Installing Network Cabling

[businessowner350]

In the UK, do you need an electrician's license to install Network Cabling in an office building? What about telephone cabling?

Thanks

 

[Atilla]

In the UK, do you need an electrician's license to install Network Cabling in an office building? What about telephone cabling?

Thanks

No.

But you do still need to know what you are doing.

 

[saxondale]

No.

But you do still need to know what you are doing.

in theory .......

 

[businessowner350]

But you do still need to know what you are doing.

Can you please elaborate? I've got business insurance which does cover network cabling, and I know how to wire up network sockets etc..

 

[businessowner350]

Also, I'm in Northern Ireland. Does this change things?

 

[st99015207]

In the UK, do you need an electrician's license to install Network Cabling in an office building? What about telephone cabling?

Thanks

I dont think that the installation of data cabling is covered by any statutory regulations. As somebody else says though, you should be able to demonstrate that you are 'competent' (ie. qualified to carry out the job). This could be a training course, or just relevant experience.
You should check your insurance as they normally require that anybody undertaking installation work (under their cover) should be competent for the task. In this instance, it may be worth asking them what they expect.

I would imagine that the same rules apply in NI, as you are in the United Kingdom.

 

[RBS]

In the UK, do you need an electrician's license to install Network Cabling in an office building? What about telephone cabling?

Thanks

You dont. But you need to stick to best practices of doing that.

 

[businessowner350]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the comments. I sent an email to my local building control office. The guy replies with this:

this [network cabling] is outside the requirements of Building Regulations only. I am sure that there are other service requirements regarding the design and installation of the above services

Do you think he is refering to just Health and Safety and best practice issues?

BTW, as I've just found out, Northern Ireland doesn't have a "Part B" equivlent (i.e. the regulation that says that you must get building control to check electrical cabling, or get a registered electrician to do the work)

 

[Atilla]

Like any task you are/may do for a living, knowing what you are doing helps - especially if you want to turn a profit.

How much experience have got regarding pulling cables (of any type)?

 

[saxondale]

NI will have a part P equivalent .............. in that you have regs to comply with.

cable segragation springs to mind

 

[businessowner350]

I have enough experience to wire a computer network ok. I'm just concerned about the legalities of it all.

Network cabling doesn't pose the same risks as electrical (power) cabling - much simplier in that respect.

Regards to health and safety, all cables are put into plastic conduits and are Low Smoke Zero Halogen

 

[businessowner350]

NI will have a part P equivalent .............. in that you have regs to comply with.

cable segragation springs to mind

I've been told by our local building control that NI doesn't have an equivlent document. But what do you mean by cable segregation? I always put network cable in conduits of their own (Never close to power cables). I never use the same pathways as power cables.

 

[Atilla]

Can we jst clarify things here.
What exactly is it you are wanting to do?
Sling in a few metres of Cat5 of do network installation for a job?

I ask because at least 2 and possibly 3 peeps have replied who actually do install various cables for a living.

 

[saxondale]

use that handy lift shaft to get between floors.













.

 

[businessowner350]

I have done a small job in the past, and intend to do a small job in the next few weeks. We're taking 6 network outlets in a single room here. Not a whole multi-floor building.

I really appreciate the experience that you guys have, I just really want advice though, instead of "Go away, you don't know what you're doing" I really respect you guys and that's why I'm asking yous for help

The things that I tend to follow are:

1) Keep network cables as far away from power cable as possible
2) Avoid long parallel runs of network and power cables.
3) If they have to cross, cross at right angles
4) When coming down from the ceiling to the sockets, use a seperate conduit only for data cabling. Nevel use one with power cables in it

Can you please give me more tips in other areas that I need to look into?

Thanks

 

[saxondale]

nice wide bends on the cable.

 

[businessowner350]

nice wide bends on the cable.

Ahh yes I knew I forgot one - the Cat6 bending limits!

However, this is from a performance point of view. Now, of course, performance is very important, as I don't want a shoddy network with dropout etc.

But are there any other safety related ones?

 

[Atilla]

As you've listed above, and
Beware of snags when pulling, cat5 don't like too much strain on it. You can stress it where it may work initially but could fail a few weeks later.
Keep all bends smooth and well arced, no sharp nasty ones.
Don't pair back too much sheathing at the sockets (little as possible)

 

[businessowner350]

As you've listed above, and
Beware of snags when pulling, cat5 don't like too much strain on it. You can stress it where it may work initially but could fail a few weeks later.
Keep all bends smooth and well arced, no sharp nasty ones.
Don't pair back too much sheathing at the sockets (little as possible)

That's great advice, thanks

 

[businessowner350]

All these things about snags and bend limits, they are all related to performance and reliability right? I mean I want a reliable network, but are there any other "safety" implications?

