CAT6 vs CAT6
Why We Only Install Solid Copper Cat6 Cable — And Why It Matters
At DSR Projects we have a firm rule: every structured cabling installation uses solid bare copper Cat6. No exceptions, no budget alternatives. Here is why that matters to you as a client.
What Cat6 Cable Is Supposed to Deliver
Cat6 (Category 6) is a TIA/EIA-568 standardised twisted-pair cable. When installed correctly with solid copper conductors it reliably delivers:
What is CCA Cable?
CCA stands for Copper-Clad Aluminium — an aluminium conductor with a thin copper coating applied to the outside. It looks like copper when you glance at the cut end of a wire. It is labelled "Cat6." It is substantially cheaper. And it does not perform like copper, because it is not copper.
Aluminium has approximately 61% of the electrical conductivity of copper. That is not a minor compromise — it affects resistance, heat under load, signal attenuation, and long-term reliability at every termination point.
Solid Copper vs CCA — Head to Head
| ✓ Solid Bare Copper | ✕ CCA Cable |
|---|---|
| Full 100m run length as rated | Reliable performance drops after 55–65m |
| Safe for all PoE standards including PoE++ (100W) | Generates dangerous heat under PoE load |
| Meets TIA/EIA-568, ISO/IEC 11801 Cat6 standards | Does not meet any recognised Cat6 standard |
| Stable terminations — copper does not oxidise at jacks | Aluminium oxidises over time — connections degrade |
| Handles pulling and bending without conductor fatigue | Aluminium work-hardens and cracks inside the sheath |
| Certifies to Cat6 on a Fluke DSX every time | Fails certification on attenuation and return loss |
| 20+ year service life | Degraded performance within 3–5 years |
The Real Dangers of CCA in a Building
This is not just about performance. CCA cable creates genuine safety and liability risks that we see regularly in the field:
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PoE fire riskCCA's higher resistance causes cables to heat under PoE load. In bundled conduit runs this heat accumulates and cannot escape — a documented fire risk in commercial and residential installations.
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PoE device damageHigher resistance causes voltage drop along the run. Access points, IP cameras and smart home devices at the end of long runs receive insufficient voltage — causing reboots, shortened lifespan, or permanent damage.
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Hidden conductor cracksAluminium work-hardens when flexed during installation. Conductors crack inside the insulation — causing intermittent faults inside intact-looking cable that are nearly impossible to trace without pulling the run.
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Warranty and insurance voidCCA does not meet any recognised Cat6 standard. Any warranty claim or insurance claim based on a "Cat6 certified installation" is void the moment CCA cable is found in the walls.
The Cost of "Saving" on Cable
CCA cable costs roughly 30–50% less per metre than solid copper. On a 20-point installation that looks like a saving of R3,000–R5,000. But replacing cable after ceilings and walls are closed — cutting in, re-pulling, replastering, repainting — typically costs R15,000 to R40,000, before you factor in damaged PoE equipment and business downtime.
The cable in your walls will still be there in twenty years. The contractor who installed it may not be. Make sure what is in your walls is worth keeping.
The DSR Projects Standard
Every DSR Projects installation uses solid bare copper Cat6 from verified suppliers with documented material certification. Every run is tested with a calibrated cable certifier before handover. Clients receive a written certification report — the permanent proof that your infrastructure performs to specification.
We do not offer CCA as a budget option. We do not install it at any price. It is not a premium tier — it is simply the minimum standard we are prepared to put our name on.
"If a contractor offers you Cat6 at a price that seems too good to be true, ask one question: is this solid copper or CCA? If they hesitate — or cannot provide a written certification report — walk away."
— DSR Projects, Kempton Park