SECTION 16120 - WIRES AND CABLES
PART 1 - GENERAL
1.01
RELATED DOCUMENTS
A.
1.02
WIRES AND CABLES
A.
1.03
General: Drawings and general provisions of the Contract, including
General and Supplementary Conditions and Division 1 Specification
sections, apply to work specified of this section.
Description: Provide a complete and continuous system of conductors as
specified herein. All conductors shall be in accordance with the latest
edition of the NEC.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
A.
Qualifications: Manufacturers shall be regularly engaged in the
manufacture of wire systems and fittings of types and sizes required, and
whose products have been in satisfactory use in similar service for not
less than 5 years in the USA.
B.
Compliance: Materials shall comply with the following standards as they
apply to the different wire types specified herein.
1. UL:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
44 - Rubber insulated wire and cables.
83 - Thermoplastic insulated wires.
486-A-80 - Wire connectors and soldering lugs for use with
copper.
486B - Splicing wire connectors
493 - Thermoplastic insulated underground feeder and branch
circuit cables.
2. NFPA:
a.
1.04
70 NEC
PRIMARY CABLE
A.
Description: Cable shall be 5 KV, cable shall be single conductor #4/0
AWG Type EPLC, ethylene polypropylene, lead covered and PVC
jacketed, copper, wire shield, complete with compatible splices and
terminations. PILC may be substituted for type EPLC.
WIRES AND CABLES 16120-1
1.05
SUBMITTALS
A.
1.06
General: Submit product data on all different types of conductors
specified.
PRIMARY CABLE QUALITY ASSURANCE
A.
Reference Standards:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
B.
ASTM Specification B-3 (Copper)
ASTM Specification B-8 (Concentric stranded copper)
IPCEA Applicable Standards
IEEE Publication No. 48-Standard for Potheads.
Association of Edison Illuminating Companies (AEIC) 1-68
Source Quality Control:
1. Tests to meet IPCEA Standards.
2. Field tests shall be as herein specified.
PART 2 - PRODUCTS
2.01
CABLE (600V AND BELOW)
A.
Conductors: Branch circuit and feeder conductors for electric power shall
be copper type. Utilize THHN/THWN insulation for branch circuits and
THWN/XHHW insulation for feeders, unless specifically noted otherwise.
Conductors #10 AWG and smaller shall be solid, #8 AWG and larger shall
be stranded. No aluminum wiring shall be permitted. All wire shall be
sized as shown on the drawings. If no size is shown, wire shall be #12
AWG, except that branch "homeruns" over 50 ft. in length shall be #10
AWG for 120/208V circuits. Wire in vicinity of heat-producing equipment
shall be type XHHW insulation. All wiring shall be manufactured in the
USA and of 98 percent resistivity. #14 AWG minimum size conductors
shall be used for fire alarm system.
B.
Taps and Splices: All copper taps and splices in #8 AWG or smaller wire
shall be fastened together by means of "wirenut" connectors (Ideal or
accepted substitution). All taps and splices in wire larger than #8 AWG
shall be made with compression type connectors and taped to provide
insulation equal to wire. All taps and splices in manholes or in ground pull
box shall be made with compression type connectors and covered with
Raychem heavywall cable sleeves (type CTE or WCS) with type "S"
sealant coating. Provide sleeve kits as per manufacturer's installation
instructions.
WIRES AND CABLES 16120-2
2.02
C.
Color Coding, General: All power feeders, grounding conductors and
branch circuits #6 AWG and smaller shall be installed with color-coded
wire with the same color used for a system throughout the building.
Conductors above #6 AWG shall either be fully color-coded or shall have
black insulation and be similarly color-coded with tape in all junction boxes
and panels in accordance with NEC 310-12. Tape shall cover the
conductor insulation within the box or panel in such a manner so as to
allow standard markings to be readily observed.
D.
Colors: Unless otherwise accepted, color-code shall be as indicated in the
Identification section of the specifications. All switchlegs, other voltage
system wiring, control and interlock wiring shall be color-coded other than
those listed in the Identification Section of these specifications.
E.
Submittals: Submit cut sheets on all major types of wires and cables
including splicing tape, and terminating/splicing lugs or connectors and
cable sleeves.
MANUFACTURERS
A.
2.03
General: Branch circuit and feeder conductors shall be manufactured by
one of the following: General Cable Co., Anaconda, Pirelli, Rome Cable
Corporation, or American Insulated Wire Corporation.
PRIMARY CABLE (5 KV)
A.
EPLC Cable.
B.
