ALCAN CaBLE INSTALLER’S HANDBOOK FOR ALCAN WIRE AND CABLES ABOUT THIS GUIDE This guide is intended to provide introductory technical Wire and cable products supplied by Alcan comply with data to aid the correct selection of wire and cable for the codes, standards and product specifications as permanent installation in commercial, institutional and indicated in this guide. industrial premises. Such installations are governed by the Weights and measurements are subject to manufacturing requirement of the Canadian Electrical Code Part I, and tolerances and product design changes. Consequently, enforced by the appointed authority having jurisdiction in Alcan does not accept responsibility for costs incurred by this area under provincial law (federal law in the case of a purchaser as a result of weights and measurements not federal territories), with or without Code amendments as conforming exactly to those indicated. the case may be. Wires and cables in installations falling under the jurisdiction of the provincial and territorial inspection authorities are almost invariably required to be certified to the requirements of CSA standards under the approval of the CSA Technical Committee on Wiring Products. This guide provides information on standard products stocked by Alcan’s Distributors. Alcan manufactures a wide range of additional products in various sizes which can be supplied by special order. For more information, contact your distributor or visit www.cable.alcan.com for the most current list of product offerings. ABOUT ALCAN Alcan is a name people know and trust. For over a We’re committed to the success of our products, and to century, our products have helped supply communities the satisfaction of our customers. That’s why Alcan will with power from coast to coast across the continent. And continue to be a name people know and trust. in that time we’ve become synonymous not only with aluminum, but with the latest technology and highest standards of quality and service. We offer a full range of bare and insulated wires to both the utility and distribution markets, and support them with technical experts specifically trained to help our customers achieve their desired end results. We believe our customers’ satisfaction relies entirely on the quality of our products. That’s why we work hard to ensure they’re consistently superior to anything else on the market. Our distribution centre, technical centre and manufacturing facilities have all attained ISO 9000 certification, and we’re proud to have the only North American manufacturing plant with the triple accreditation of ISO 9000, 14000 and 18000. www.cable.alcan.com 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Engineering Information . 4 Table 5-9 . 27 Alcan Armoured Cables . 5 Table 5-10 . 28 Fire Test Standards . 8 Diagram 4 . 30 Splicing and Terminating Conductors . 10 Table 5-11 . 31 Single- vs Multi-conductor Constructions Table 5-12 . 32 General . 12 Notes and Corrections to Tables 5-5 to 5-12 . 33 Voltage Drop . 13 APPLICATION RULES Magnetic Fields and Harmonics . 13 Section 4: Conductors Circulating Currents . 14 Rule 4-004: Ampacity of Wires and Cables . 36 Installation of Single-conductor AC90, ACWU90 and Rule 4-008: Sheath Currents . 38 TECK90 Cables . 15 Section 8: Circuit Loading and demand factors Recommended Configuration for Parallel Operation of Rule 8-100: Current Calculations . 38 Single-conductor Cables in Free Air . 17 Rule 8-102: Voltage drop . 38 ALLOWABLE AMPACITIES Rule 8-104: Maximum Circuit Loading . 39 Diagram 1 . 19 Rule 8-106: Use of Demand Factors . 40 Table 5-5 . 20 Section 12: Wiring Methods Table 5-6 . 21 Rule 12-012: Underground Installations . 41 Diagram 2 . 23 Rule 12-106: Multi- and Single-conductor Cables . 42 Table 5-7 . 24 Rule 12-108: Conductors in Parallel . 43 Table 5-8 . 25 Diagram 3 . 26 www.cable.alcan.com 2 Rule 12-118: Termination and Splicing of Aluminum Conductors . 43 Rules 12-600 - 12-618: Armoured Cable Work Rules . 44 Rules 12-2200 - 12-2210: Cables in Trays . 47 TABLES Conductor Ampacities . 50 Table 5A: Correction Factors . 52 Tables 5B/5C: Correction Factors . 53 Table 5D: Current Rating Correction Factors . 54 Table 8: Percent Conduit and Tubing Fill . 54 Table 9: Cross-sectional Areas of Conduit and Tubing . 55 Table 10: Dimensions of Insulated Conductors . 56 Table 16: Min. Size of Bonding Conductors . 58 Table 17: Min. Size of Grounding Conductors . 59 Table 18: Min. Size of Grounding Conductors . 60 Table 21: Supporting of Conductors in Vertical Runs of Raceways . 61 Dimensions of Stranded Bare Conductors . 62 DC Resistance Values of Stranded Conductors . 63 Table D6: Tightening Torques . 64 Table D7: Tightening Torques . 