The most obvious answer is because for most, a home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. For this reason alone it is important that you do not put anything electrical on your roof that has not been tested by a reputable independent third party for safety and compliance. After all, if a system has not been thoroughly tested, you have a much higher risk of losing your home to fire, etc.
One of the criteria UL requires is that a system is compliant with National Electrical Code (NEC) standards. Specifically, the NEC has a code addressing the application of heat cable on a roof structure. The NEC (Article 426.1 B) states: “The requirements of this article shall apply to electrically energized heating systems and the installation of these systems” that are “[e]xposed . . . on roofs and other structures.”
Today, HotEdge, Inc. is the first and only company to complete the rigorous process necessary to test and certify an entire roof edge ice melt panel system and earn the right to be UL Listed and a receive UL Certificate of Compliance! All other roof ice melt systems only use components which are UL Certified, however, only HotEdge manufactures a “system” where all the components used in the system have been tested to operate together. Again, a very important distinction!
And don’t forget, the ‘UL in a circle’ logo also gives installers, contractors, electricians, Architects, homeowners and building owner’s peace of mind. They know that the components have been tested as an entire system. One of the first things an inspector will look for is the UL Listed labeling. Inspectors also know they can rely on UL’s intensive testing regimen to confirm the roof edge ice melt system’s safe operation.
Knowing the importance of a UL Approval, it is important to check and determine if any system you are considering for your home or business has passed the safety and compliance testing. View the HotEdge roof edge ice melt system on the UL website. Without the direct link you can go to the UL website at www.ul.com under “Certifications”, search for “Hot Edge”. Alternatively, you can verify for yourself on the UL website whether another roof edge ice melt system you are considering is UL Listed. Under “Certifications”, search for “product brand”. PLEASE KNOW, a roof edge ice melt system is not UL Listed if it only lists heat cable and accessories! It must list the product that houses a UL Listed heat cable, i.e. HotShinglePRO! HotShinglePRO is a roof edge ice melt system that prevents ice dams and icicles from forming on all roof edge structures, new or existing.
