Updates to UL 827 Standard

29 Jul 2025

Revision Reinstates Key Compliance Requirements for Central Stations

The ANSI/UL 827 standard, which governs central-station alarm services, received a critical revision on May 14, 2025, superseding a prior update issued just two days earlier. This latest version reinstates several key sections that were unintentionally omitted in the May 12 release, including changes that have direct implications for listed central stations and those currently pursuing UL 827 certification.

Among the most significant updates is the restoration of Sections 37 through 39, which outline requirements for Permanent Work from Home arrangements. These provisions clarify expectations for monitoring personnel who perform their duties offsite on a permanent basis, an increasingly common operational model. Their temporary removal on May 12 created uncertainty, which the May 14 revision now resolves.

Additional updates include:

• Expanded Definition of “Operator”: The standard now explicitly includes Contracted Central-Station Operators, providing greater clarity around third-party monitoring personnel and outsourced operations.
• New Requirement for Training Record Retention: Central stations are now required to maintain documentation of operator training, reinforcing the need for traceable proof of ongoing staff competency.
• Removal of Annex F (Informative): This annex, along with all references to it, has been permanently eliminated, simplifying the document and removing outdated content.
• Editorial Improvements: Various formatting and editorial adjustments have been made to improve readability and correct minor inconsistencies.

These changes reflect continued efforts to align the standard with modern monitoring practices while ensuring operational clarity and accountability.

At Intertek, we understand that updates to standards like UL 827 can directly affect your compliance strategies, workforce documentation, and internal procedures. The reinstatement of work-from-home protocols and the addition of training record requirements are especially important for today’s hybrid and distributed monitoring environments.

Our Life Safety & Security team is here to help you navigate these revisions, from conducting gap analyses and reviewing policy updates to supporting documentation and certification needs. Whether you're already UL 827 listed or preparing for assessment, Intertek is your partner in ensuring smooth, uninterrupted compliance.