65 www.cable.alcan.com 3 ENGINEERING INFORMATION NUAL® • Thermosetting wires (RW90 XLPE, RWU90 XLPE) to The term NUAL refers to Alcan manufactured aluminum CSA Standard C22.2 No. 38 alloy conductor material, designated as “ACM” in the • Nonmetallic Sheathed Cable (NMD90) to Canadian Electrical Code. NUAL is produced in rod form CSA Standard C22.2 No. 48 and afterwards drawn to the appropriate wire diameter for • Armoured Cable (AC90, ACWU90*) to CSA Standard fabrication into solid or stranded conductor building wire C22.2 No. 51 and cable. • TECK* Cable to CSA Standard C22.2 No. 131 NUAL is CSA-certified in finished building wire form, as well as in raw material form as rolled rod for processing • Service cables for underground installations (USEI, by cable fabricators into finished wire and cable. Meeting USEB) to CSA Standard C22.2 No. 52 all of the physical and electrical requirements of • Service cables (neutral supported) for overhead aluminum to CSA and UL standards, NUAL in addition installations (NS-1, NSF-2) to CSA Standard C22.2 No. 129 provides superior connectability in both solid and Wiring methods described for NUAL are equally stranded conductor form. applicable to aluminum and copper conductors. NUAL is CSA-certified up to 2000 kcmil and is mandatory * With supplementary HL ratings for all hazardous locations. in sizes 12 and 10 AWG solid. NUAL conductors are supplied by Alcan in sizes 8 AWG and larger, other than Neutral-supported Cables, which have AA1350 phase conductors and an ACSR neutral/messenger conductor. www.cable.alcan.com 4 ALCAN ARMOURED CABLES AC90 AVAILABLE SIZES NUAL SPECIFICATION Single-conductor 1/0 AWG to 750 kcmil CSA C22.1 No. 51 Multi-conductor 6 AWG to 750 kcmil FT4 Rated: Vertical Cable Tray Test Alcan AC90 Single-conductor Cable Alcan AC90 Multi-conductor Cable NUAL Bonding NUAL Concentric Conductor Phase NUAL Bonding Conductors Conductor RW90 XLPE Interlocked NUAL Phase Conductors RW90 XLPE Interlocked Insulation Aluminum Armour Insulation Aluminum Armour www.cable.alcan.com 5 ACWU90 AVAILABLE SIZES NUAL SPECIFICATION Single-conductor 1/0 AWG to 1500 kcmil CSA C22.2 No. 51 Multi-conductor 6 AWG to 750 kcmil FT4 Rated: Vertical Cable Tray Test CSA C22.2 No. 174 Hazardous Locations ACWU90 Single-conductor Cable ACWU90 Multi-conductor Cable RW90 XLPE Interlocked NUAL Insulation Aluminum Armour RW90 XLPE Interlocked Phase Insulation Aluminum Armour Conductors NUAL Phase Concentric FT4-rated, AG14 NUAL Conductors NUAL Bonding PVC Jacket Bonding FT4-rated, AG14 Conductor Conductor PVC Jacket www.cable.alcan.com 6 TECK90 AVAILABLE SIZES NUAL SPECIFICATION Single-conductor 1/0 AWG to 1000 kcmil CSA C22.2 No. 131 (TECK) Multi-conductor 6 AWG to 750 kcmil CSA C22.2 No. 174 (Hazardous Locations) FT4 Rated: Vertical Cable Tray Test TECK90 Single-conductor Cable TECK90 Multi-conductor Cable FT4-rated FT4-rated Concentric AG14 Non- Interlocked NUAL AG14 90˚C AG14 PVC hygroscopic Aluminum PVC Jacket NUAL Bonding PVC inner jacket Jacket NUAL filler Armour Phase Conductor Phase Conductors Conductors ALCAN B 1/C 750 KCMIL AL A ALCAN B 3/C 750 KCMIL AL RW90 NUAL RW90 XLPE Interlocked Bonding XLPE 90˚C AG14 Insulation Aluminum Conductor Insulation PVC inner jacket Armour www.cable.alcan.com 7 FIRE TEST STANDARDS FT1 & FT4 RATINGS The unjacketed construction, type AC90, is not required to The CSA Standard for AC90, ACWU90 and TECK90 cables meet the FT4 test. Its interlocked aluminum armour is require that all cables meet the Vertical Flame Test (FT1 considered equivalent to insulated conductors in metal Bunsen burner test) to CSA Standard C22.2 No. 0.3. In conduit and is highly resistant to flame spread. addition, a much tougher level of performance is specified Appendix “B” of the CEC explains the application of cables in the CSA Vertical Flame Test – Cables in Cable Tray to bearing the FT1 and FT4 designations. CSA Standard C22.2 No. 0.3. All Alcan ACWU90 and TECK90 cables meet both these FT1 - Wires and cables that are suitable for installation in levels of flammability performance. Typical results are buildings of combustible construction; and shown in the following table. Compliance is indicated by the designation “FT4” printed on the outer PVC jacket and on FT4 - Wires and cables that are suitable for installation in: shipping tags. (a) buildings of noncombustible and combustible PVC-jacketed cables meeting the FT4 standard are accepted construction; and by the National Building Code for installation in all parts of (b) spaces between a ceiling and floor, or ceiling and noncombustible buildings, including vertical shafts and roof, that may be used as a plenum in buildings of return air plenums. The 2002 Canadian Electrical Code Part combustible or noncombustible construction. I reflects an equivalent performance level requirement, Wires and cables with combustible insulation, outer jackets harmonizing the two major installation codes. or sheaths that do not meet the above classifications should Note: Check with your provincial building code officials to be located in enclosed noncombustible raceways, masonry ensure compliance with local amendments. walls or concrete slabs. www.cable.alcan.com 8 Wire and cable passing these tests will be marked FT1 or WARNING FT4 directly on their jackets.