DIVISION 26 - ELECTRICAL
Section 26 05 19 - Low Voltage Electrical Power Conductors
and Cables
1. GENERAL
1.1 WORK INCLUDES
A. Base Bid:
1. Electrical Contractor provides:
a. Building wire
b. Cable
c. Wiring connection and terminations
1.2 RELATED WORK
A. Specified Elsewhere:
1. Section 26 05 05 - Electrical Demolition for Remodeling
2. Section 26 05 26 - Grounding & Bonding for Electrical Systems
3. Section 26 05 31 - Boxes for Electrical Systems
4. Section 26 05 33 - Conduit for Electrical Systems
5. Section 26 05 53 - Identification for Electrical Systems
6. Section 26 09 23 - Lighting Control Devices
7. Section 26 20 00 - Service Entrance
8. Section 26 24 16 - Panelboards
9. Section 26 27 26 - Wiring Devices
10. Section 26 51 00 - Lighting
11. Section 28 31 00 - Fire Alarm & Detection System
1.3 REFERENCE STANDARDS
A. ASTM B3 - Standard Specification for Soft or Annealed Copper Wire.
B. ASTM B8 - Standard Specification for Concentric Lay-in Stranded Copper Conductors, Hard,
Medium-Hard, or Soft.
C. ASTM B767/B767M - Standard Specification for 19 Wire Combination Utility stranded Copper
Conductors for Subsequent Installation.
D. ASTM B801 - Standard Specification for Concentric Lay-in Stranded Conductors of 8000 Series
Aluminum Alloy Wire for Subsequent Covering of Installation.
E. ASTM D3005 - Standard Specification for Low Temperature Resistant Vinyl Chloride Plastic
Pressure-Sensitive Electrical Insulating Tape.
F. ASTM D4388 - Standard Specification for Nonmetallic Semi-Conducting and Electrically Insulating
Rubber Tapes.
G. FS A-A-59544 - Cable and Wire, Electrical (Power, Fixed Installation), Federal Specification.
H. NECA 1 - Standard for Good Workmanship in Electrical Construction: National Electrical
Contractors Association.
I.
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NECA 120 - Standard for Installing Armored Cable (AC) and Metal-Clad (MC): National Electrical
Contractors Association.
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J.
NEMA WC 70 - Power Cables Rated 2000 Volts or Less for the Distribution of Electrical Energy:
National Electrical Contractors Association (NASI/NEMA 70/ICEA S-95-658.
K. NETA STD ATS - Acceptance Testing Specification for Electrical Power Distribution Equipment
and Systems; International Electrical Testing Association.
L. NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code; National Fire Protection Association.
M. UL 44 - Thermoset-Insulated Wires and Cables.
N. UL 83 - Thermoplastic Insulated Wires and Cables.
O. UL 486A-486B - Wire Connectors.
P. UL 486C - Splicing Wire Connectors.
Q. UL 486D - Sealed Wire Connector Systems.
R. UL 493 - Thermoplastic-Insulated Underground Feeder and Branch Circuit Cables.
S. UL510 - Polyvinyl Chloride, Polyethylene, and Rubber Insulating Tape.
T. UL 854 - Service-Entrance Cables.
U. UL1569 - Metal-Clad Cables.
2. PRODUCTS
2.1 BUILDING WIRE
A. Thermoplastic-insulated Building Wire: NEMA WC 5.
B. Rubber-insulated Building Wire: NEMA WC 3.
C. Feeders larger than 6 AWG: Copper, stranded conductor, 600 volt insulation, THHN/THWN.
D. Control Circuits: Copper, stranded conductor 600 volt insulation, THHN/THWN.
2.2 WIRING FOR SPECIALIZED SYSTEMS
A. Wire for the following specialized systems shall be as designated on the drawings, or elsewhere in
these specifications. If not designated on the drawings or specifications, the system
manufacturer’s recommendations shall be followed:
1. Fire Alarm
2.3 REMOTE CONTROL AND SIGNAL CABLE
A. Control Cable for Class 1 Remote Control and Signal Circuits: Copper conductor, 600-volt
insulation, rated 60 degree C, individual conductors twisted together, shielded and covered with a
PVC jacket.