PILCP Cable: Conductors shall be copper soft drawn or annealed,
uncoated and conform to ASTM Specifications(B-3) latest edition before
stranding. The conductors shall conform to AEIC-1-68 standards.
C.
Standards: Stranding shall be Class B. and shall conform to the latest
editions of ASTM Specifications (B-8) size shall be as shown on drawings.
D.
Construction: The conductors shall be covered with an extruded semiconducting layer. The layer shall be extruded over the conductor to a
minimum nominal thickness of 0.15 inches. It shall fit tightly to, but strip
readily from the conductor, and be thoroughly bonded to the insulation.
The semi-conducting tape shall conform to IPCEA Specifications S-19-18,
latest edition.
E.
Covering: Each conductor shall be covered with the appropriate
thickness. The insulation wall thickness shall conform to the wall
thickness requirements of IPCEA. The cable shall, as a minimum limit,
meet the physical and electrical requirements of IPCEA. The cable shall
be suitable for operation at a maximum continuous conductor temperature
of 85 degrees C.
WIRES AND CABLES 16120-3
F.
Insulation: EPR cable insulation shall be covered with an extruded layer
of semi-conducting thermosetting material which shall be identified as
being semi-conducting. Over this layer shall be applied a concentric serve
of #24 AWG annealed solid bare copper wires, over which shall be applied
a lapped non-metallic binder tape. A PVC jacket shall be applied over the
cable in accordance with IPCEA.
G.
Testing: All cable manufactured under this specification shall be
electrically tested according to IPCEA Standards. These tests shall
consist of AC voltage, DC voltage, insulation resistance and corona
extinction level. Cable shall be G.E. PWC or accepted substitution.
H.
Potheads: Potheads shall be installed on all terminations and shall be
designed for installation of the appropriate KV cable rating. Provide in
accordance with wire manufacturers specific instructions as detailed. G &
W or accepted substitution.
I.
Splice Instructions: Splices shall be designed in accordance with wire
manufacturers specific instructions and shall be designed for splicing the
appropriate rating cable of size as shown. Splices shall be lead wiped
only – no mechanical splices. G & W or accepted substitution.
J.
PILCP Splices: Splices to PILCP cable shall be made with transition joints
(G & W or accepted substitution) for PILCP/EPR cables, in accordance
with cable manufacturer specific instructions.
K.
Terminations: Cable terminations at oil switch shall be 1/C cableheads (G
& W or accepted substitution), complete with mounting gaskets, internal
wire rope connections, stress cones, compound, entrance fittings, etc.
required.
L.
Terminations: Cable terminations at transformer shall be load break
elbow connectors, Elastimold or accepted substitution. Leave sufficient
slack in cable to facilitate pulling of elbows. Elbows shall be installed as
required for cable.
WIRES AND CABLES 16120-4
2.04
FIREPROOFING OF CABLES IN MANHOLES
A.
General: All wire and cables in manholes shall be fireproofed individually
be phase, with a tape listed for the purpose, similar to Scotch Brand
#7700. Strips of fireproofing tape approximately 1/16 inch thick by 3
inches wide shall be wrapped tightly around each cable spirally in one-half
lapped wrapping. The tape shall be applied with the coated side toward
the cable, and shall extend one inch into the conduit. To prevent
unraveling, the fireproofing (Arc-proofing) tape shall be binder wrapped
with a glass cloth tape listed for that purpose, simjilar to Scotch Brand
#27, and shall conform to type FGT of specification MIL-I-15126. The
fireproofing (arcproofing) tape shall consist of a flexible, conformable
fabric having one side coated with a flame-retardant, flexible, polymeric
coating and/or a chlorinated elastomer. The tape shall not be less than
0.050 inch thick, and shall weigh not less than 2.5 pounds per square
yard. The tape shall be non-corrosive to cable sheath, shall be selfextinguishing, and shall not support combustion. The tape shall not
deteriorate when subjected to oil, water, gases, saltwater, sewage and
fungus. The tape shall have a tensile strength of not less than 40 pounds
per inch width, and when tested under USA Standard L14.184 cut strip
method, the tape shall retain 65 percent of its original tensile strength for
the following tests for 168 hours for each requirement;
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
B.
Immersion in distilled water,
Immersion in 3 percent salt water,
Exposure to ultra-violet light (30-watt germicidal lamp),
Exposure to sunlight (Type S-1 sun lamp), and
Exposure to concentrated sewage.
