UL issues unauthorized-reference alert

Test lab says Cat 5e cable from Vertical Cable does not comply with safety standard for the U.S. or Canada.

July 27, 2010

Content Dam Etc Medialib Platform 7 Cablinginstall Articles Online Exclusive Articles 2010 Images Ul Unauthorized Reference Vertical Cable 1 37558

Underwriters Laboratories has issued an alert concerning an unauthorized reference to the testing lab by a cable manufacturer. In the alert, UL says that cable bearing the Vertical Cable brand name and identified as Category 5e unshielded twisted-pair cable, references UL and is unauthorized to do so. "This cable does not comply with the standard for safety for the United States and Canada, and is not authorized to bear the UL Mark or reference UL," the company said.

Vertical Cable did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The fact that UL issued this alert does not necessarily mean the cable in question is counterfeit.

According to UL, the cable jacket displays the following description:
"VERTICAL CABLE UL C(UL) 4PR 24AWG CMP FT6 - ETL VERIFIED TO TIA/EIA-568-B.2 CAT 5E 350 MHZ VID:H1 RoHS COMPLIANT 0992FT" The image at the top of this page was supplied by UL and is a photo of the cable jacket with that description on it.

The photo at the bottom of this page was also supplied by UL.

UL's complete statement, with an additional product photo, can be seen here.

See related story: UL speaks out on counterfeiting