B. Control Cable for Class 2 or Class 3 Remote Control and Signal Circuits: Copper conductor, 300volt insulation, rated 60 degree C, individual conductors twisted together, shielded and covered
with a PVC jacket, UL listed.
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C. Plenum Cable for Class 2 or Class 3 Remote Control and Signal Circuits: Copper conductor, 300
volt insulation, rated 60 degree C, individual conductors twisted together, shielded and covered
with a non-metallic jacket; a nationally recognized testing laboratory listed for use in air handling
ducts, hollow spaces used as ducts and plenums.
2.4 NON-METALLIC SHEATHED CABLE
A. Non-metallic Sheathed Cable: Copper conductor, 600 volt insulation, rated 75 degree C, Type
NM. Minimum size #12 AWG.
B. Underground Feeder and Branch Circuit Cable: Copper conductor, 600 volt insulation, rated 60
degree C, Type UF.
2.5 WIRING CONNECTORS
A. Description: Wiring connectors appropriate for the application, suitable for use with the
conductors to be connected, and listed as complying with UL 486A-486B or UL 486C as
applicable.
B. Wiring Connectors for Splices and Taps:
1. Copper Conductors Size 8 AWG and Smaller: Use twist-on insulated spring connectors.
2. Copper Conductors Size 8 AWG and Larger: Use mechanical connectors or compression
connectors.
C. Wiring Connectors for Terminations:
1. Provide terminal lug for connecting conductors to equipment furnished with terminations
designated for terminal lugs.
2. Provide compression adapters for connecting conductors to equipment furnished with
mechanical lugs when only compression connectors are specified.
3. When over-sized conductors are larger than the equipment terminations can accommodate,
provide connectors suitable for reducing to appropriate size, but not less than required for the
rating of the overcurrent protective device.
4. Provide motor pigtail connectors for connecting motor leads in order to facilitate
disconnection.
5. Copper conductors Size 8 AWG and Larger: Use mechanical connectors or compression
connectors where connectors are required.
6. Stranded Conductors Size 10 AWG and Smaller: Use crimped terminals for connections to
terminal screws.
7. Conductors for Control circuits: Use crimped terminals for all connections.
D. Do not use insulation-piercing or insulation-displacement connectors designed for use with
conductors without stripping insulation.
E. Do not use push-in wire connectors as a substitute for twist-on insulated spring connectors.
3. EXECUTION
3.1 GENERAL WIRING METHODS
A. Use no wire smaller than 12 AWG for power and lighting circuits and no smaller than 14 AWG for
control wiring.
B. Use 10 AWG conductors for 20 ampere, 120 volt branch circuit homeruns longer than 75 feet.
C. Use no wire smaller than 8 AWG for outdoor lighting circuits.
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D. Splice only in junction boxes or outlet boxes.
E. Neatly train and lace wiring inside boxes, equipment and panelboards.
3.2 WIRING INSTALLATION IN RACEWAYS
A. Pull all conductors into a raceway at the same time. Use UL listed wire pulling lubricant for pulling
4 AWG and larger wires.
B. Install wire in raceway after interior of building has been physically protected from the weather and
all mechanical work likely to injure conductors has been completed.
C. Pulling shall be continuous without unnecessary stops and starts with wire or cable only partially
thru raceway.
D. Where reels of cable or wire are used, they shall be set up on jacks close to the point where the
wire or cable enters the conduit or duct so that the cable or wire may be unreeled and run into the
conduit or duct with a minimum of change in the direction of the bed.
E. Cables or wires shall not be laid out on the ground before pulling.
F. Cables or wires shall not be dragged over earth or paving.
G. Care shall be taken so as not to subject the cable or wire to high mechanical stresses that would
cause damage to the wire or cable.
