Is it unlawful to install Cat5e/6 made with CCA (Copper Clad Aluminium) wires?

[duckware]

NEC 800.179 states "Conductors in communications cables, other than coaxial, shall be copper".

So in those States that have adopted NEC, that would suggest that installing CCA CatX would violate NEC, and hence violate State Law. Correct?

And yet, most Cat5e/Cat6 being sold (online) is CCA (Copper Clad Aluminium).

So is this a crazy situation that it is legal to buy CCA CatX, but it is not legal to install CCA CatX, or something else?

 

[petersonra]

some more info.

http://www.belden.com/blog/datacent...per-Clad-Aluminum-is-a-Recipe-for-Failure.cfm

https://2015.sewelldirect.com/learning-center/cca-facts

http://www.cablinginstall.com/artic...warn-against-copper-clad-aluminum-cables.html

It looks like there are varying opinions on whether CCA is appropriate but it is also pretty clear that the code does not allow it.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

In my opinion, Article 725 and not Article 800 applies to CAT5e/6 wiring. Take a look at this article.

 

[dfmischler]

IIRC the ANSI, IEC, TIA, ISO, EN standards that define Cat5e, Cat6, etc. require copper conductors. So if that is true then there is no CCA cabling that truly meets the Cat5e standard. Also, the resistance of aluminum is significantly higher than copper, and while this may not affect the transfer of data at gigabit speeds it is a potential problem for systems that use PoE (e.g. for IP telephones, surveillance cameras, WiFi hotspots, etc). Especially near the power and distance limits.

Link to Approved Cables Initiative

 

[petersonra]

In my opinion, Article 725 and not Article 800 applies to CAT5e/6 wiring. Take a look at this article.

wouldn't all the communications equipment then have to have class 1 2, or 3 power supplies?

I looked at the wall wart for my little switch that sits on my desk and it is not labeled that way.