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Question:

What is the difference between ÖLFLEX® or UNITRONIC® cables certified as "UL AWM recognised" and those that are "UL-listed"?

Answer:

If the manufacturer of an electrical device, appliance or machine wishes to obtain an officially approved "UL listing" to release the relevant item as a series product or acquire a "field labelling" for a stand-alone machine or system, the US body tasked with the certification (the National Recognized Testing Laboratory or NRTL) must be provided with all construction-relevant documentation. The entire certification process will be significantly faster, simpler and cheaper if all cables and wires used in the product are already "UL-listed" or at least "UL-recognised". Any cables without UL certification must first be subjected to protracted testing in the UL laboratory. All machine exporters are therefore advised to employ UL-certified cables and wires as a matter of course.

UL AWM recognized cables with AWM style numbers, e.g. ÖLFLEX® 150 QUATTRO:
Appliance wiring material or better known as "AWM" comprises cables and wires intended solely for use in factory-wired electrical equipment, devices, appliances, control cabinets and industrial machinery as part of a "listed assembly". AWM is not intended for on-site or field wiring purposes. Cables and wires with UL AWM Style labelling must be used for the applications stipulated by the relevant style designation. The use of AWM-recognised cables and wires is restricted to the applications detailed in the corresponding style specification (www.ul.com). AWM styles are not part of the North American NEC (National Electrical Code).
Following the introduction of the 2007 edition of the NFPA 79 standard, the use of UL AWM recognised cables in industrial machinery and systems can be very problematic in terms of the machine certification, as the installation of AWM cables in this environment is only permitted under strict observance of specific conditions.

"UL-listed" cables, e.g. ÖLFLEX® CONTROL TM:
The intended use of cables and wires in this category is for fixed wiring in residential buildings as well as for commercial and industrial use. UL-listed cables and wires not only have to meet individual UL product standards, but must also comply with the relevant paragraphs of the National Electrical Code (NEC). The NEC contains detailed specifications relating to the correct usage of listed cables and wires. Such products can be used both for factory wiring of electrical equipment, devices, appliances and machines as well as for on-site or field wiring of industrial machinery and systems according to NFPA 79.