Peter Meijer (BICSI’s representative on CT-001) has issued a warning to all cablers of the risks associated with using cables containing copper clad aluminium (CCA) conductors.
“They do not meet Australian and New Zealand Standards requirements,” cautions Peter. “Cables containing CCA conductors masquerade as standards-compliant ‘Category 5e’ or ‘Category 6’ products - tempting users to specify them based on price and installers to use them.
“However, they do not comply with any recognised cable standard for International, North America, European or Australian and New Zealand communications cabling.
“More worryingly, from a contractual, and therefore potentially financial sense – when used in generic, structured cabling systems in accordance with the various premises-specific versions of ISO/IEC 11801 or AS/NZS 3080 standards – they may:
- fail basic transmission performance tests during commissioning acceptance tests;
- exhibit poor flexibility leading to failed connections during both installation and operation;
- produce higher than expected temperature rises when used to provide power using applications such as Power over Ethernet (PoE and PoEplus); and
- exhibit oxidation of exposed aluminium at points of connection which may reduce lifetime of those connections, particularly when they are subject to vibration or other movement.”