing rate or demand response or communication signals
from a remote user interface, such as a smart phone or computer. The smart enabled control response
may include, but is not limited to, monitored operation, remote stop of a heating function, remote start,
adjustment of temperature setting, mode of operation, or remote adjusted timer.

SF1.2 Appliances covered by SF1.1 are commonly identified as ″smart″ appliances or ″smart enabled″
and are intended to interact with the ″Smart Grid,″ as described by the US Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007, or other communication networks not identified as ″Smart Grid.″

SF1.3 These requirements contemplate ″smart enabled″ technology as described by the U. S. Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 that is integral with the appliance or incorporated as an accessory
(wired to the appliance or wireless with a corresponding appliance receiver) on the appliance or in the
same occupancy as the appliance.

SF1.4 These requirements supplement those specified in this Standard.

SF1.5 These requirements encompass accessory devices to which multiple appliances may
communicate and be smart enabled by providing direction for investigation of such devices in addition to
the requirements of standards generally applicable to those devices.

SF1.6 These requirements do not address the integrity of any output signal or data to the network devices
or interoperability with other devices.

SF1.7 These requirements do not apply to communication network devices that control appliances via
general purpose power ON/OFF, building wiring devices, panelboard mounted devices, or utility meters.

SF1.8 Other than monitoring functions, these requirements do not cover the smart enabled or remote
operation of an appliance with a heating element of the following constructions:

a) Visibly glowing open coil,

b) Quartz-halogen tube, or

c) Infrared radiant.

SF1.9 These requirements apply to wired or wireless remote commands from the user by way of:

a) Controls only capable of communicating within line-of-sight of the appliance (e.g. infrared
wireless);

b) Short range controls only capable of communicating within proximity or same occupancy of
the appliance but not necessarily within line-of-sight (e.g. short-wave radio frequency); or

c) Long range telecommunication controls without proximity limits (e.g. WiFi, local area
networks, wide area networks).
SUBJECT 1278 -4- MAY 14, 2014

SF1.10 These requirements include, but are not limited to, the following remote initiated functions:

a) Monitored status (e.g. ON/OFF, temperature, timer, etc.);

b) Heating ON;

c) Thermostat adjustment temperature decrease;

d) Thermostat adjustment temperature increase;

e) Cancel timer heating ON;

f) Extended delay timer heating ON;

g) Cancel timer heating OFF;

h) Extended delay timer heating OFF; and

i) Heating OFF.

SF1.11 These requirements do not cover separable general use control accessories that transmit power
from the branch supply to the appliance, such as wall plug assemblies with controls or receivers.

CONSTRUCTION

SF2 General

SF2.1 Controls

SF2.1.1 Controls that respond to external communication signals or data shall comply with the
construction and performance requirements of the Standard for Automatic Controls for Household and
Similar Use, Part 1: General Requirements, UL 60730-1, and tested as an operating (regulating) control
utilizing the parameters specified in Table SF2.1. If the control also incorporates protective (limiting)
functions, these control functions shall be evaluated to the requirements for protective controls.

SF2.1.2 With respect to SF2.1.1, the requirement is not applicable to controls located in low voltage
circuits where the maximum power available does not exceed 15 W. This does not exempt the control
from investigation for compliance with SF3.1.

SF2.1.3 With respect to SF2.1.1, compliance with the Standard for Solid-State Controls for Appliances,
UL 244A, taking into account criteria comparable to that specified in Table SF2.1 is considered to fulfill
this requirement.

SF2.1.4 With respect to SF2.1.1, a communication device that is not integral with the appliance control
(e.g. on a separate printed wiring board) and complying with the Standard for Information Technology
Equipment Safety - Part 1: General Requirements, UL 60950-1, is considered to fulfill this requirement.
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SF2.1.5 For the purposes of application of the Standard for Automatic Controls for Household and Similar
Use, Part 1: General Requirements, UL 60730-1, EMC emissions testing of H23 is not applicable to
controls, which are integral with the appliance or incorporated as an accessory (wired or wireless) on the
appliance or in the same occupancy as the appliance.

Table SF2.1
Operating Control Parameters

Information Operating Control Requirement

Operating Ambient Determined via Heating Test, Section 39
Endurance Testing for power switching devices See Section 42
Overvoltage Category Overvoltage Category II
Pollution Degree See Note
Note - The internal microenvironment of the enclosure shall be considered Pollution Degree 2 (that is, an environment that
normally has only nonconductive pollution, or a temporary conductivity resulting from condensation) as specified in the Standard
for the Standard for Insulation Coordination Including Clearances and Creepage Distances for Electrical Equipment, UL 840.
Pollution Degree 1 is permitted at a creepage distance by encapsulation or hermetic sealing. For printed wiring boards, coatings
may be used that satisfy the performance criteria specified in UL 840.

