What is a critical guideline for installing commercial cable?

When installing commercial cable, a critical guideline is to never use fish tape around energized equipment. This principle is primarily rooted in safety. Fish tape is a tool used to route electrical wire through walls or conduits, and using it near energized equipment poses significant risks. If fish tape comes into contact with live circuits, it can create hazards such as electric shock or short circuits, which could lead to injury or damage to the equipment. Therefore, ensuring that fish tape is not used around energized equipment helps maintain a safe working environment.

While securing cables in bundles is an important practice for organization and efficiency, it does not address safety around energized equipment. Testing cables before installation is also a good practice for ensuring functionality, but it does not directly relate to the safety guidelines concerning energized equipment.