Tom Jenkins
Lifetime Supporting Member
I have to write this to keep my head from exploding.
We use UL-508 approved surge suppressors/noise filters on the 120 VAC feed to our panels. We have been using the same one for several years, and have passed UL-508 on many panels with this device.
The manufacturer was recently purchased by another company. UL has removed the particular part from their web site. We had a bunch of these things in stock.
Our mindless minion of a UL inspector has just refused to approve a panel because he can't find it on the web site. This is an identical component to one in a panel the same idiot approved last week! We have the paperwork on the item from previous trips to la-la land with this guy, and of course the stickers and labelling are on the product. However, use of logic is not in this guy's job description, and he is effectively insisting that we throw out our inventory and use a new device.
This same cretin made us jump through hoops for an Ethernet cable in the same panel. Never mind that the UL markings were on the jacket indicating it was an approved Ethernet cable, and the ports on both ends show Ethernet, and he approved the same thing last week. We had to get the voltage levels on the Ethernet signal and get information from the cable supplier to document that the insulation would handle the voltage.
UL is getting out of hand. Is there something we can do as "customers" of this "non-profit" organization to get them back into some semblance of reality? Form a union, write petitions, get NEMA involved, anything? I'm a firm believer in safety, but UL as an organization seems to contribute very little in enhanced safety and extracts a tremendous burden in dollars, time, and brainpower.
We use UL-508 approved surge suppressors/noise filters on the 120 VAC feed to our panels. We have been using the same one for several years, and have passed UL-508 on many panels with this device.
The manufacturer was recently purchased by another company. UL has removed the particular part from their web site. We had a bunch of these things in stock.
Our mindless minion of a UL inspector has just refused to approve a panel because he can't find it on the web site. This is an identical component to one in a panel the same idiot approved last week! We have the paperwork on the item from previous trips to la-la land with this guy, and of course the stickers and labelling are on the product. However, use of logic is not in this guy's job description, and he is effectively insisting that we throw out our inventory and use a new device.
This same cretin made us jump through hoops for an Ethernet cable in the same panel. Never mind that the UL markings were on the jacket indicating it was an approved Ethernet cable, and the ports on both ends show Ethernet, and he approved the same thing last week. We had to get the voltage levels on the Ethernet signal and get information from the cable supplier to document that the insulation would handle the voltage.
UL is getting out of hand. Is there something we can do as "customers" of this "non-profit" organization to get them back into some semblance of reality? Form a union, write petitions, get NEMA involved, anything? I'm a firm believer in safety, but UL as an organization seems to contribute very little in enhanced safety and extracts a tremendous burden in dollars, time, and brainpower.
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