For bulk quantities, project requirements or dealership enquiries, get in touch through the APAR website or your nearest authorised distributor. Buying through authorised channels ensures genuine product, correct documentation and proper support.

Good-quality cable that is correctly sized and not overloaded can last for decades. Consider replacement if you see cracked, brittle or discoloured insulation, signs of overheating, frequent tripping, or after any significant electrical fault. An electrician can inspect and advise — wiring safety is not something to leave to guesswork.

Generally no. Standard indoor building wire is not made to withstand sunlight (UV), moisture and temperature swings for long, and using it outdoors can lead to early failure. Outdoor and buried runs should use cable rated for those conditions. If in doubt, ask an electrician or check the product’s suitability before installing.

Match the cable to four things: the current/load it must carry, the voltage grade, the environment (heat, moisture, sunlight, fire risk), and any standards or codes that apply. For homes and most projects the safest route is to have a licensed electrician specify the cable, or contact APAR or an authorised distributor for guidance on the right product.

Most general building wires use PVC-based insulation. Higher safety grades use specially modified compounds to add heat resistance, flame retardance and low smoke or low halogen behaviour (for example HR-FR-LSH cables). The compound and any cross-linking process determine how the cable performs under heat and fire.

A solid conductor is a single piece of metal; a stranded conductor is made of several thinner strands twisted together. Stranded conductors are more flexible and easier to route, while solid conductors are simple and rigid. Both are common in building wire depending on the size and use.

Copper has higher electrical conductivity and is the usual choice for internal house wiring — it carries more current for a given size and connects reliably. Aluminium is lighter and lower-cost and is often used for larger power and overhead applications. Because aluminium conducts less than copper, an equivalent aluminium cable is sized larger. The right choice depends on the application and the relevant standard.

The number is the cross-sectional area of the metal conductor, in square millimetres. A larger area can carry more current with less heating, so heavier loads need a larger size. As a rough guide, lighting and fans often use smaller sizes while power points and high-load appliances use larger ones — but the correct size for any circuit should be set by a qualified electrician to the applicable standards.

The voltage grade is the maximum working voltage the cable’s insulation is designed to handle safely. A common grade for general building wiring is up to 1100 volts. Always use a cable whose voltage grade meets or exceeds the requirement of your circuit — never below it.

They are not always mandated for ordinary domestic wiring, but they are strongly recommended wherever people gather or escape routes are enclosed — apartments, hospitals, schools, offices and public buildings — because they release far less smoke and toxic gas in a fire. Local electrical codes and project specifications may require them, so check the applicable rules for your building.

They solve different problems. Flame-retardant (FR) cables are designed to slow or stop the spread of flame along the cable. Fire-resistant (or fire-survival) cables go further: they are built to keep working — maintaining the circuit — for a defined period during a fire, which is why they are used for emergency systems like alarms, lifts and fire pumps. Many installations use both, in the right places.

Always buy from authorised APAR distributors. Genuine distributors can be verified on the APAR website, and verified dealers carry a QR code you can scan to confirm authenticity directly on the official APAR site. If a sticker or listing cannot be verified, treat it with caution and contact APAR before purchasing.

As a general guide, higher-load appliances like air conditioners and geysers usually need a larger conductor (commonly in the 2.5–4 sq mm range), while lights and fans often use 1–1.5 sq mm. The correct size always depends on the appliance load, the cable run length and your home’s wiring. For safety and compliance, have a licensed electrician size the wiring to the applicable standards rather than relying on a general rule.

Communication cables carry data and signals rather than electrical power — for telephone, networking, instrumentation and control systems. They are built to preserve signal integrity, with appropriate conductor arrangements and shielding to limit interference over the required distance.

A single-core cable has one conductor; a multi-core cable bundles several insulated conductors inside one outer sheath. Single-core wires are typically used for internal house wiring run through conduits, while multi-core cables are used where several connections travel together — for appliances, control panels and many industrial applications.

Electron-beam (e-beam) cross-linking uses a beam of high-energy electrons to bond the polymer chains within the cable insulation. This improves the insulation’s heat resistance, mechanical strength and long-term durability compared with conventional insulation — and it does so physically, without adding chemical cross-linking agents. The result is a cable that can handle higher temperatures and tends to last longer.

General-purpose wiring cables are typically manufactured to applicable Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications — for example, IS 694 covers PVC-insulated cables for working voltages up to 1100 V. Look for standard-compliant, ISI-marked products and buy from authorised sources to be sure of quality and safety.

In a fire, much of the danger comes from dense smoke and toxic, corrosive gases — not flame alone. They reduce visibility and make escape harder. Low-smoke, low-halogen cables emit far less of both if exposed to fire, which is why they are recommended for homes, hospitals, schools and public buildings where people need time and clear air to evacuate safely.

FR (Flame Retardant) resists the spread of flame. FR-LS adds Low Smoke. HR-FR-LSH goes furthest — adding Heat Resistance and Low Halogen on top of flame retardance and low smoke. Higher tiers are generally recommended for crowded or enclosed spaces such as hospitals, schools, high-rises and public buildings, where smoke and toxic gases pose the greatest risk.

HR-FR-LSH stands for Heat Resistant, Flame Retardant, Low Smoke and (low) Halogen. Heat Resistant means the insulation withstands higher operating temperatures; Flame Retardant means it resists spreading fire; and Low Smoke & Halogen means that, if exposed to fire, the cable emits less dense smoke and fewer corrosive, toxic halogen gases — which matters for safe evacuation in homes, hospitals and public buildings.