UL 294

The Underwriters Laboratories' UL 294 is a safety standard that addresses the construction, performance, and operation of access control systems intended to regulate or control entry into and exit from secured areas. These systems can also restrict access to certain devices through electrical, electronic, or mechanical means. The standard is designed to ensure that these systems are constructed, perform, and operate effectively to secure sensitive or restricted areas. Many organizations will require products to be certified to exclude non-compliant systems from acquisition. This makes it an important standard for manufacturers to comply with.

The scope of UL 294 extends to systems that include functionalities such as reporting and recording entry and exit activities, although it does not evaluate the accuracy of such data. The standard categorizes security performance into four levels, from Level I (lowest, no encryption, no attack test) to Level IV (highest, AES 256, 5 minute attack test), providing guidelines according to the degree of security required.

Significantly, if an access control system includes features typical of a burglar alarm control unit, it must also comply with standards such as UL 1076 for Proprietary Burglar Alarm Units and Systems or UL 2610 for Commercial Premises Security Alarm Units and Systems.

The sixth edition, in 2013, introduced the needs to comply with UL 1076 and UL 636 when access control components are used for IDS and panic alarm, respectively.

The eighth edition of UL 294, published on May 24, 2023, introduces several updates and revisions including:

• Enhanced specifications for Power over Communication Cable Equipment and Remote Access.
• Updated requirements for Software/Firmware Upgrades.
• New standards for Egress Control Systems and Key Management Systems.
• Revised tests for power supply overload and endurance, as well as updates to the Destructive Attack Test.

These updates ensure that UL 294 stays current with technological advancements and changing security needs, ensuring that access control systems provide reliable and effective security solutions. The standard's current edition was designated as an American National Standard (ANSI) standard. Other standards, such as the IBC since 2012, reference and require compliance with UL 294 (as of 2024, either UL 294 or UL 1034) . The IBC references the UL standards for special locking arrangements, when egress requires the usage of special procedures, keys, or knowledge.