SF2.1.6 With respect to the Endurance Testing indicated in Table SF1, the control shall remain
operational and comply with the Electric Strength Test of the Standard for Automatic Controls for
Household and Similar Use, Part 1: General Requirements, UL 60730-1, Section 13.2.

SF2.1.7 When the control enclosure forms part of the overall appliance enclosure, the enclosure material
shall have a flammability rating in accordance with 12.1.

SF2.2 Separation of circuits

SF2.2.1 The separation of communication circuits from power and control circuits shall be evaluated for
risk of electric shock in accordance with Section 18.4.

SF2.2.2 With respect to SF2.2.1, compliance with the separation of circuits requirements of the Standard
for:

a) Automatic Controls for Household and Similar Use, Part 1: General Requirements, UL
60730-1, or

b) Information Technology Equipment Safety - Part 1: General Requirements, UL 60950-1 is

considered to fulfill this requirement.
SUBJECT 1278 -6- MAY 14, 2014

SF2.3 Communication and display devices

SF2.3.1 An external communication or display device, such as a router or monitor, provided as an

accessory for use with the appliance, shall comply with the Standard for Information Technology
Equipment Safety - Part 1: General Requirements, UL 60950-1.

SF2.3.2 The power supply cord of an external communication or display device shall comply with this
Standard or the Standard for Information Technology Equipment Safety - Part 1: General Requirements,
UL 60950-1, except Types NISP-2, NISPE-2, NISPT-2 are not permitted.

SF2.3.3 With respect to SF2.3.2, the requirement is not applicable to external communication or display
devices powered via connection to communication or data ports on the appliance which are located in low
voltage circuits. See SF2.4.

SF2.3.4 If the external communication or display device is grounded via bonding with the appliance
enclosure, the bonding requirements of this Standard shall be applied.

SF2.3.5 Grounding connections for external communication or display devices shall be made before
power connections and shall disconnect only after power connections are disconnected (″make first, break
last″).

SF2.3.6 Functional grounding shall not be relied upon for equipment grounding or bonding. Functional
grounding is grounding of a point in an appliance or in a system, which is necessary for a purpose other
than safety.

SF2.3.7 When power is supplied to an external communication or display device by an interconnecting

supply cord, it shall comply with 16.4 – 16.5 of this Standard and be supplied with a bushing(s) and strain
relief as described in 16.11 – 16.13, and 16.20 – 16.22.

SF2.4 Communication conductors and cables

SF2.4.1 External communication conductors and cables shall comply with the Standard for Information
Technology Equipment Safety - Part 1: General Requirements, UL 60950-1.

SF2.4.2 Communication conductors and cables within the appliance shall be evaluated as internal wiring
in accordance with this appliance standard.
SUBJECT 1278 -7- MAY 14, 2014

SF2.5 Communication connectors

SF2.5.1 Communication connectors and data ports accessible to the user and service personnel shall
comply with the Standard for Information Technology Equipment Safety - Part 1: General Requirements,
UL 60950-1. Otherwise, communication connectors and data ports shall be evaluated in accordance with
this Standard.

SF2.5.2 With the exception of communication-on-power-line technology, an appliance plug, flatiron plug,
jumbo appliance plug, motor attachment plug or other conventional power cord connectors, such as
NEMA or IEC standardized configurations, shall not be used for communication circuit connections.

SF2.6 Smart enabled or remote operation

SF2.6.1 Any functionality enabled in response to external communication or data signals shall be
considered when determining the normal and abnormal conditions of the appliance.

SF2.6.2 The appliance shall include a means for the consumer to override any smart enabled or remote
operation commands.

Exception No. 1: Not applicable to a control only capable of communicating to the appliance within
line-of-sight.

Exception No. 2: Not applicable to appliances with remote functions limited to monitoring only.

SF2.6.3 A control on the appliance shall require manual adjusted setting before the appliance can be
operated in a smart enabled or remote operation mode. Examples for initiating this setting include, but are
not limited to, pressing a button, pressing and holding a button, activating a switch or latch, set-up and
connection to a local WiFi network, etc. Once a smart or remote operation mode is enabled, it may remain
in this state until mode of operation is manually disabled by a control on the appliance. See SF3.3.

