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What is Bend Radius?

During installation, cables are bent or flexed to accommodate various environmental conditions such as obstacles and elevation or directional changes. Minimum bend radius refers to the smallest radius the cable may be bent without getting damaged. Minimum cable bend radius guidelines vary per cable type and industry standards.

Bend radius can typically be calculated with this formula:

(Minimum bend radius = cable outer diameter x cable multiplier)

Why is Bend Radius Important?

It is important to make sure your cable support has the proper bend radius because it aligns with the ANSI/TIA 568.0-D for Generic Telecommunications Cabling standard. This requires a minimum bend radius of four times the cable diameter for 4-pair balanced twisted-pair cable during and after installation. 

For a typical CAT6A cable (about 1/4″ diameter), bend radius for appropriate cable supports such as a J-Hook must be at least 1 inch. This standard helps ensure quality performance and connectivity, support technological innovation, and provide superior, globally accepted products. 

Not all non-continuous cable supports provide the proper bend radius. Ensure your data infrastructure includes supports that meet requirements, including proper bend radius support.

Interested in learning more about bend radius requirements from one of our experts? Sign up for our Pathways for Cabling Infrastructure webinar. Participants are eligible to receive 1 BICSI CEC hour!