Fixings & Fasteners

Nylon for general bundling, and stainless steel where heat, weather or chemicals would degrade nylon. The Mercury nylon ties, such as the 782.018UK, list a 181lbs maximum load and a -40°C to 85°C range, while the Haydon HAY-SS200 and HAY-SS350 stainless steel ties are described for outdoor, marine and industrial use.

Pick a length that goes round the bundle with room to pull tight, and a width to suit the load. Mercury ties include 2.5 x 200mm (782.021UK), 3.6 x 140mm (782.018UK), 4.8 x 200mm (782.026UK), 4.8 x 300mm (782.025UK) and 4.8 x 380mm (782.029UK), and the Haydon HAY-SS200 and HAY-SS350 stainless ties are 4.6mm wide in 200mm and 350mm lengths.

Use nail-fix cable clips sized for CAT5, which hold the cable to the wall and keep the run tidy without damaging it. The Blake UK black clips, in boxes of 100, suit round CAT5 of about 5 mm and fix with a standard nail, and the Unifix grey clips, in packs of 100, are designed for use with CAT5 cabling.

Use cable clips designed for shotgun cable, which hold the cable securely and keep the installation neat. The Superlec black clips from Blake UK are made for RG59+2 shotgun cable and come 100 to a pack, for domestic and commercial installations.

Socket screws with the same thread come in several lengths, so choose the length the fitting needs. Knightsbridge raised-head socket screws come in 35mm (CSCREW35), 50mm (CSCREW50) and 75mm (CSCREW75) lengths, nickel plated in packs of 100. Flat-head versions such as the CSCREW50FN and CSCREW75FN are made for screwless and flat plate sockets and switches.

A raised-head screw has a slightly domed countersunk head for a standard plate, while a flat-head screw sits flush and is made for screwless and flat plate sockets and switches. Knightsbridge raised-head screws include the CSCREW35, CSCREW50 and CSCREW75; flat-head ones include the CSCREW50FN in nickel, CSCREW50FB in brass and CSCREW50FBK in black.

Anti-tamper screws need a matching driver, so a fitting cannot be opened with an ordinary screwdriver. The Hoyles FIX/11 is a pack of 2 M3.5 x 25mm pin-hex countersunk screws, and the Cygnus 1000-FIX-0013 is a base anti-tamper screw from the Cygnus RBU range. Use them where detectors, bases or covers are within reach of the public.

Cage nuts clip into the square holes of a rack or cabinet rail so that equipment, shelves and panels can be bolted in place. The All-Rack cage nut pack holds 50 silver cage nuts with washers and 6mm screws, described for fixing network racks and cabinet accessories. Fit the nut from inside the rail before offering up the equipment.

Small caps that cover the fixing screws on a wiring accessory plate for a neater finish. Knightsbridge CAPCOVERS are an assorted pack of 100 polypropylene covers for SN and CU series fittings, and GRIDCAPCOVERS are a pack of 100 for curved grid faceplates, which fix with the CSCREWM3 M3 x 6mm faceplate screws.