March 1999

Process Industry Practices

Electrical

PIP ELSWC03
600 Volt Power and Control Cable
 PURPOSE AND USE OF PROCESS INDUSTRY PRACTICES

In an effort to minimize the cost of process industry facilities, this Practice has
been prepared from the technical requirements in the existing standards of major
industrial users, contractors, or standards organizations. By harmonizing these technical
requirements into a single set of Practices, administrative, application, and engineering
costs to both the purchaser and the manufacturer should be reduced. While this Practice
is expected to incorporate the majority of requirements of most users, individual
applications may involve requirements that will be appended to and take precedence over
this Practice. Determinations concerning fitness for purpose and particular matters or
application of the Practice to particular project or engineering situations should not be
made solely on information contained in these materials. The use of trade names from
time to time should not be viewed as an expression of preference but rather recognized as
normal usage in the trade. Other brands having the same specifications are equally
correct and may be substituted for those named. All practices or guidelines are intended
to be consistent with applicable laws and regulations including OSHA requirements. To
the extent these practices or guidelines should conflict with OSHA or other applicable
laws or regulations, such laws or regulations must be followed. Consult an appropriate
professional before applying or acting on any material contained in or suggested by the
Practice.

© Process Industry Practices (PIP), Construction Industry Institute, The

University of Texas at Austin, 3208 Red River Street, Suite 300, Austin,
Texas 78705. PIP member companies may copy this practice for their internal
use.

Not printed with State funds

 March 1999

Process Industry Practices

Electrical

PIP ELSWC03
600 Volt Power and Control Cable
Table of Contents

1. Introduction ..................................2 4. Inspection and Testing................ 4

1.1 Purpose ..............................................2
1.2 Scope .................................................2 5. Shipping ....................................... 5
2. References....................................2 6. Documentation............................. 5
2.1 Process Industry Practices (PIP) .........2
2.2 Industry Codes and Standards ............2
2.3 Conflict Resolution..............................3

3. Construction .................................3
3.1 General...............................................3
3.2 Conductor ...........................................3
3.3 Insulation ............................................3
3.4 Ground Wire .......................................4
3.5 Metallic Sheath ...................................4
3.6 Outer Jacket .......................................4
3.7 Cable Identification .............................4
3.8 Cable Length Tolerance......................4

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PIP ELSWC03
600 Volt Power and Control Cable March 1999

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this Practice is to provide a specification for the purchase of 600 volt
rated power and control Tray Cable (Type TC) and Metal-Clad (Type MC) cable for
use in a process facility.

1.2 Scope
This Practice defines the minimum technical requirements for construction, inspection,
testing, and shipping of insulated copper cable. The scope includes 600 volt rated
multiple conductor power and control tray cable and metal-clad cable.

2. References

Applicable requirements in the latest edition (or the edition indicated) of the following industry
standards and PIP Practices shall be considered an integral part of this Practice. Short titles
will be used herein when appropriate.

2.1 Process Industry Practices (PIP)

− PIP ELSWC03D - Data Sheet for ELSWC03 - 600 Volt Power and Control
Cable

2.2 Industry Codes and Standards

All cable shall be designed, manufactured, and tested in accordance with the
applicable sections of the latest edition of the following standards:
• American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM)
− ASTM B8 - Conductors, Copper, Concentric-Lay-Stranded, Hard, Medium-
Hard, or Soft
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
− IEEE 383 - Type Test of Class 1E Electric Cables, Field Splices, and
Connections for Nuclear Power Generating Stations
− IEEE 1202 - Flame Testing of Cables for Use in Cable Tray in Industrial
and Commercial Occupancies
• Insulated Cable Engineers Association (ICEA)
– ICEA S-73-532 (NEMA WC57) - Control Cables
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
− NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code (NEC)

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 PIP ELSWC03
March 1999 600 Volt Power and Control Cable

• Underwriters Laboratories (UL)

– UL 1277 - Standard for Safety for Electrical Power and Control Tray
Cables with Optional Optical-Fiber Members
– UL 1569 - Metal-Clad Cables

2.3 Conflict Resolution

Any conflicts between the referenced documents shall be identified in writing to the
Buyer for resolution. In general, when resolving conflicts, the following order of
precedence shall apply:

