ECN Forum Forums Safety Discussion and News Safety News and Product Recalls Recall of 25- and 50-Pair Plenum Network Cables

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following product.

Name of Product: These network communication cables are used to connect computer and electronic equipment, typically in data centers. These are 25- and 50-pair, category 5 and 5e, CMP cables.

Units Sold: About 1.7 million feet.

Manufacturer: Hitachi Cable Manchester (HCM), Inc. of Manchester, N.H.

Hazard: The recalled cables do not meet the fire resistance standards for cable used in plenum applications. Plenum is the space typically used for air circulation in heating and air conditioning systems. If the cables were exposed to a fire source, smoke or fire could spread more quickly than permitted by the standard for this type of cable. This recall is only for certain CMP cables used in plenum (air duct) applications. CMP cables used in riser (non-plenum) applications are not included in this recall.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled cables typically were installed in data centers and other commercial applications. The part numbers for the recalled cables are 39419-50 (25-pair, category 5e); 30171-100 (50-pair, category 5e); and 30105-50 (25-pair, category 5). Only HCM brand cables with the following lot numbers are affected by this recall: AE589 and A4309 through A5551. The part number and lot number are printed on the jacket of the cables.

Sold At: Authorized electrical or data communication distributors from about June 2003 through December 2004.

Manufactured in: Manchester, N.H.

Remedy: Cables installed in a plenum application will be removed and replaced. Users should contact HCM to coordinate this work among HCM, the property owner and an installer. Because these products were constructed in compliance with HCM’s new listing with UL for CMR (riser) cables, they may remain in place if they have already been installed in riser applications. HCM is directly notifying known purchasers about this recall. The 25-pair version of the recalled cable also was manufactured by HCM under a private label arrangement for Superior Essex Inc. Superior Essex has already contacted all affected customers who purchased this cable.

Contact: Contact HCM toll-free at (800) 772-0116, Ext. 229, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.