October 2, 2018
This bulletin announces two new certification service offerings for the Wire and Cable industry. These offerings consist of (1) the evaluation of the individual components in a cable to the RoHS Directive requirements, and (2) the optional use of “-RoHS” in the surface printing of the wire and cable when the cable components have been evaluated and determined to comply with the appropriate requirements.
The testing for this optional marking is based on the following EU Directives:
- DIRECTIVE 2011/65/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (recast).
- DIRECTIVE (EU) 2015/863 of 31 March 2015
Restricted Substances Compound and Component Material Recognition
Compounds and components used in cables Marked “-RoHS” are evaluated for the presence of restricted substances under UL’s Certification categories TEPZ2 for both polymeric materials and for metallic components.
These program requirements cover tests and evaluation for the assessment of Restricted Substances for individual polymeric and metallic compounds/components used in wire and cable constructions.
These requirements do not cover assessment of combined compounds & components of a cable construction. The overall construction of the cable is also evaluated to the applicable UL Safety
Standard for the cable type.
Restricted Substances "-RoHS" Wire & Cable Suffix
UL Certified ( Listed and Recognized) wires and cables are eligible to bear the optional "-RoHS" suffix in the surface print following the product name when it has been determined that all of the compounds and components used in the construction of the cable, i.e. conductors, insulation, fillers, jackets, armor, tapes, color concentrates, etc., meet the appropriate requirements for RoHS compliance in accordance with the Outline for Restricted Use Substances in Polymeric Materials, UL 746R and the Outline for Restricted Use Substances in Metallic Components, UL 1368.
The construction of these cables will be specifically described in your Follow-Up Services Procedure and the materials will be verified by the UL Field Engineer.
The compounds may be additionally covered under "Polymeric Materials for Use in Wire, Cable and Flexible Lighting Products, QMTT2, Polymeric Materials for Use in Appliance Wiring Material", QMTN2, Acid Gas, Acidity and Conductivity of Combusted Materials and Assessment of Halogens – Component, AATJ2 or “Plenum Cable Compounds", QMTM2.
If you are interested in using the "-RoHS" suffix but the materials used are not covered under the above referenced programs, you can request your compound/component supplier to obtain UL Recognition under the above categories as applicable, or you may request to have the materials used in your cables evaluated in accordance with the requirements of the program.
If you are interested in submitting your cables or have any questions regarding this bulletin, please feel free to contact your local UL Representative.