What are the guidelines for telecommunications cabling work? – Airtasker Help Centre

What you need to know about working as a cabler

You must not do cabling work without being registered or supervised by a registered cabler. Depending on the cabling work being performed, you must hold an open, restricted, or lift registration with one of the 5 registrars accredited by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). Performing cabling work while not being appropriately registered or supervised can impact your safety and that of the customer. It can lead to the ACMA taking compliance action against you.

What is cabling work?

Cabling work is the installation, connection, or maintenance of customer cabling. Customer cabling means a line that is used, installed ready for use, or intended for use on the customer side of the boundary of a telecommunications network.

The following are common types of cabling work that must be performed by a registered cabler:

Communications cabling in new houses and offices (the customer then connects to a telecommunications network);
Data cabling for computers that connect to a telecommunications network;
Connecting from an NBN modem to data or voice cabling;
Rewiring cabling and sockets for renovations;
Installing, repairing, and maintaining sockets on the customer side of the boundary of a telecommunications network for phones, faxes, or internet connections; and
Cabling for security and alarm systems.

The following cabling work does not require a registered cabler and may be performed by anyone:

Connection of labelled associated customer cabling products (e.g. customer equipment connecting cords and pre-terminated patch cords, adaptor cords, pre-terminated telephone extension cords, and plug/socket adaptors); and
the above products are not concealed in a building cavity.

What cabling customers need to know

You should ask the cabler you are hiring for a copy of their telecommunications cabling registration card. Using an unregistered cabler may result in cabling being installed incorrectly and your internet, data, phones, and alarms systems may not work properly. This may not be covered by your insurer and can increase safety risks such as electrocution. Your registered cabler must provide you with a signed form at the end of the job which states that the work meets all the relevant standards (it may be incorporated into your cabler’s invoice)

Regulations and standards

All cabling work must comply with the Telecommunications Cabling Provider Rules 2014 (CPRs). The CPRs ensure that minimum cabling standards are in place for safety and to maintain network integrity and apply to the installation, connection, or maintenance of customer cabling.

The CPRs require cabling work to comply with the Wiring Rules: AS/CA S009:2020 Installation requirements for customer cabling. In particular, telecommunications cabling must be adequately separated from electrical cabling. Cablers must only install cables, cabling products (such as plugs, sockets, and connectors), and customer equipment that complies with the Telecommunications (Labelling Notice for Customer Equipment and Customer Cabling) Instrument 2015.