Writing the lift camera cable clause in a tender
A clause that says "CAT6 cable suitable for lift" buys you whatever is cheapest. Here is how to write one that buys a travelling cable.
Tender clauses for lift cameras are often one line: CAT6 cable suitable for lift use. It sounds sufficient. It is not, because any contractor can honestly supply round CAT6 against it, and round CAT6 is not a travelling cable.
A good clause names the type, the construction, the electrical values, the fire behaviour and the documents, in that order. Below is each part, with the reason it is there. The numbers are the datasheet values for CC-8251G-90 (CT/TDS/01); use them as the shape of your clause and check your own project's requirements.
1. Type and purpose
State the application and the construction: a flat, flexible travelling cable for lifts, four pairs, CAT6 performance. Naming the application and the word travelling in the first line closes the door on round cable.
2. Conductor
Say stranded and give the strand count and size: for example, bare copper, 24 AWG, 7/0.195 mm. Never write only the AWG; a solid 24 AWG conductor meets it and fails in a lift well.
3. Pairs and insulation
Polyolefin insulation, and each pair in its own flexible sheath. The individual sheaths keep the pair geometry stable while the cable moves.
4. Outer sheath and profile
A flexible FRLS PVC sheath and the profile in millimetres, 12 × 5 mm ± 0.2 mm for the 4-pair cable. A profile dimension is easy to check on delivery.
5. Electrical values
- Impedance 100 ± 15 Ω.
- Conductor resistance not more than 97.8 Ω/km.
- Mutual capacitance not more than 5.6 nF per 100 m.
- Delay skew not more than 45 ns per 100 m.
6. Mechanical and temperature
Operating temperature from -20 to +75 °C and installation temperature from 0 to +50 °C. Ask the supplier to state the minimum bend radius from the datasheet.
7. Fire
FRLS jacket tested to IEC 60332-1. Do not ask for a higher fire classification than your project needs, and do not ask for one the cable was not tested to.
8. Standards
Performance to ANSI/TIA-568.2-D and ISO/IEC 11801 (2nd edition), and RoHS. If your project calls for other standards, name them and ask for the evidence.
9. Supply and marking
Continuous length per lift with no joint, supplied as a continuous coil, and the manufacturer's name and part code on the jacket print.
10. Documents to ask for
- The manufacturer's datasheet for the exact part code.
- A manufacturer authorisation letter for the project.
- A point-by-point compliance statement against your clause.
- Batch test reports.
Channeltech issues these per project; request them from the downloads section with the tender reference and date.
The whole clause as one paragraph
If you need it in one block for a BOQ or a compliance statement, this is the same clause for CC-8251G-90, written as a single paragraph. It is also on the cable page with a copy button.
Supply of CAT6 U/UTP flat flexible travelling cable (elevator cable) for CCTV (IP camera) use in lifts: 4 pair, 24 AWG stranded bare electrolytic-grade copper conductors (7/0.195 mm), polyolefin insulation 0.950 ± 0.05 mm, each twisted pair in its own flexible PVC sheath, flexible (elastic) FRLS PVC outer sheath in grey RAL 7035, flat profile 12 × 5 mm ± 0.2 mm; conductor resistance 97.8 Ω/km max, mutual capacitance 5.6 nF/100 m max, resistance unbalance 5 % max, delay skew ≤ 45 ns/100 m, NVP 69 %, impedance 100 ± 15 Ω; minimum bend radius ≤ 4 × cable diameter; operating temperature −20 to +75 °C, installation temperature 0 to +50 °C; fire performance IEC 60332-1; performance as per ANSI/TIA-568.2-D and ISO/IEC 11801 2nd Ed.; RoHS compliant; recommended run up to 60 m for an IP camera on PoE; supplied as a 180 m continuous coil (90 + 90 m), each lift cut from the coil as one piece with no joint in the moving part; make Channeltech CAT6 Flat 4 Pair, CC-8251G-90, or approved equivalent; the supplier shall furnish the manufacturer's datasheet, manufacturer authorisation letter and batch test report.
One line to add
Ask that the camera cable be installed with the lift AMC company present and that the part code, length and fixing point be recorded on the lift's maintenance card. That one line does more for the next vendor than any specification.