Exception No. 1: Not applicable to a control only capable of communicating to the appliance within
line-of-sight.

Exception No. 2: Not applicable to appliances with remote functions limited to monitoring only.

SF3 Functional Safety

SF3.1 Controls actuated in response to external communication or data signals shall not introduce a
hazardous operating condition or a state that may lead to a hazardous operating condition beyond that
which exists through manual controls and operating conditions.

SF3.2 With respect to SF3.1, the control shall not:

a) Render inoperative any protective control or protective control function within the appliance;

b) Alter the response to or expected performance of user actuation of controls, movement of

doors, covers or lids or contact with external and functional surfaces of the appliance resulting
in exposure of hazardous electrical, moving, or hot parts;

c) Alter the order of appliance control response (e.g. force a protective control to operate where
normally another control would respond reset any protective manual reset temperature control
or shutoff feature);
SUBJECT 1278 -8- MAY 14, 2014

d) Supersede the response of any protective (limiting) control; or

e) Permit a timer function initiated remotely. Timer functions must be manually initiated at the
appliance, and the appliance must be scheduled to turn ON within 24 hours after initiating the
timer function. Remote adjustability of the turn ON timer is permitted during the 24 hour period
provided the timer function does not exceed 24 hours from the time of initiation at the
appliance.

Exception: Item (e) is not applicable to a control only capable of communicating to the appliance
within line-of-sight.

SF3.3 Compliance with SF2.6.3 and SF3.1 shall be determined using methods appropriate for
determining the performance and reliability of protective control functions in accordance with Section 28.

SF3.4 With respect to SF3.3, the performance and reliability evaluation is not required if it is obvious from
examination of circuit diagram(s) that the control operates wholly independent of the appliance protective
control(s) and therefore is incapable of adversely affecting their operation.

SF4 Resistance to Electro Magnetic Phenomena (Immunity)

SF4.1 The appliance protective (limiting) control functions shall remain operable when subjected to
conducted or radiated emissions from integral communication circuitry of the smart enabled control or any
accessory thereof.

SF4.2 Compliance with SF4.1 is determined using the communication circuit source(s) adjusted to its
maximum factory setting(s) in addition to any intermediate settings that are determined to present a risk
to the acceptable operation of the protective control function. The protective (limiting) control function shall
be tested in accordance with H.26.4 - H26.14 of the Standard for Automatic Controls for Household and
Similar Use, Part 1: General Requirements, UL 60730-1, as appropriate.

SF4.3 With respect to SF4.2, if it is determined that the source within the appliance or its accessory(ies)
produces emissions addressed by the standard test conditions of H.26 of the Standard for Automatic
Controls for Household and Similar Use, Part 1: General Requirements, UL 60730-1, it is not necessary
to repeat the tests.

SF5 Markings and Instructions

SF5.1 Accessory devices shall be marked with the manufacturer’s name (or symbol), a part or catalog
number, and electrical ratings. Literature packaged with the accessory shall identify the appliance(s) for
which it is intended to be used. Additional literature or markings shall be required, as applicable, when the
Standard for Automatic Controls for Household and Similar Use, Part 1: General Requirements, UL
60730-1 and / or the Standard for Information Technology Equipment Safety - Part 1: General
Requirements, UL 60950-1requirements are applied.

SF5.2 With respect to SF5.1, battery operated devices may be marked with information identifying the
appropriate battery(ies) in lieu of electrical ratings.
SUBJECT 1278 -9- MAY 14, 2014

SF5.3 All electrical and communication cable connections shall be identified for their purpose.

SF5.4 Literature packaged with the appliance shall identify the intended accessory device(s). A specific
part or catalog number is not required if the manufacturer identifies a ″family″ of devices and limits the
identification of devices within that family to those which are investigated in combination with the
appliance.

SF5.5 With respect to SF5.3, accessories not affecting compliance of the appliance with SF3 need not
be identified.

SF5.6 The manual means of actuating delayed or remote operation of the appliance shall be clearly
indicated via marking adjacent to the user actuator. See SF2.6.3.

SF5.7 User instructions provided with the appliance shall identify accessories, their method of
connection, operation and any precautions to be taken in their use. The means to enable delayed or
remote operation shall be identified, including an illustration depicting the location of the actuating means
with information on how to enable or disable the function.

Copyright © 2014 Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

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