H. Conductors shall not be pulled through conduits until plastering or masonry work is completed and
conduits are free from moisture. Care shall be taken so that long pulls of wire or pulls around
several bends are not made where the wire may be permanently stretched and the insulation
damaged.
I.
Only nylon rope shall be permitted to pull cables into conduit and ducts.
J.
At least six (6) inch loops or ends shall be left at each outlet for installation connection of fixtures
or other devices.
K. All wired in outlet boxes not connected for fixtures or other devices shall be rolled up, spliced if
continuity of circuit is required, and insulated.
L. Completely and thoroughly swab raceway system before installing conductors.
3.3 CABLE INSTALLATION
A. Provide protection for exposed cables where subject to damage.
B. Use suitable cable fittings and connectors.
C. Run all open cable in neat and symmetrical manner. Follow the routing as illustrated on the
drawings as closely as possible. If routing is not illustrated the Contractor shall choose his own
routing, but in any case it shall be routed in a manner previously stated.
D. Open cable shall be supported by the appropriate size bridal rings or other means if called for on
the drawings. Wire and cable from different systems shall not be installed in the same bridal rings.
E. Open cable installed above ceilings shall not rest on the ceiling construction.
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F. Where open cables are grouped, they shall be neatly bundled and held together with nylon tie
wraps placed every 2.5 ft. on the bundle. Where tie bundle passes through a bridal ring it shall be
fastened to the ring with a tie wrap.
G. Bridal ring supports shall be installed at five foot (5’) intervals. All rings shall be installed where
completely accessible and not blocked by piping, ductwork, inaccessible ceilings, etc.
H. Open cable shall only be installed where specifically shown on the drawings, or permitted in these
specifications.
3.4 NON-METALLIC SHEATHED CABLE INSTALLATION
A. Install cables.
B. Install straps and box connectors to cables as required.
C. Use permitted in wood stud construction only.
3.5 WIRING CONNECTIONS AND TERMINATIONS
A. Splice and tap only in accessible junction boxes.
B. Use solderless, tin-plated copper, compression terminals (lugs) applied with circumferential crimp
for copper conductor terminations, 8 AWG and larger.
C. Use solderless, tin-plated, compression terminals (lugs) applied with indenter crimp for copper
conductor terminations, 10 AWG and smaller.
D. Use solderless pressure connectors with insulating covers for copper wire splices and taps, 8
AWG and smaller. For 10 AWG and smaller, use insulated spring wire connectors with plastic
caps.
E. Use copper, compression connectors applied with circumferential crimp for copper wire splices
and taps, 6 AWG and larger. Tape uninsulated conductors and connectors with electrical tape to
150 percent of the insulation value of conductor.
F. Thoroughly clean wires before installing lugs and connectors.
G. Make splices, taps, and terminations to carry full ampacity of conductors without perceptible
temperature rise.
H. Terminate spare conductors with electrical tape, unless otherwise indicated on the Drawings.
I.
Phase Sequence: All apparatus shall be connected to operate in the phase sequence A-B-C
representing the time sequence in which the phase conductors so identified reach positive
maximum voltage.
J.
As a general rule, applicable to switches, circuit breakers, starters, panelboards, switchgear, and
the like, the connections to phase conductors are intended thus:
Facing the front and operating side of the equipment, the phase identification shall be:
Left to Right - A-B
Top to Bottom - A-B
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K. Connection revisions as required to achieve correct rotation of motors shall be made at the load
terminals of the starters or disconnect switches.
3.6 FIELD QUALITY CONTROL
A. Field inspection and testing will be performed under provisions of Division 1.
B. Inspect wire and cable for physical damage and proper connection.
C. Torque test conductor connections and terminations to manufacturer’s recommended values.
D. Perform continuity test on all power and equipment branch circuit conductors.
phasing connections.
Verify proper
END OF SECTION 26 05 13
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