Power over Ethernet (PoE) Certification Gen 2 testing from Ethernet Alliance (EA) is now available in Taipei, Taiwan via the newly launched UL Solutions' organization's newly opened lab facility.
As stated in a press announcement, manufacturers of PoE devices can now pursue Gen 1 and Gen 2 certification via third-party testing at labs in both Asia and North America, or can have testing conducted at their own facilities, with Ethernet Alliance-approved equipment.
“At UL Solutions, we work to help make products safer, more secure and more sustainable, and Gen 2 PoE certification aligns with our mission of working for a safer world. UL Solutions is proud to leverage our expertise to help support continued acceptance of PoE products in the market and as a certification testing partner to the industry,” said Eric Bulington, director of product management in the Engineered Materials group at UL Solutions.
“Approval of UL Solutions as an additional third-party lab for Ethernet Alliance PoE Certification Program Gen 2 testing—in addition to its prior offering of Gen 1 testing—is especially good news for product-design teams working on PoE devices in the Asia-Pacific marketplace,” noted David Tremblay, Ethernet Alliance PoE Certification chair.
As stated by EA, IEEE 802.3 standards define efficient and robust methods of delivering electrical power with data via Ethernet cabling from power sourcing equipment (PSE), including Ethernet switches, to a range of endpoint applications including:
- Powered devices (PDs)
- Internet Protocol (IP) phones
- Security cameras
- Wireless access points
- ProAV speakers
- LED lighting
- Biometric access control readers
- Doorbells/entry systems
- Electricity/gas meters
- Point-of-sale (PoS) systems
- Swipe card readers
- Temperature sensors
Tremblay added, “The number and range of PoE-powered devices are mushrooming across healthcare, power and energy, retail, telecommunications, and other industries. Our program has emerged as the global industry’s go-to resource for certification testing that minimizes interoperability issues, fuels positive user experience and clears market confusion between IEEE 802.3 standards-based PoE and proprietary powering solutions. Now manufacturers have a range of options to have their products efficiently tested and certified.”
The Ethernet Alliance PoE Certification program was launched in 2017 and is rooted in test plans developed by many of the same individuals who helped write the IEEE 802.3 PoE standards, as noted by the consortium. Gen 1 certification testing is based on the IEEE 802.3af and IEEE 802.3at standards; Gen 2, on IEEE 802.3bt.
The program enables simple and clear identification of PSE and PDs that will dependably work together. A certified product registry is publicly available.
EA contends PoE Certification offers manufacturers a host differentiating benefits, including reductions in installation time and overall evaluation and ongoing development costs. Testing also provides improved customer support at a lower cost and enhanced customer perception of PoE.
The certification program has been accorded both the IEEE-SA Conformity Assessment Award and a Cabling Installation & Maintenance Platinum Innovators Award.
According to Dell’Oro Group's "4Q 2021 Ethernet Switch – Campus Report" as cited by EA, the PoE ports market segment recorded strong, double-digit growth and comprised 30% of total ports shipped in 2021.