Allied Encyclopedia – What Does “Harmonized” Mean?

There are plenty of confusing terms in the wire and cable universe. With all the abbreviations and complicated verbiage (aromatic cable, does it smell good?), even seasoned veterans to the industry might not know what every single term means. That’s why we’re going to start a new series on the AWC blog, called “Allied Encyclopedia,” where we’ll investigate those illusive terms and flush out a good definition.

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Flip through any wire and cable catalog and you’re sure to come across cable that’s been given the title “Harmonized.” That sounds pretty, but what does it mean?

The quick answer to this question is that harmonized cables carry the HAR mark, which is a voluntary European mark that has a scope outside the European market. In general, harmonization is the process to bringing together two or more differing/opposing things and merging them together. Therefore, a harmonized standard is a compromised standard that encompasses the needs of each separate standard in one.