UL Introduces Product Sustainability Information Tool

MARIETTA, Ga. – UL recently introduced SPOT, a web-based product sustainability information tool that will facilitate the selection of credible green products and enable the design community to apply that information into the building information modeling workflow. Featuring more than 40,000 products, SPOT database will be a first of its kind tool for architects, designers and specifiers to identify products by sustainable attributes, MasterFormat product codes and building rating system credits such as LEED v4 and the WELL Building Standard. To enhance the mobile experience, UL’s SPOT app is available from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Additionally, UL is developing an add-in which will enable AutoDesk Revit users to access product data from SPOT and assign it directly to their project. This will provide unprecedented visibility into trusted green product information, enabling greater accuracy in green building reporting and certification to regional, national and international building standards.

SPOT database goes beyond traditional green certification data to include a comprehensive view of a product’s attributes through expanded product listings. The expanded listings will also include safety data, such as fire ratings and, for furniture, performance certifications and claim verifications. This data will be curated and managed by UL to give users confidence that the data is from reliable, credible sources.

“SPOT seeks to be the solution for two major challenges facing the building industry— the time required to find necessary product data in multiple locations, and help ensure that the information they find is accurate and can be trusted,” said Carlos Correia, president, UL Supply Chain & Sustainability. “We developed a comprehensive search tool that combines multiple product attributes to streamline the selection process for architects and designers, and will transform the way certification data is transferred into BIM project designs.”

SPOT database is powered by UL, a safety science company and developer of globally recognized sustainability standards with a 120+ year history. In 2016, UL acquired Green Wizard, a product selection platform dedicated to enabling architects, engineers and contractors to identify greener products for their projects. SPOT database will build upon that legacy by linking design applications with product information in the database.

To learn more, visit ul.com/spot.