All labs
MARKET INDEX · CABLE RATES · BUSBAR RISER RATES · PROJECT COST COMPARISON
Move the mouse over a point to view the copper price. Click a point to hold the value while moving the cursor elsewhere.
| Grade | Family | Size | Cu kg/m | Cu component AED/m | Est. AED/m | AED/100m | Basis |
|---|
| Grade | Range | Configuration | Cu kg/m | Est. AED/m | AED/100m | Basis |
|---|
Structured cabling, CCTV, intercom, access control, audio/video, BMS and related ELV copper cables. Rates are indicative UAE market / engineering reference values and remain linked to the active copper reference where applicable.
| System | Grade | Cable Type | Typical Size / Construction | Conductor / Copper Construction | Jacket | Pack | Indicative AED/m | Approx. Reel AED | Basis / Note |
|---|
| Distribution Link | Typical Fiber | Typical Core Count | Typical Use | Engineering Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDF → Small IDF / 12U Floor Rack | OS2 or OM4 | 6 Core | Small floor / low switch count | Allows 2 active fibers plus spare capacity; verify redundancy requirement. |
| MDF → Standard IDF | OS2 or OM4 | 12 Core | Most office / residential / commercial floor IDFs | Good general backbone allowance for active links and future spare cores. |
| MDF → Large IDF / Multiple Switches | OS2 or OM4 | 24 Core | Hotels, towers, malls, larger floor distribution | Preferred where multiple switches, services or future expansion are expected. |
| Main MDF → Multiple IDFs / Building Backbone | OS2 | 24 / 48 Core | Main vertical backbone / campus distribution | Single-mode is preferred where distances, bandwidth growth or inter-building links justify it. |
| MDF / IDF → Data Centre / High-Speed LAN | OM4 | 12 / 24 Core | 10G / 40G / high-density switching | OM4 is widely used for short-reach high-bandwidth backbone links. |
| Telecom / FTTH Distribution | OS2 | 2 / 4 / 6 / 12 / 24 Core | FTTH, telecom rooms, ONU / ODF distribution | Final core count shall follow Etisalat by e& / du approved design and project telecom requirements. |
| Rank | Grade | Estimated AED/m | AED/100m | Difference from lowest |
|---|
Fresh standalone calculator. Contract and As-Built are independent. Select the required date and press GO, then add only the required cable or busbar items.
Add one cable and one busbar item to the same side to explore a conceptual break-even length.
| Comparison | Contract Signed | As-Built | Difference |
|---|
This is a preliminary commercial comparison. Cable sizing, derating, voltage drop, short-circuit withstand, busbar short-circuit rating, temperature rise, tap-offs, supports and project-specific accessories must be checked separately in another module.
Cable tray, cable ladder, trunking and wire-mesh containment with automatic steel-linked rates, supports and accessories. Select the type, duty, size and length. The file calculates containment, supports, standard accessories and total cost for each side.
| No. | Type | Duty | Width mm | Depth mm | Finish | Support Type | Length m | Containment AED/m | Supports & Accessories AED | Total AED |
|---|
| No. | Type | Duty | Width mm | Depth mm | Finish | Support Type | Length m | Containment AED/m | Supports & Accessories AED | Total AED |
|---|
Enter the cable schedule at the time of contract signing on the left and the final/current as-built cable schedule on the right. Each side is independent, so cable sizes, quantities and lengths may differ.
| Grade | Family | Size | Length m | Qty Runs | Contract AED/m | Amount AED |
|---|
| Grade | Family | Size | Length m | Qty Runs | As-Built AED/m | Amount AED |
|---|
| Summary | Contract Signed | As-Built | Difference |
|---|
Contract-side indexed rates are estimates unless the actual contract AED/m is entered. As-built rates use the current copper-linked cable rate model or imported actual rates.
This reference is encrypted. Brand names are shown only after the separate access password is entered. Labels are illustrative cross-references and do not imply approval, affiliation or certified equivalence.
Locked. The password is not stored in this file or in your browser.
CSV columns: brand,type,size,rate. Matching entries will override estimated LV cable rates.
Enter copper and aluminium benchmarks on the Dashboard. Set the raw steel price below for containment. Aluminium is shown as a conversion reference; it is not included in copper cable price formulas. All rates are manual and stored in this browser.
Containment uses a steel benchmark in USD per metric tonne. The file converts it automatically to AED/t and recalculates tray, ladder, trunking, supports and accessories.
Enter the copper price manually here. Enter Copper in USD/tonne; the file automatically converts it to AED/tonne using the FX rate already used by the calculator. The historical entry is saved against the selected date and is then used automatically for Contract / As-Built date calculations.
| Saved Historical Date | Copper USD/t | Converted AED/t | Use |
|---|
Compare cable and busbar project costs using editable material rates, quantities and installation allowances, with copper price variation references.
Compare the same route and electrical duty using cable and busbar. Include accessories, containment and installation allowances so the comparison reflects the complete scope.
© 2026 Eng. Mannan Maqsood | Engineering Excellence Through Interactive Labs
VERIFY ALL FIGURES AGAINST CURRENT MANUFACTURER DATASHEETS AND LOCAL AUTHORITY REQUIREMENTS BEFORE DESIGN SIGN-OFF.