SECTION 16120
CONDUCTORS AND CABLES
600-V AND LESS
PART 1 - GENERAL
1.01
RELATED DOCUMENTS
A.
1.02
SUMMARY
A.
1.03
Drawings and general provisions of the Contract, including General and Supplementary
Conditions and Division 1 Specification Sections, apply to this Section.
This Section includes building wires and cables and associated connectors, splices, and
terminations for wiring systems rated 600 V and less.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
A.
Electrical Components, Devices, and Accessories: Listed and labeled as defined in
NFPA 70, Article 100, by UL or by a testing agency acceptable to Authorities Having Jurisdiction, and marked for intended use.
B.
Comply with NFPA 70.
PART 2 - PRODUCTS
2.01
MANUFACTURERS
A.
2.02
In other Part 2 articles where subparagraph titles below introduce lists, the following requirements apply for product selection:
1.
Manufacturers: Subject to compliance with requirements, provide products by
the manufacturers specified.
CONDUCTORS AND CABLES
A.
Manufacturers:
1.
Alcan Aluminum Corporation; Alcan Cable Div.
2.
American Insulated Wire Corp.; a Leviton Company.
3.
General Cable Corporation.
4.
Senator Wire & Cable Company.
5.
Southwire Company.
B.
Refer to Part 3 "Conductor and Insulation Applications" Article for insulation type, cable
construction, and ratings.
C.
Conductor Material: Copper unless noted otherwise; complying with NEMA WC 5 or
NEMA WC 7 as applicable; solid conductor for No. 10 AWG and smaller, stranded for No.
8 AWG and larger.
1.
Aluminum Conductors: As noted on the drawings (if not noted on the drawings
aluminum is not allowed) shall be stranded construction, 1350 (EC) or ACM alloy.
D.
Conductor Insulation Types: Type THHN-THWN complying with NEMA WC 5 or NEMA
WC 7 as applicable.
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CONDUCTORS AND CABLES
2.03
CONNECTORS AND SPLICES
A.
Manufacturers:
1.
AFC Cable Systems, Inc.
2.
AMP Incorporated/Tyco International.
3.
Hubbell/Anderson.
4.
O-Z/Gedney; EGS Electrical Group LLC.
5.
3M Company; Electrical Products Division.
6.
Ideal Industries.
7.
Buchanan.
B.
Description: Factory-fabricated connectors and splices of size, ampacity rating, material,
type, and class for application and service indicated.
C.
No. 6 AWG and smaller: Twist-on wire connectors.
D.
No. 4 AWG and larger: Solderless or compression type CU/ALR lugs.
E.
Aluminum Conductors (if allowed):
1.
Splices and taps shall be made with solderless compression type splice connectors, UL listed for aluminum (CU/ALR).
2.
Terminal lugs and connectors shall be aluminum bodied and UL listed CU/ALR.
Equipment suppliers shall supply aluminum compatible terminations. Compression connectors shall be used.
PART 3 - EXECUTION
3.01
CONDUCTOR AND INSULATION APPLICATIONS
A.
Service Entrance: Type THHN-THWN or XHHW, single conductors in raceway.
B.
Exposed Feeders: Type THHN-THWN or XHHW, single conductors in raceway.
C.
Feeders Concealed in Ceilings, Walls, and Partitions: Type THHN-THWN or XHHW,
single conductors in raceway.
D.
Feeders concealed in Concrete, below Slabs-on-Grade, and in Crawlspaces:
Type THHN-THWN, single conductors in raceway.
E.
Exposed Branch Circuits, including in Crawlspaces: Type THHN-THWN single conductors in raceway.
F.
Branch Circuits Concealed in Ceilings, Walls, and Partitions: Type THHN-THWN, single
conductors in raceway.
G.
Branch Circuits Concealed in Concrete and below Slabs-on-Grade: Type THHN-THWN,
single conductors in raceway.
H.
Cord Drops and Portable Appliance Connections: Type SO, hard service cord.
I.
Fire Alarm Circuits: Type THHN-THWN, in raceway or Power-limited, fire-protective, signaling circuit cable, type NPLFP or PLFP.
