June 30, 2026 Kordz Helps Integrators Cut Through the Shielded vs Unshielded Cabling Debate  

New technical guide explains when shielding is necessary, when it isn’t, and how to avoid costly specification mistakes. 

June 23, 2026 — Kordz, the professional-grade connectivity brand trusted by systems integrators worldwide, has released an important new technical guide, ‘Shielded vs. Unshielded Network Cable: What Should You Specify and When’. Developed by Kordz’ team of former integrators and cabling experts, the new resource provides practical guidance to help integrators make informed specification decisions based on real-world installation environments, EMI risk and project requirements, rather than common industry assumptions. 

As residential and light-commercial networks continue to support increasingly sophisticated AV, smart home and automation systems, selecting the appropriate cabling infrastructure has become more important than ever. Yet, shielding remains one of the most misunderstood, incorrectly specified aspects of structured cabling design. 

The new article addresses a prevalent yet problematic industry practice: specifying shielded cable by default without a clear technical justification. “This can lead to avoidable complications, such as difficult cable installation and termination, as well as performance issues and increased troubleshooting costs. 

“Many integrators have been led to believe that shielded cable is automatically a better option,” says James Chen, Managing Director of Kordz. “In reality, shielding is an environmental solution, not a performance upgrade. The right specification depends entirely on the installation pathway, proximity to interference sources and the overall channel design. Specifying shielding where it is not needed can actually create unnecessary problems. So, this guide helps demystify when and how to use it, so integrators can make the right decision with confidence.” 

The article provides practical, installation-focused advice covering: 

  • The difference between shielded and unshielded network cable constructions 
  • When shielding provides genuine benefits and when it does not 
  • How to assess EMI risk in residential and light-commercial environments 
  • The advantages and trade-offs of common cable constructions including U/UTP, F/UTP, U/FTP and S/FTP 
  • Best practices for maintaining shield continuity across the entire channel 
  • Common specification and installation mistakes that can compromise network performance 

The guide emphasises that contrary to popular belief, the majority of residential and light-commercial projects are best served by high-quality unshielded cable, as long as pathways are properly designed and separated from interference sources. It also highlights situations where shielded solutions are frequently justified, including dense AV racks, lighting control infrastructure, retrofit pathways near mains power and larger multi-dwelling or mixed-use environments. 

Importantly, the report reinforces a critical principle often overlooked in the field: if shielded cable is specified, the entire channel, including connectors, keystones, patch cords and patch panels must also be shielded and properly bonded for the shielding to function as intended. 

This latest article is another demonstration of Kordz’ commitment to delivering technical education and real-world guidance that helps integration professionals design, specify and deploy high-performance technology systems with confidence. 

To read the full article, go here. To explore its informative articles and learn more about Kordz’ award-winning connectivity solutions and technical resources for integrators, please visit www.kordz.com. 

About Kordz 

Kordz is the connectivity brand for integrators, by integrators. A multi-award-winning global industry leader in professional-grade connectivity products, Kordz’ team of seasoned former integrators is on a mission to ‘Kordzify’ and optimise technology for professionals by designing, engineering and manufacturing products that deliver ease and profitability through a seamless installation experience with high performance results that today’s tech-savvy end-users expect. With a wide range of robust, fast and effective solutions backed by expert technical support, Kordz helps integrators around the world meet the evolving cabling requirements of a diverse range of residential and commercial environments. For more information about Kordz, please visit kordz.com and follow the company @kordzglobal on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.   

Media Contact 

For interviews, reviews, and more information please contact Katye (McGregor) Bennett of KMB Communications at (406) 446-1283 or katye@kmbcomm.com 

© 2026 Kordz International. All Rights Reserved. 

Please note, re-publishing of press release content in relation to this article is permitted, however the re-publishing of the original article content is prohibited. Please author your own post or article, citing the name of the Kordz article, and link it to the page on kordz.com. 

Additional Media Releases