Appliance wiring material

Unlike most wire categories, appliance wiring material (AWM) is a recognized component. This means that AWM is used in UL Listed or Classified end products. AWM wires are intended as factory-installed or factory-provided components of complete equipment submitted for investigation, rather than for direct separate installation in the field. The final acceptance of the component depends on its installation and use in or with complete equipment submitted to UL.

Many different constructions of wires and cables make up the AWM category, including single- and multi-conductor constructions of a wide range of conductor sizes, insulation and jacket materials and uses.

Each construction of wire is given a style number, with a corresponding style page, used to describe the construction. The style page includes temperature and voltage ratings, conductor size and material, insulation material and thickness, jacket material and thickness (if provided), shields or coverings, and the UL reference Standard used to evaluate the wire.

The basic standard used to evaluate AWM is UL 758, the Standard for Safety of Appliance Wiring Material. You may purchase this standard from Comm 2000.

For additional information about the AWM category, check out the AWM marking requirements or read our FAQs on UL 758 and more generally, wire and cable.

You can also view style pages and current listings online.