J.
Class 1 Control Circuits: Type THHN-THWN, in raceway.
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CONDUCTORS AND CABLES
K.
3.02
Class 2 Control Circuits: Type THHN-THWN, in raceway or Power-limited cable, concealed in building finishes.
INSTALLATION
A.
Conceal cables in finished walls, ceilings, and floors, unless otherwise indicated.
B.
Use minimum No. 12 AWG for power and lighting circuits, minimum No. 14 AWG for control wiring.
C.
Increase conductor sizes as necessary to limit branch circuit voltage drop to 3 percent
and service/feeder voltage drop to 2 percent.
D.
Neatly train and lace wiring inside boxes, equipment, and panelboards. Make temporary
connections to panelboard devices with sufficient slack wire to facilitate reconnections
required for balancing loads between phases.
E.
Install wire in raceway after interior of building has been physically protected from the
weather and all mechanical work likely to injure wiring has been completed.
1.
Provide protection for exposed cables where subject to damage.
F.
Install cables at least 6 inches away from parallel runs of flues and steam or hot-water
pipes. Locate horizontal runs above water and steam piping.
G.
Use manufacturer-approved pulling compound or lubricant for No. 4 AWG and larger and
where necessary; compound used must not deteriorate conductor or insulation. Do not
exceed manufacturer's recommended maximum pulling tensions and sidewall pressure
values.
1.
Completely and thoroughly swab raceway system before installing conductors.
H.
Pull all conductors into a raceway at the same time. Use pulling means, including fish
tape, cable, rope, and basket-weave wire/cable grips, that will not damage cables or
raceway.
I.
Install exposed cables parallel and perpendicular to surfaces of exposed structural members, and follow surface contours where possible.
J.
Support cables according to NFPA 70.
K.
Seal around cables penetrating fire-rated elements according to Division 7 Section
"Through-Penetration Firestop Systems."
L.
Color-code conductors and cables according to Division 16 Section “Electrical Identification."
M.
Installation of Aluminum Conductors (if allowed):
1.
Minimum bending radii for final installation shall conform to IPCEA-S-66524/NEMA WC-7. All conductors shall be pulled using a UL listed pulling lubricant.
2.
Conductors shall be square-cut with a hacksaw or cable cutter without deforming
the stands. Insulation shall be removed with a penciling cut to avoid nicking the
stands. Surface oxides shall be removed by brushing exposed strands with a
wire brush or card file. Where conductor bends are less than eight times conductor diameter, the foregoing operations shall be done after bending.
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CONDUCTORS AND CABLES
3.03
Compression connectors shall be selected to fit the conductor. The conductor
shall be inserted into the barrel of the connector immediately after preparation.
4.
With terminal lugs, joint compound containing metallic or grit particles (such as
Pentrox or Alnox) shall be applied to the conductor strands immediately after wire
brushing and before inserting into the barrel. Set screws shall be tightened to the
manufacturer’s recommended torque’s.
CONNECTIONS
A.
Tighten electrical connectors and terminals according to manufacturer's published
torque-tightening values. If manufacturer's torque values are not indicated, use those
specified in UL 486A and UL 486B.
B.
Make splices and taps that are compatible with conductor material and that possess
equivalent or better mechanical strength and insulation ratings than unspliced conductors.
1.
Splice only in accessible junction boxes.
C.
3.04
3.
2.
Make splices, taps and terminations to carry full ampacity of conductors without
perceptible temperature rise. Tape uninsulated conductors and connectors with
electrical tape to 150 percent of the insulation value of conductor.
3.
If aluminum conductors are allowed, use oxide inhibitor in each splice and tap
conductor for aluminum conductors.
Wiring at Outlets: Install conductor at each outlet, with at least 6 inches of slack to allow
for connection to device.
FIELD QUALITY CONTROL
A.
Testing: Perform the following field quality-control testing:
1.
Torque test conductor connections and terminations to manufacturer’s recommended values.
2.
Perform continuity test on all power and equipment branch circuit conductors.
Verify proper phasing connections.
END OF SECTION
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