If it was a 13A UK plug , you'd probably fit a 5A fuse.

Here it relies on the knowledge of the user/installer to select an appropriate gauge of cable. As noted most things with that kind of  inlet connector draw a lot less, and actually an even thinner cable would probably be OK electrically in many cases - mechanical strength becomes an issue. 

Note that cable rating is not a simple figure - 0.75mm2 copper  will be fine for 10A  as singles in free air (car makers consider wire of that size as rated  to 14 A), but as a 3 core flex in free space at 10A it will indeed run noticeably warm. Even at 6A, in an enclosed space running warm you could have trouble over time with the cores migrating through soft plastic if there are sharp bends.

  But even a 1.25mm2 cable will not handle 10A in the centre of a a tight bundle when surrounded by  several other fully loaded cables - so installers need to be aware that 'tidy' installation with cable ties holding many cables in bunches like so much rope, actually requires considerable de-rating.

.It is not clear to me that a 'ban' on 0.75mm2 cables would do much other than lead to an even greater  waste of the planets scarce resources. What probably is lacking in some areas is the educational information that allows installers/users to make that judgement as to what cable type and installation method should be used in any given case.

Mike.

I think the comment "it relies on the knowledge of the user/installer to select an appropriate gauge of cable" is probably where most of the issue lies. 

These cables, in an IT environment, are just thrown in a box to be used later and there could 0.75mmsq and 1mmsq all mixed together.   Most IT people (and perhaps installers?) would probably just use the first one they pick up, which might not be suitable.  I have actually seen this issue a few times in the past.

I think to me what is more concerning is that purchasing 'proper' 10A rated cords is becoming more difficult as price seems to be the driving factor.

I have also seen cables of this type which I believe were using cores containing aluminium - but that is a whole other discussion!

What it really boils down to is that I want to make sure what I do is safe and I try to use 10A cables everywhere. The problem occurs when later others use a 6A cable on a UPS output which could eventually cause a fire.  The first reaction would be to blame the "UPS installation"...

I have seen this before.  I normally order the cables from APC when I order/spec the UPS unit.  However on site I have seen all types of strange cable being used on the back of a UPS into servers and other kit.

A good way around this is to have one cable from the back of the UPS (correctly rated) into a 4/6/8/10/12/16 way PDU (Power Distribution Unit) then use the standard cable on the server into it.  However this is not always the best answer if the UPS has a network card which allows the ports on the rear to be power cycled. 

I have also seen cables of this type which I believe were using cores containing aluminium - but that is a whole other discussion!

Hopefully not aluminium in flex - aluminium is rather brittle, and unless coated with another metal tends to oxidise creating high resistance at joints. Tinned copper is still common (even though the original need - to protect the copper from sulphur in the rubber insulation - as mostly disappeared) - and can easily be mistaken for aluminium. Sometimes you see copper clad steel in some communication cables these days - which of course has much higher resistance for the same c.s.a. and is generally to be avoided.

   - Andy.

I have also seen cables of this type which I believe were using cores containing aluminium - but that is a whole other discussion!

Hopefully not aluminium in flex - aluminium is rather brittle, and unless coated with another metal tends to oxidise creating high resistance at joints. Tinned copper is still common (even though the original need - to protect the copper from sulphur in the rubber insulation - as mostly disappeared) - and can easily be mistaken for aluminium. Sometimes you see copper clad steel in some communication cables these days - which of course has much higher resistance for the same c.s.a. and is generally to be avoided.

   - Andy.