Cost of Industrial Network Cables
across the UK

# Industrial Network Cables Accreditation Guide

Industrial network cable providers in the UK are typically assessed against standards overseen by bodies such as the British Standards Institution (BSI), which certifies compliance with BS EN 50173 and BS EN 50288 standards covering cabling infrastructure and component performance. The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) and National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) also maintain relevant schemes for installers and distributors, though these focus more on the installation side. UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) is the national body that accredits testing laboratories and certification bodies, ensuring that any claims about cable performance have been independently verified. Understanding these schemes helps you distinguish between providers claiming mere compliance and those genuinely certified by recognised third parties.

To verify a provider's credentials, request copies of their accreditation certificates and check the issuing body's register directly through the BSI, ECA, NICEIC, or UKAS websites rather than relying on documentation provided by the supplier alone. Legitimate accredited providers will have certification numbers that reference specific standards and expiry dates, and they should be transparent about the scope of their accreditation—for instance, whether it covers only product supply, installation, or testing. This verification matters because accreditation provides legal protection for your business: if a supplier certifies their cables meet particular standards and they subsequently fail, you have recourse through the accrediting body. Unaccredited suppliers offer no such safeguards and may expose your organisation to liability if network infrastructure problems arise.

Accredited providers typically charge between 10 and 25 percent more than unaccredited competitors, reflecting the costs of maintaining certification, regular audits, and insurance. However, this premium is usually justified because accredited cables are less likely to cause costly downtime, they're more likely to