Structured cabling

What this route is for

Structured cabling covers the fixed network cabling inside a building or site: the runs between distribution points, patch areas and work areas. Buyers usually arrive here with a floor plan, a point count or a tender line rather than a finished cable specification. This route helps turn that into an enquiry the sourcing team can answer.

What usually decides the cable

• Category. Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6A are the twisted-pair families listed on this site. Which one a project needs depends on the network design and the installation standard the project follows; the published record for each item shows the values that are actually verified.
• Shielding. UTP (unshielded), FTP (foil-screened) and SFTP (braid and foil) describe the shield construction. The choice normally follows the electrical environment and the earthing design of the installation.
• Conductor. Copper and copper-clad aluminium (CCA) are listed as separate options on some records. They are not interchangeable in every installation; state which one the project allows.
• Length and packaging. Reel lengths and packaging options appear on each record where they are published.

What to send

A short description of the building or site, the number of runs or the total length, the category and shielding you expect, the destination, and any installation standard the project must follow. If a value is not decided yet, say so; the quotation can carry the open points.