UL 1981 PDF

1 Scope

1.1 These requirements cover the design, manufacture, implementation, and support of automation system units and accessories intended to be used in central-stations and proprietary stations for the reception, processing, dispatch, responses, and record keeping of property protection and life safety signals. Automated monitoring systems are a combination of computerized automation software and subsystems, including LAN/WAN network communications under control of the central-station. The monitoring system units and accessories and subsystems provide all the monitoring, control, communications audible indications and visual display functions of the system and shall meet all applicable requirements as specified by this Standard.

1.2 These requirements also cover special considerations for proprietary and national industrial security system application software.

1.3 These requirements do not cover hardware receiver units that are evaluated under separate equipment standards such as the Standard for Proprietary Burglar Alarm Units and Systems, UL 1076, the Standard for Central-Station Burglar Alarm Units, UL 1610, the Standard for Control Units and Accessories for Fire Alarm Systems, UL 864, and the Standard for Digital Alarm Communicator System Units, UL 1635.

1.4 These requirements do not cover the building needed to house the automation system, the staffing requirements, the power system(s), wiring expectations, spare parts, support policies, the specifics required by the Monitoring Equivalent Weight (MEW) factor, and any other requirement that falls outside the specifics of this automation standard. This information can be found within the latest edition of Standard for Central-Station Alarm Services, UL 827.

Summary of Topics

This revision of ANSI/UL 1981 dated March 29, 2023 includes Operator Duress Signal; 5.37A and 6.3.9.