Testing: The completed installation of fireproofing shall be capable of
withstanding a 200 ampere arc for 30 seconds and shall be determined by
tests made of a sample assembly consisting of a 30 inch diameter lead
tube fireproofed (arcproofed) as specified above. The lead tube shall
have a wall thickness of 1/8 inch. The sample assembly shall be exposed
to an arc current from 7/8 inch electrodes located one inch from the
assembly at three different points. At each point, the arc current of not
less than 195 and not more than 210 amperes at 40 volts D.C. shall be
blown magnetically against the assembly until the lead tube melts at the
arc contact point. For each of the three tests, the fireproofing
(arcproofing) shall prevent the arc current from melting the lead tube for at
least 25 seconds at any one point, and for an average of 30 seconds for
the three points.
WIRES AND CABLES 16120-5
PART 3 - EXECUTION
3.01
3.02
EXECUTION
A.
General: All wiring shall be installed in conduit (power, low voltage and
control wiring), unless otherwise indicated or specified under other
Sections of this specification. All wiring shall be installed per the latest
edition of the NEC.
B.
Connections: Conductors #10 and #12 AWG shall be connected with preinsulated spring connectors incased in a steel shell and rated at not less
than 105 degrees C. A minimum of 3/8 inch skirt shall cover the bare
wires. The connector shall meet with UL approval for fixture and pressure
work, and shall be "Scotch Lok" Type Y, R and B electrical spring
connectors as manufactured by the 3M Company or approved equal.
C.
Connector Manufacturers: Lugs and wire connectors shall be one of the
following: Burndy Corporation, Thomas & Betts, Co., Appleton or ILSCO.
D.
Equipment Installations: Neatly form, train and tie the cables in
panelboards, cabinets, wireways, switches and equipment assemblies.
PRIMARY CABLE
A.
Installation: The termination of all cables shall be protected from
accidental contact, deterioration of coverages, contamination and moisture
in accordance with the National Electrical Code, and by use of the
termination devices as specified hereinafter. Termination and splices shall
be made by adequately trained personnel, using methods and materials
suitable for the work as necessary and as specified hereinafter, and in
accordance with the recommendations to the manufacturer of the cable
and/or terminating and splicing materials or kit. Such recommendations,
accompanied by suitable detail drawings shall be submitted for
acceptance. Terminations of cable for service exceeding 600 volts shall
be made by personnel having not less than three years experience as a
licensed electrician, including adequate experience in the splicing or
terminating of EPLC and PILCP high-voltage insulated cable; the
experience shall be certified and accepted and must be acceptable to the
Engineer. Cable splicer shall submit his certification and experience
record to Engineer for review before commencing any work. Noncompliance or inadequate records shall be grounds to disqualify the
proposed splicer. An existing installed sample of the splicers work may be
requested by the engineer to verify experience records. Terminations,
splices and/or terminating devices shall be capable of withstanding the
tests specified for the cable installations, and for service exceeding 600
volts, shall be rated in accordance with the IEEE Standard for potheads,
publication No. 48. The Engineer shall be notified prior to the first splice
WIRES AND CABLES 16120-6
and termination with adequate notice so that he or his representative can
be present at his discretion.
B.
Terminations: Terminations of cables shall include the securing and
sealing of the installation of the cable and cable conductors, stress relief
and grouting of cable shields or shielded cable. Cables and cable
terminations shall be adequately supported so as to avoid any excessive
strain on the termination and the conductor connection.
C.
Cable Racks: Cable in manholes shall be placed on porcelain insulators
on suitable racks. Cable shall be secured by cable ties which are fungus
resistant, ultra-violet and heat stabilized and made of self-extinguishing
nylon material.
D.
Cable Length: Length of any cable in manhole shall be not less than the
circumference of the interior of the manhole. This dimension shall be
determined, for a contiguous, unspliced length of cable, for the point
where the cable enters the manhole to the point where it exits the
manhole. For a length of cable which either splices or terminates within
the manhole, the minimum length of one manhole circumference shall be
determined from the point where the cable enters, or exits, the manhole to
the splice or termination.
E.
Connection to Existing: If the newly installed cable is to be connected to
an existing cable, within the manhole, the newly installed cable shall have
a length of not less than one circumference of the manhole from the point
where the cable enters, or exits the manhole, to the point of connection to
the existing cable. The existing cable shall not be required to be one
manhole circumference if that amount of length is not existing. However,
the existing cable shall not be shortened without written permission from
the Systems Department Assistant Director.
F.
Hardware: All mounting equipment and hardware shall be hot-dipped
galvanized or stainless steel.
END OF SECTION 16120
WIRES AND CABLES 16120-7