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 125 MHz.

Note: Category 4 requirements have been excluded from this Standard due to the Telecommunication Industry's minimal use of this product.