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TE CH N I C A L INF O RM A T I O N 252

Cables Standards Reference Guide

®
National Electrical Code (NEC) NEC Installation Type
Catalog Reference Information Article/Type Description
Plenum Riser Commercial Residential
The National Electrical Code is a set of CL2 Class 2 cables CL2P CL2R CL2 CL2X*
guidelines describing procedures which CL3 Class 3 cables CL3P CL3R CL3 CL2X*
minimize the hazards of electrical shock, 725 A stand-alone class. This is a power
fires, and explosions caused by electrical PLTC limited tray cable — a CL3-type cable which (none) (none) PLTC (none)
can be used outdoors, is sunlight-
installation. The text of the NEC is contained and moisture-resistant and must pass
the Vertical Tray flame test.
in nine chapters, each chapter broken into
Power limited, fire protective
individual articles. 760 FPL signaling circuit cable FPLP FPLR FPL (none)
Fiber cable also containing
NEC types are acronyms consisting of a OFC OFCP OFCR OFCG, OFC (none)
770 metallic conductors
prefix describing cable type (e.g. coax, CATV, OFN Fiber cable only containing optical fibers OFNP OFNR OFNG, OFN (none)
fiber optic) and a suffix indicating the type
800 CM Communications CMP CMR CMG, CM CMX*
of flame test it has passed and where it can Community antenna television
820 CATV CATVP CATVR CATV CATVX**
be installed. Articles describing wire and and radio distribution system
cable products — including required cable 830 BM Network-powered broadband BLP BMR BM BLX
markings — are listed in the chart to the right. communications cable
*Cable diameter must be less than 0.250".
**Cable diameter must be less than 0.375".
Impact of the NEC
Almost everyone involved with wire and C(UL) Certifications (CSA) Standard C22.2 No. 0.3. In addition,
cable is affected by the National Electrical if more than 25% of the indicator flag is
Code. In particular, the following groups UL/NEC-Approved cables may also be burned, the test cable fails.
must incorporate NEC guidelines into C(UL)/CEC-Approved as communications
their work: OEM engineers, wire and cable cables meeting the requirements of the FT4 Vertical Flame Test —
product engineers, distributors, installers, Bi-National Standard CSA C22.2 No. 214/ Cables in Cable Trays per C.S.A.
and architects. UL 444 and Section 60 of the Canadian C22.2 No. 0.3-92 Para 4.11.4
Electrical Code, Part I (CEC). The C(UL)
Although NEC covers wire and cable cable designation (and its meaning) would The FT4 Vertical Flame Test — Cables in Cable
installed in factories, office buildings, hotels, be one of the following: Trays is similar to the UL-1685 Vertical Tray
motels, apartment buildings, residences, Flame Test, but is more severe. The FT4 test
and all cables which pass through any 1. CMP — Cable meeting CSA FT6 or NFPA has its burner mounted at 20° from the
floor, wall, ceiling, or which travel in ducts, 262 (UL 910); horizontal with the burner ports facing up.
plenums, and other air handling spaces, 2. CMR — Cable meeting UL 1666; The UL-1685 Vertical Tray has its burner at 0°
each individual municipality, city, county, or from the horizontal. The FT4 samples must
state can decide whether or not they wish 3. CMG — Cable meeting CSA FT4 or be larger than 13 mm (.512") in diameter.
to adopt the NEC as law. Local authorities FT4/IEEE 1202 type of flames If not, then the cable samples are grouped
having jurisdiction enforce their own codes. exposure (without smoke in units of at least three (3) to obtain a
They have the right to accept or refuse any measurements) in UL 1685; grouped overall diameter of 13mm. The
installation in accordance with their own 4. CM — Cable meeting UL 1685 UL-1581 Vertical Tray does not distinguish
local laws. One of the organizations local (without smoke measurement) on cable size. The FT4 has a maximum
inspectors rely on to test wire and cable is (UL 1581, Sec. 1160) Vertical-Tray; char height of 1.5 m (59") measured
Underwriters Laboratories (UL). from the lower edge of the burner face.
5. CMX or CMUC — meeting UL 1581,
The UL-1685 has a flame height allowable
Intended Uses of Appliance Sec. 1080 (VW-1);
Wiring Materials (AWM) up to approximately 78" measured from
6. CMH — Cable meeting CSA FT1. the burner.
In the past, AWM cable was incorrectly
NOTE: The CSA flame tests are defined
used to wire buildings — this was never FT6 Horizontal Flame & Smoke Test —
in CSA C22.2 No. 0.3 as follows:
its intended use. per C.S.A. C22.2 No. 0.3-92 Appendix B
AWM cable is intended for internal wiring FT1 Vertical Flame Test — Belden® products passing the FT6 Horizontal
of factory-assembled, listed appliances such per C.S.A. C22.2 No. 0.3-92 Flame and Smoke Test are designated FT6
Para 4.11.1 in the column where the trade number
as computers, business machines, ranges,
washers, dryers, radios, and televisions. A finished cable shall not propagate a flame appears. This test is for cables which must
pass a Horizontal Flame and Smoke Test
or continue to burn for more than 1 minute
In some cases, AWM cable may be used for in accordance with ANSI/NFPA Standard
after five 15-second applications of the test
external connection. In these situations, 262-1985 (UL-910). The maximum flame
flame. There is an interval of 15 seconds
the user should be aware that AWM cable spread shall be 1.50 meters (4.92 ft.).
between flame applications. The flame test
temperatures and voltage ratings may The smoke density shall be 0.5 at peak
shall be performed in accordance with Para
differ from NEC ratings. optical density and 0.15 at maximum
4.11.1 of Canadian Standards Association
average optical density.
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