Cat6 Network Cable
Cat6 is the default horizontal grade for new commercial construction. It corresponds to Class E in ISO/IEC 11801 and is where the design of a twisted-pair cable changes materially: tighter pair geometry and, in most constructions, a physical separator to hold pair-to-pair spacing constant along the length. Heizka publishes two distinct Cat6 constructions, an unshielded 61 Series and a foil-screened 60 Series, and the choice between them is the first decision on this page.
Two Constructions, Two Design Intents
The 61 Series is an unshielded twisted pair cable on 24 AWG bare copper conductors. It is the straightforward Class E choice for open-plan floors, standard commercial risers and pathways with a benign electromagnetic environment. The 60 Series is F/UTP CAT6 4x2x23AWG with an overall aluminum foil screen plus drain wire, HDPE insulation and a heavier 23 AWG conductor. The screen addresses two problems at once: ingress from nearby power, motors and radio sources, and alien crosstalk between adjacent cables in tightly packed bundles and high-density patch fields.
The gauge difference is not incidental. A 23 AWG conductor has lower DC loop resistance than 24 AWG, which reduces both insertion loss and the temperature rise a cable sees when carrying Power over Ethernet in a large bundle. If the design includes substantial PoE loading, the heavier conductor is worth the larger outside diameter.
| Part number | Series / construction | Conductor | Jacket | Color | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEC61U3PE | 61 Series, U/UTP | 24 AWG | PE | Black | 305 m / box |
| HEC61U1CM | 61 Series, U/UTP | 24 AWG | CM | Blue | 305 m / box |
| HEC61U1PC | 61 Series, U/UTP | 24 AWG | PVC | Blue | 305 m or 500 m / box |
| HEC61U5LZ | 61 Series, U/UTP | 24 AWG | LSZH | Orange | 305 m / box |
| HEC60S3PE | 60 Series, F/UTP shielded | 23 AWG | PE | Black | 305 m / box |
| HEC60S1CM | 60 Series, F/UTP shielded | 23 AWG | CM | Blue | 305 m / box |
| HEC60S1PC | 60 Series, F/UTP shielded | 23 AWG | PVC | Blue | 305 m / box |
| HEC60S5LZ | 60 Series, F/UTP shielded | 23 AWG | LSZH | Orange | 305 m / box |
Published Electrical and Physical Data
For the 60 Series F/UTP, published values are Class E performance, impedance of 100 Ω ±15%, nominal velocity of propagation of 67%, operating capacitance of 5.6 nF/100 m or less, and DC resistance of 9.38 Ω/100 m or less. Jacket diameter is 7.4 ± 0.3 mm for the PE variant and 6.8 ± 0.2 mm for LSZH, with a minimum bend radius of ten times the maximum jacket diameter. Installation temperature range is 0°C to +70°C and operating range is −20°C to +70°C. The 60 Series is published as UL-Listed and RoHS-compliant.
Both series reference ISO/IEC 11801, ANSI/TIA/EIA-568.2-D and IEC 61156-5, with EN 50173-1 also cited for the 60 Series. The 61 Series is published as designed in the USA, supports 100BASE-T and 1000BASE-T, and carries PoE and PoE+ per IEEE 802.3af and IEEE 802.3at. Its LSZH variant complies with IEC 60332-1-2 and IEC 60332-3 for flame propagation.
Installation Notes
Class E channels are unforgiving of workmanship. Respect the ten-times bend radius at every transition, avoid over-tightening cable ties, and keep pair untwist at termination to the minimum the connector allows. With the 60 Series, the foil screen and drain wire must be bonded continuously through the connector, patch panel and rack to the telecommunications bonding backbone; a screen grounded at one end only, or not at all, gives you the diameter penalty without the noise rejection. Our note on shielded versus unshielded construction covers the bonding argument in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I specify Cat6 or step up to Cat6A?
Specify Cat6 where gigabit to the outlet is the requirement and the cabling will be replaced on a normal refresh cycle. Step up to Cat6A where 10GBASE-T to the full 100 m is required, notably for high-density wireless access points and any run you expect to outlive two switch generations.
When is the F/UTP 60 Series worth the extra cost?
Where cables share pathways with power distribution, near variable frequency drives or radio transmitters, in healthcare and industrial settings, and in dense bundles where alien crosstalk is a concern. If none of those apply, the 61 Series unshielded cable is easier to install and terminate.
Is 500 m packaging available?
The 61 Series PVC variant, HEC61U1PC, is published in 305 m or 500 m boxes. All other Cat6 part numbers are published at 305 m per box.
Can Cat6 be reverse-compatible with Cat5e hardware?
Physically yes, but the resulting channel performs to the lowest grade present. Mixing Cat6 cable with Cat5e connecting hardware produces a Class D channel.
For part number confirmation, drawings or project pricing on either series, browse the full copper range or contact us for a quote.
