ASD ISM 1164 Use clear plastic for shared facility cabling covers
What it says
In shared facilities, conduits or the front covers of ducts, cable trays in floors and ceilings, and associated fittings are clear plastic.
Quoted as published. Everything else on this page is written by Control Stack.
What it means
In plain EnglishIn shared spaces, use clear plastic for cables on ceilings, floors, and walls to ensure visibility.
In shared spaces like offices or schools, using clear plastic to cover the cables on walls, floors, and ceilings is important. This makes it easy to see if anything is wrong with the cables or if they've been tampered with. If you can't see these cables, it could lead to safety hazards or important data being at risk without you even knowing.
Free. Save your status, tasks and notes.
Why it matters
Using clear plastic covers for cabling in shared spaces deters tampering and quickly reveals damage, protecting data integrity and operational continuity.
How to implement
The facility manager should coordinate the installation of clear plastic covers for all visible wiring in common areas.
They can work with a cable management or facilities services company to ensure these covers are installed correctly and meet any safety standards.
IT support staff should regularly inspect the covered cables to ensure they remain visible and intact.
This can be done by walking through shared spaces weekly and checking that nothing is obstructing the clear covers.
Procurement officers should source high-quality clear plastic covers that are durable and comply with safety regulations.
They should contact reputable suppliers, request samples, and check that the covers are transparent and sturdy.
Building maintenance should clean the clear covers periodically to ensure they remain transparent.
This involves wiping them down using a non-abrasive cleaner, preventing dust or grime from making cables harder to see.
School principals or office managers should train staff on why clear cable covers are used and how to report if they notice any tampering or damage.
Regular meetings or briefings can help reinforce the importance of maintaining these covers.
Keep it running
Regularly inspect clear plastic duct/conduit covers and fittings in shared areas for cracks, looseness or tampering; replace opaque or damaged sections promptly.
Evidence and audit
- Check 1 of 5What an auditor asks for
Ask for
The procurement records of the clear plastic covers used for cable management.
Look at
The specifications and purchase orders.
Good evidence
Includes documentation showing these meet safety standards and are truly clear plastic.
- Check 2 of 5What an auditor asks for
Ask for
Inspection logs kept by facility staff or IT personnel.
Look at
Detailed entries noting the dates and results of regular inspections.
Good evidence
Includes frequent and consistent inspection records.
- Check 3 of 5What an auditor asks for
Look at
Cleaning methods and frequency.
Good evidence
Is a cleaning schedule that ensures covers remain transparent and effective.
- Check 4 of 5What an auditor asks for
Look at
Content explaining how to identify and report problems.
Good evidence
Includes comprehensive material indicating staff are aware of their roles.
- Check 5 of 5What an auditor asks for
Look at
Clear, easily visible cables through the covers.
Good evidence
Shows all covers are transparent and well maintained.
Mappings
Closest match in ISO/IEC 27001: A.7.3, Physical security for offices and facilities, which this control partially meets.
ISO/IEC 27001: 3 mappings
This control partially meets A.7.3.
ISM-1164 mandates a specific physical design choice in shared facilities: using clear plastic covers/trays/fittings to ensure cable pathways are visible and harder to tamper with undetected. This fits within ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A 7.3 because designing and implementing physical security for offices, rooms and facilities includes selecting building/fitting features that deter and reveal unauthorised physical modification in shared spaces. Annex A 7.3 is broader as it covers overall facility physical security design (e.g. secure rooms, barriers, access control and monitoring), while ISM-1164 is limited to visibility of cabling containment materials.
This control partially meets A.7.5.
ISM-1164 requires clear plastic cable containment in shared facilities to improve visibility and make concealed physical interference with cabling more difficult. This aligns with ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A 7.5 because it is a designed protection against intentional physical threats to infrastructure (specifically, covert tampering with data/power cabling). Annex A 7.5 is broader, covering a wide range of physical and environmental threats and design measures (including fire, flood, theft and sabotage), whereas ISM-1164 addresses a narrow tamper-evidence measure for shared-area cabling routes.
This control partially meets A.7.12.
ISM-1164 requires that, in shared facilities, cable conduits/duct front covers, floor and ceiling cable trays, and associated fittings are made of clear plastic so cabling remains visible for inspection. This directly contributes to ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A 7.12 by making interference (e.g. unauthorised splices, taps, re-routing) more likely to be noticed and therefore helping protect cabling from interception, interference or damage. Annex A 7.12 is broader because it requires cabling protection outcomes (including routing, segregation, shielding, and physical protection methods), whereas ISM-1164 specifies one particular tamper-visibility construction approach for shared areas.
Mappings show how controls relate across frameworks. They do not imply full equivalence or certification.