scope:

This Standard covers mechanical, electrical and flammability requirements for thermoplastic insulated and jacketed, copper conductor, individually unshielded twisted pair indoor cables, with or without an overall shield, intended primarily for use as horizontal cables, backbone cables, or patch cordage. Depending upon the application and system requirements, this Standard provides choices for materials, transmission characteristics and flammability ratings.

This Standard covers the minimum transmission performance requirements for the following three Categories of cable based on existing system requirements and projected application needs. Multi-pair cables, conforming to the generic designation, ARxM, are not covered by this specification. See instead, ICEA S-103-701.

Category 3: Intended for voice, text, data, video and image transmission with transmission characteristics specified for frequencies up to 16 MHz.

Category 5: Intended for voice, text, data, video and image transmission: i:

Category 5: transmission characteristics specified for frequencies up to 100 MHz. ii:

Category 5e: enhanced transmission characteristics specified for frequencies up to 100 MHz.

PURPOSE: This Standard establishes generic technical requirements that may be referenced by individual telecommunications cable specifications covering products intended for normal indoor premises use in the wiring systems of communications users. The parameters covered provide material, construction, and performance requirements.

Because this Standard does not cover all details of individual cable design, it cannot be used as a single document for procurement of product. This Standard is intended for use in conjunction with an individual product specification that provides complete design details for the specific cable type and designates the applicable performance requirements. Such individual cable specifications may be prepared either by the user or the manufacturer. The specification designated for procurement is at the option of the user.