Cat 6 cable specification for domestic house. Do IEE Wiring Regs apply?

Question

I am completely re-wiring by house and taking the opportunity to install an Ethernet network with Cat6 cable. Is such wiring covered by IEE Wiring Regs? Can anyone suggest a specification for such cable? For example do I need CMP (plenum rated cables) for use in soffits, CMR rated cable when going between floors, or can I just use general purpose CM rated Low Smoke Zero Halogen cables throughout?&rdquo; It would be useful to distinguish between legal requirement, best practice, common use

gkenyon · Accepted Answer

broadgage said: Data cables are not normally considered to fall within the IET regulations. 
 Yes, definitely part of BS 7671 ... but you also need to comply with BS 6701 and its attendant standards, particularly BS EN 50174 series, as referenced by BS 7671. 
 broadgage said: So far as I knw, LSZH are not required domestically, but are often used in offices etc, and are therefore widely sold at low prices. 
 BS 6701 has more onerous requirements for fire performance of telecomms/ICT cables, than the general case in BS 7671: 
 
 Fixed installation cables should meet at least EuroClass C ca ‑ s1b,d2,a2, in accordance with BS EN 13501 ‑ 6. 
 Patch cables (and similar) should meed at least either EuroClass E ca , in accordance with BS EN 13501 ‑ 6 , or BS EN 60332 ‑ 1 ‑ 2

Simon Barker · Answer

The legal requirement is to meet all the Building Regulations. So provided you can get a building inspecter to sign off the work, then it's up to you how much of BS7671 to follow.

gkenyon · Answer

wpqs said: that bundles of cables should not mix Band 1 and Band 2 cables and each should be separated in cable trunking (shelves) by 10cm, or put into separate compartments 
 BS 7671 says they may be run together if insulated for the highest voltage present. However, agree separation is better all-round. 
 BUT 
 BS 6701 currently requires at least 50 mm physical separation between indoor telecomms cables and power cables, even if metallic armour, screen or metal containment is used. (For some reason there is no such provision for outdoor cables.) 
 Of course broadgage 's recommendation of 10 cm meets this requirement.

AJJewsbury · Answer

A reasonable definition of 'premises' is a house or building, together with its land and outbuildings, occupied by a business. 
 
 I'd suggest that might be a good definition of business premises - in normal UK usage "premises" alone is often applied to domestic as well as commercial property (in the sense of including the whole curtilage, not just the main building(s)). 
 
 and band 2 circuits (220V AC lighting and power) 
 
 The norm in the UK is 230V rather than 220V (and has been since it changed from 240V). 
 
 Using armored cable for three phase and any external underground power/lighting 
 
 There's no real difference in requirements for 3-phase vs single phase - they're both 230V to Earth after all. A 3-phase version of T&E (triple & earth) is readily available and perfectly suitable for indoor use on 3-phase systems (even if in practice it's rarely used for anything other than 2-way switching on single phase lighting circuits). 
 - Andy.

AJJewsbury · Answer

I think BS 7671 does have some coverage - in conjunction with other standards (perhaps BS EN 50174). While many aspects of BS 7671 wouldn't be relevant some general requirements would still apply - e.g. the requirement for cable supports not to prematurely collapse in the event of fire for one. 
 - Andy.

Cat 6 cable specification for domestic house. Do IEE Wiring Regs apply?

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Community Rules & Guidelines