A/E Name / Issue Description
A/E Project No. / Month, 00, 0000
SECTION 26 05 19 – cable, wire and connectors, 600 volt
PART 1 - GENERAL
1.01 RELATED DOCUMENTS
A. Drawings and general provisions of the Contract, including General Conditions and Division 01 Specification Sections, apply to this Section.
B. Specifications throughout all Divisions of the Project Manual are directly applicable to this Section, and this Section is directly applicable to them.
1.02 SUMMARY
A. This Section specifies the requirements for 600-volt cable, wire and connectors. It consists of but is not limited to power distribution circuitry, control system circuitry, lighting circuitry, appliance, equipment and motor-branch circuitry and outdoor power and lighting circuitry.
1.03 REFERENCE STANDARDS
A. The latest published edition of a reference shall be applicable to this Project unless identified by a specific edition date.
B. All reference amendments adopted prior to the effective date of this Contract shall be applicable to this Project.
C. All materials, installation and workmanship shall comply with the applicable requirements and standards addressed within the following references:
1. NEMA WC 3: Rubber-Insulated Wire and Cable for the Transmission and Distribution of Electrical Energy.
2. NEMA WC 5: Thermoplastic-Insulated Wire and Cable for the Transmission and Distribution of Electrical Energy.
3. Where application of National Electrical Code, appears to be in conflict with the requirements of this section, the Owner shall be asked for an interpretation.
1.04 SUBMITTALS
A. Product Data:
1. Submit manufacturer’s data on cable and wire connectors.
1.05 DELIVERY, STORAGE and HANDLING
A. Provide factory-wrapped waterproof flexible barrier material for covering wire and cable wood reels, where applicable; and weather resistant fiberboard containers for factory-packaging of cable, wire and connectors, to protect against physical damage in transit. Damaged cable, wire or connectors shall be removed from the Project Site.
B. In their factory-furnished coverings, store cable, wire and connectors in a clean, dry indoor space which provides protection against the weather.
PART 2 - PRODUCTS
2.01 GENERAL
A. All materials shall meet or exceed all applicable referenced standards, federal, state and local requirements, and conform to codes and ordinances of authorities having jurisdiction.
B. Provide factory-fabricated wire of the size, rating, material and type as indicated for each service. Where not indicated, provide proper selection as required to comply with installation requirements and with NEC standards. The minimum size wire to be used for power or lighting circuits shall be #12 copper stranded with insulation as noted below. Minimum size for control circuits shall be #14 copper stranded.
2.02 Manufacturers
A. Interstate Wire Company.
B. American Insulated.
C. Okonite.
D. Southwire.
E. Encore Wire.
2.03 BUILDING WIRE
A. NEMA WC 70 – Nonshielded 0-2kV Cables
B. Feeders and Branch Circuits all sizes: 98 percent conductivity copper, stranded conductor, 600-volt insulation, THHN/THWN. Use XHHW insulation for all isolated power circuits.
C. Control Circuits: 98 percent conductivity copper, stranded conductor, 600 volt insulation, THHN, THWN.
D. Color Coding:
1. Branch Circuit and Feeders:
280Y/120 Volts / 480Y/277 Volts / 120/240 VoltsPhase A / Black / Yellow / Black
Phase B / Red / Brown / Red
Phase C / Blue / Orange / ----
Neutral / White with tracer / Gray with tracer / White with tracer
Ground / Green / Green / Green
2. The above colors shall be used unless requirements of code require different colors. When connecting to existing circuits, existing color coding shall be utilized. The neutral tracer color shall match the phase conductor color that it is associated with. Lighting circuits with shared grounding conductor are not required to have tracer colors on the wire.
3. Secondary conductors from isolation transformers shall be: Conductor 1-orange and conductor 2-brown.
4. Conductors No. 8 AWG and larger shall be identified by colored plastic tape that marches the circuit phase color at all visible points when colored insulation is unavailable. Colored tape shall be located and of such a quantity to readily indicate the conductor phase.
E. Type AC and MC cable assemblies shall be permitted only with proper cable management via cable trays and with Owner’s prior written approval.
2.04 REMOTE CONTROL AND SIGNAL CABLE
A. Control Cable for Class 1 Remote Control and Signal Circuits: 98 percent conductivity copper conductor, 600-volt insulation, rated 60 degrees 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: 98 percent conductivity copper conductor, 300-volt insulation, rated 60 degrees C, individual conductors twisted together, shielded and covered with a nonmetallic jacket; UL listed for use in air handling ducts, hollow spaces used as ducts, and plenums.
PART 3 - EXECUTION
3.01 Preparation
A. Installer must examine the areas and conditions under which cable, wire and connectors are to be installed and notify the Contractor and Owner in writing of conditions detrimental to the proper and timely completion of the work.
B. Inspect wire and cable for physical damage. Do not proceed with the work until unsatisfactory conditions have been corrected.
3.02 INSTALLATION
A. Installation shall meet or exceed all applicable federal, state and local requirements, referenced standards and conform to codes and ordinances of authorities having jurisdiction.
