Ensure Separation in Cable Reticulation Systems
Cables and conduits in shared spaces must be visibly separated or partitioned to ensure safety and organisation.
Plain language
In places like offices or schools where multiple cables run together, it’s crucial to keep those cables neat and separate. Think of it like organising your wires at home - if they get tangled, they can become a tripping hazard or even cause technical problems like signals getting crossed. By making sure each set of cables is clearly separated or has a divider between them, you’re preventing these risks and making everything safer and more organised.
Framework
ASD Information Security Manual (ISM)
Control effect
Preventative
Classifications
NC, OS, P, S, TS
ISM last updated
Feb 2023
Control Stack last updated
18 May 2026
E8 maturity levels
N/A
Section
Cabling infrastructureOfficial control statement
Cable bundles or conduits sharing a common cable reticulation system have a dividing partition or visible gap between each cable bundle and conduit.
Why it matters
Without partitions or visible gaps in shared reticulation, cable bundles can contact or crowd each other, causing interference, faults, overheating and outages.
Operational notes
Inspect shared trays/conduits to confirm a continuous partition or visible gap between bundles; re-secure ties and replace dividers if cables sag, cross or displace separators.
Implementation tips
- Facilities managers should ensure there are clear guidelines for installing cable reticulation systems. They should check that all cables run in designated pathways and have dividers or visible gaps between different types of cables. This can involve marking floors or walls with tape to show where different cables should go.
- The IT team should regularly review the organisation's cabling layout during installation and maintenance. They need to make sure that there is enough separation between cables by inspecting the physical setup. If cables are bundled together without gaps or partitions, they should rearrange them accordingly.
- Operations managers should create a simple checklist for checking cable setups during routine inspections. This list should include looking for physical dividers or gaps and ensuring that cables of different types (like power and data) are not mixed together. Regular checks are necessary to pinpoint any mistakes or changes made over time.
- Office or school administrators should organise periodic training sessions for staff involved in setting up or modifying workspaces. These sessions should cover the importance of cable separation, the risks of not doing it, and how it can impact electrical safety and efficiency. Online resources or short courses can be made available for ongoing staff education.
- Workplace safety officers should develop an incident response plan that includes a procedure for reporting cable mishaps caused by improper cable routing. Encourage all staff to report when they see cables improperly laid out, and ensure there's an easy way for them to inform maintenance staff about issues.
Audit / evidence tips
- AskThe latest building or office layout plan: Look to see that cable paths are clearly marked with indications of where partitions or gaps should be GoodIs a layout plan with distinct, separate paths marked for different cable types
- AskInspection reports on cable installations: Review these reports to ensure they note the presence of partitions between cable bundles GoodReport should highlight any issues found, actions taken, and confirm the existence of separations
- AskThe maintenance or inspection checklist: Review the checklist to make sure it includes steps to ensure cables are separated and not tangled GoodChecklist should have detailed points specifically referring to the separation in cable paths
Cross-framework mappings
How ISM-1114 relates to controls across ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, Essential Eight, and ASD ISM.
ISO 27001
| Control | Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|
| layers Partially meets (1) expand_less | ||
| Annex A 7.12 | ISM-1114 requires cable bundles or conduits in a shared cable reticulation system to be physically separated by a dividing partition or v... | |
These mappings show relationships between controls across frameworks. They do not imply full equivalence or certification.