• Purchase Order

• Data Sheet, PIP ELSWC03D

• This Practice, PIP ELSWC03
• Other Referenced Specifications

3. Construction

3.1 General
3.1.1 Site conditions are as specified on the Data Sheet.
3.1.2 Type TC cable shall comply with the requirements of NEC Article 340. Type
MC cable shall comply with requirements of NEC Article 334. When used in
cable tray, cables shall also comply with the requirements of NEC Article 318.
The ampacity shall be in accordance with the requirements of NEC-1999
Article 334-13 for Type MC and NEC-1999 Article 340-7 for Type TC.

3.2 Conductor
The conductor(s) shall be Class B stranded copper per ASTM B8.

3.3 Insulation
3.3.1 Insulation type shall be as specified on the Data Sheet.
3.3.2 Individual wire insulation shall be 600 volt, 75° C (minimum) rated, and shall
be suitable for installation in wet and dry locations, unless otherwise specified
on the Data Sheet.
3.3.3 Individual wires shall be color coded using ICEA S-73-532 Appendix E,
Method 1 with colors in accordance with Table E-2 (omits white and green).
For multiconductor power cables No. 8 AWG and larger, wire identification
shall be ICEA Method 4 (numbered printing on single color insulation), when
specified on the Data Sheet.

Process Industry Practices Page 3 of 5

PIP ELSWC03
600 Volt Power and Control Cable March 1999

3.4 Ground Wire

A bare grounding conductor or conductors, sized in accordance with NEC-1999
Article 250-122 requirements, shall be provided in all cables, unless specified
otherwise on the Data Sheet. For cables No. 10 and smaller, a green insulated or bare
conductor may be provided as the grounding conductor.

3.5 Metallic Sheath

For Type MC cable, a metallic sheath shall be provided which meets the requirements
of UL 1569. The metallic sheath shall be either continuous-welded, impervious
corrugated aluminum, aluminum interlocked armor, or galvanized steel interlocked
armor as specified on the Data Sheet.

3.6 Outer Jacket

3.6.1 An outer, nonmetallic, flame-retardant jacket that is constructed of materials
specified on the Data Sheet shall be applied over the completed cable
assembly.
3.6.2 Outer jacket color shall be Manufacturer’s standard unless otherwise specified
on the Data Sheet.
3.6.3 Outer jacket shall be oil-resistant and sunlight-resistant. Jacket shall be
marked “Sunlight-Resistant” according to UL 1277.

3.7 Cable Identification

The cable shall be marked and identified in accordance with NEC-1999
Article 310-11.

3.8 Cable Length Tolerance

The length tolerance of each segment of cable shall be minus 0% to plus 5% unless
otherwise specified on the Data Sheet.

4. Inspection and Testing

4.1 Factory inspection and testing shall be performed on Type TC cables in accordance
with UL 1277. Cables shall also pass IEEE 383 and IEEE 1202 vertical tray flame
tests.
4.2 Factory inspection and testing shall be performed on Type MC cables in accordance
with UL 1569. Cables shall also pass IEEE 383 and IEEE 1202 vertical tray flame
tests.
4.3 When specified on the Data Sheet, additional testing shall be performed as indicated.

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 PIP ELSWC03
March 1999 600 Volt Power and Control Cable

5. Shipping

5.1 Cable reel type and lagging requirements shall be as specified on the Data Sheet.
5.2 Minimum cable reel identification and marking for Type TC cables shall be in
accordance with UL 1277.
5.3 Minimum cable reel identification and marking for Type MC cables shall be in
accordance with UL 1569.
5.4 Additional cable reel identification shall be as indicated on Data Sheet.

6. Documentation

The following information shall be provided with quotations:

1. Standard and maximum reel lengths

2. Overall diameter over armor and outer jacket
3. Diameter over cable assembly (not including armor and jacket)
4. Cable weight per 1000 feet
5. Maximum conductor continuous operating temperature
6. Minimum bending radius
7. Cable current carrying capacity
8. Maximum pulling tension and side wall loading for each cable assembly
9. Minimum cable pulling temperature
10. Descriptive literature (catalogues, etc.)

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