B. All installation shall be in accordance with manufacturer’s published recommendations.
C. General wiring methods:
1. Install electrical cable, wire and connectors as indicated. All installations, temporary or permanent, shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s written instructions, the applicable requirements of NEC, and as required ensuring that products serve the intended functions.
2. Coordinate cable and wire installation work with electrical raceway and equipment installation work, as necessary for proper interface.
3. Cables shall be selected on the basis of their purpose and UL listing. Generally, use Types THWN, XHHW and THNN in building interiors and other dry locations. Outdoors and in underground in raceways, use Type THWN or THHN. Conductors subject to abrasion, such as in lighting poles, shall be Type THWN or THHN.
4. No conductor smaller than No. 12 wire shall be used for branch circuit wiring. In the case of “homeruns” over 50 feet in length (100 feet for 277 volt), no conductor smaller than a No. 10 wire shall be used. The tap conductor from the J-box in the ceiling to the receptacle may be No. 12. Each 120-volt phase conductor shall have a neutral conductor of the same size. The sizing of all wire except remote control wire shall be accomplished in the case of both feeder and branch circuits by conforming to the following provisions.
a. 480 Volt Branch Circuits: The voltage drop in the case of 277/480 volt circuits shall not exceed 1.0 percent at maximum load and 70.0 percent power factor.
b. 120/208 Volt Branch Circuits: The voltage drop in the case of 120/208 volt circuits shall not exceed 2.0 percent at maximum load and 70.0 percent power factor.
5. Remote control wires shall be no smaller than No.14 AWG stranded copper conductors and shielded with drain. Control wires shall be run in separate conduits. Departures from the sizes so determined shall be made only in those cases in which the National Electrical Code requires the use of larger conductors. The sizes as determined from these tables shall be regarded as the acceptable minimum under all other circumstances. In no case, however, shall there be a voltage drop greater than that specified in any feeder or branch circuit. This voltage drop shall be based on the full load, 70 percent power factor, the total impedance drop with 60-hertz alternating current and with the reactance drop in the respective metal conduits duly considered. The Contractor may, if Contractor deems it necessary or advisable, use larger sized conductors than those shown. Under no circumstances, however, shall the Contractor use any conductors sized in a manner which does not conform to the above mentioned tables without having first secured the written approval of the Owner’s duly authorized representative.
D. Wiring Installation Raceways:
1. Wire and cable shall be pulled into clean dry conduit.
2. Pull conductors together where more than one is being installed in a raceway.
3. Use UL listed pulling compound or lubricant, when necessary; compound must not deteriorate conductor and insulation. No pulling compound shall be used when pulling isolated power circuits utilizing XHHW insulation.
4. 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. Wires with damaged insulation shall be replaced at no cost to the Owner.
5. Place an equal number of conductors for each phase of a circuit in same raceway.
6. No more than three phase conductors shall be installed in same conduit. Line conductors shall not share the same conduit with load conductors.
E. Wiring Connections and Terminations:
1. Splicing cable or wire is not allowed unless it is explicitly designed by the Engineer, or for equipment connection per equipment manufacturer’s recommendation. Where splices are to be implemented, approval of the Owner must be obtained before installation is made. Provide electrical boxes where splices are made.
2. Thoroughly clean wires before installing lugs and connectors.
3. Terminate indoor spare conductors with electrical tape in a box.
4. Conductors installed outdoors or in garages, whether in use or spare, shall be installed in conduits and terminated in boxes that are rated for outdoor use with listed connectors that are rated for watertight/rain tight applications. The use of indoor wire nuts with electrical tape is prohibited for installations outdoors or in garages.
F. Field Quality Control:
1. Torque test conductor connections and terminations to manufacturer’s recommended values.
2. Perform continuity test on all conductors. Verify proper phasing connections and phase rotation, where applicable.
3. Conductors in vertical conduits or raceways shall be supported in the manner set forth in the appropriate section of the latest revision of the National Electrical Code. Lighting fixtures shall not be used for raceways for circuits other than series wiring of fixtures.
4. Conductors may be run parallel on sizes 1/0 to 500 kcMIL inclusive provided all parallel conductors are the same size manufacturer, length and type of insulation. Except as otherwise shown on Drawings, no more than three (3) conductors may be run in parallel, and they shall be so arranged and terminated as to ensure equal division of the total current between all conductors involved. Where parallel connection is contemplated, approval of the Owner must be obtained before installation is made.
3.03 TESTING
A. Before final acceptance, the Contractor shall make voltage, insulation and load tests, necessary to demonstrate to the Owner the satisfactory installation and proper performance of all feeder circuits.
B. Test feeder conductors to determine the conductors are clear of faults, high resistance connections and megger test same at 600 volts DC. Test results below 30 mega ohms shall be cause for rejection of the wiring installation. Replace and retest all such rejected conductors.
END OF SECTION 26 05 19
The University of Texas / cable, wire and connectors, 600 voltMD Anderson Cancer Center / 26 05 19
MS021915 / 5 of 5