 

[saxondale]

Ahh yes I knew I forgot one - the Cat6 bending limits!

However, this is from a performance point of view. Now, of course, performance is very important, as I don't want a shoddy network with dropout etc.

But are there any other safety related ones?

i`m only going to bother saying this once more - it`s nothing to do with what your wiring and everything to do with wiring regulations.

whever its 240V and a killer or 5V logic circuits ...... you have to comply with them

your BC officer was misleading.

minimum cable radius is a published standard, same with maximum fixing distances, loading ratios and volt drop etc, etc.




so when one of us says "minimum cable bends" remember, you don`t actually know anything and try listening.

 

[businessowner350]

Can you please point me to the published standard for installation of data cables then, and also where it says in UK law that complying is necessary?

It's not that I don't believe you (I do), it's just that I think a little bedtime reading here would be nice

 

[saxondale]

Can you please point me to the published standard for installation of data cables then, and also where it says in UK law that complying is necessary?

It's not that I don't believe you (I do), it's just that I think a little bedtime reading here would be nice

I said "only once" - you could start with BS 7671: 2001 Requirements for Electrical Installations.



goodnight

 

[Mayfield Electrical]

I said "only once" - you could start with BS 7671: 2001 Requirements for Electrical Installations.
goodnight

BS7671 does not cover data cables other than the requirements for segregation neither does part-p.

 

[saxondale]

BS7671 does not cover data cables other than the requirements for segregation neither does part-p.

putting it in its most simple context .............. can i run my data cable through your consumer unit to get to the other side?


straight answer only -



yes


no.




.

 

[Mayfield Electrical]

putting it in its most simple context .............. can i run my data cable through your consumer unit to get to the other side?
straight answer only -
yes
no.
.

In other words Segregation covered by section 528 of BS7671

 

[saxondale]

In other words Segregation covered by section 528 of BS7671

I love tradesmen who think rules only apply above a certain voltage.


Oddly enough my mate who works down the mine on 11KV thinks your rules dont apply to him either.

Can`t wait for the lawsuit

 

[Mayfield Electrical]

I love tradesmen who think rules only apply above a certain voltage.


Oddly enough my mate who works down the mine on 11KV thinks your rules dont apply to him either.

Can`t wait for the lawsuit

Where in any of my, or anybody elses posts, does this indicate this or do you not understand the word segregation or even the regulations that cover this?

Just out of curiosity how many data installations have you done?

 

[saxondale]

Where in any of my, or anybody elses posts, does this indicate this or do you not understand the word segregation or even the regulations that cover this?

Just out of curiosity how many data installations have you done?

please decide - either there are rules and regs or there aren`t



I say there are, you are arguing against me that there are too ......









and they call me a troll, but, isnt that why you were banned from diynot?

 

[Mayfield Electrical]

please decide - either there are rules and regs or there aren`t

I say there are, you are arguing against me that there are too ......

and they call me a troll, but, isnt that why you were banned from diynot?

Never been banned from diynot as i've never used the site

The op was asking for advice on installing data cables. Part-P does not cover this and BS7671 only covers this in the affore mentioned post.

Yes there will be standards covering data installations but you don't need to be qualifed to install such cables, unless you know different.

 

[businessowner350]

The thing is though, is that from what I gather, BS 7671 isn't law. The appliable law is the Electricity at work 1989 thing, which only really concerns safety. The government does say though that by folloing BS7671, you are "likely" to comply.

So as Mayfield says, the only relavent thing to data cabling is cable segregation (i.e. keep them away from power cables).

Does that sound about right folks?

 

[Mayfield Electrical]

Oh, and before you say anything you can get qualifications for data installations

 

[Mayfield Electrical]

The thing is though, is that from what I gather, BS 7671 isn't law. The appliable law is the Electricity at work 1989 thing, which only really concerns safety. The government does say though that by folloing BS7671, you are "likely" to comply.

So as Mayfield says, the only relavent thing to data cabling is cable segregation (i.e. keep them away from power cables).

Does that sound about right folks?

BS7671 is not a statory document but can be used against you in a court of law. Electricaity at work regulations is a statory document.

So yes you would be right.

 

[businessowner350]

BS7671 is not a statory document but can be used against you in a court of law. Electricaity at work regulations is a statory document.

So yes you would be right.

Yeah I guess that makes sense. So bottom line, to keep things in line with the law, just keep the data cables away from power cables?