I noticed the prices of rg-6 are cheaper when the wire is not "UL" listed. I was wondering what the difference is between UL listed, and not UL listed. Thanks.

As far as wire is concerned, an UL Listing ensures that the wire/insulation meets certain Flame Spread tests. This is important to meet code regulations, and indirectly insurance issues that may arise.

UL is a safety agency. Its Listing is by no means an indication of enhanced performance, but if a manufacture is not willing to spend the time, and money on the approval process -- chances are the wire/cable is of poor, or of inconsistent quality.

Maybe Julie could post a link to the online article discussing this in CEPro a year ago. If you have a hardcopy it was:June 2005 pages 74-79 entitled Taking the Heat.

If you install any equipment or cabling that is not listed by UL or by another recognized listing agency, the electrical inspector may not approve the job and, worse yet, if there were any future incident, like a fire, the insurance adjuster (and the attorney) could hold you liable.

This is from the 2002 NEC:
Article 110.3 (B) Installation and Use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.

My understanding that UL is so overwhelmed that some organizations just skip it. I believe ETL is also a listed alternative.

For example, I was looking at some makes of AXIS rg-6 quad shield cable. Some makes are UL listed, and some are not. The UL listed makes are more expensive. That would lead me to believe that they don't "skip" it, but rather, for some reason, don't have UL approval on certain makes. Who knows.

I would not run cable in a home that is not UL listed. The price difference can't be that great. And if it is, something else is wrong.
By "skipped" I was thinking of a couple of products where they just skipped it because it was a short term niche product that the cost and time of UL listing wasn't justified. Their words, not mine. It's not hard to design a basic compononet that isn't going to catch on fire or some other nightmare.

Generally speaking I only run Belden cable. I've been using proflex speaker wire and I assume it's UL listed. However I also have been told by people in the business that the UL sticker on a lot of the super cheap imported stuff is a fake sticker anyway. That's really the smartest way to go. I doubt the penalty is particulary high for faking a UL sticker.

Let's not forget, it's just just UL listed...you also need to make sure it's CL-2 or CL-3 (or Plenum-rated where appropriate) if it's gonna go in a wall/ceiling/attic.

Woe be the installer who doesn't care enough about his clients to use the proper cable to save $.02 a foot.....simply pitiful.

Just my $.02 worth

Fred Forlano
Higher Definition

Fred Forlano makes a really good point, that you shouldn't forget, regarding Class 2 & 3 and plenum/riser listings.


Here is a list of all of the currently accepted listing agencies:

[Link: fantes.com]