1 Scope

1.1 This Standard specifies the requirements for single-conductor and multiple-conductor thermoset-insulated wires and cables rated 600 V, 1000 V, 2000 V, and 5000 V, for use in accordance with the rules of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, CSA C22.1, in Canada, Standard for Electrical Installations, NOM-001-SEDE, in Mexico, and the National Electrical Code (NEC), NFPA 70, in the United States of America.

See Annex a for the complete list of types and voltage ratings covered by this Standard and the specific electrical codes for which they are intended, and Annex b for a summary of construction and test requirements for these types.

1.2 Table 1 provides a summary of the maximum conductor temperature, voltage ratings, and the number of insulated conductors for the types to which this Standard applies.

1.3 This Standard also specifies the requirements for submersible pump cables, with or without jackets, in Deep Well Submersible Water-Pump Cable, Section 7. No type-letter designations are assigned to these cables.

1.4 Products within this Standard might have applications not covered by the electrical codes listed in 1.1.

Summary of Topics

This new edition of ANSI/UL 44 has been issued to:

Add a reference to the Length of Lay test in UL 2556, CSA C22.2 No. 2556, or NMX-556-ANCE at 4.1.5.7 to specify how to determine the length of lay.

Add ASTM B801, B901, and B902 to the reference publication section since these standards are referenced in Table 3.

Expand the definitions in the glossary for “filled” and “unfilled” require greater specificity as to what materials beyond the characteristic constituent polymer(s) make up the filler.

Revise 4.1.5.1.2 to replace 22 AWG with 24 AWG as the smallest size of aluminum strands that can be used.

Revise 4.1.5.7(a) to permit compressed single input conductors to have other than reversed direction of strand layers.

Revise 4.1.6.1 to clarify that diameter requirements for conductor classes not referenced in Tables 5-10 do not need to be defined.

Revise 4.1.7 to allow butt-spliced 8 AWG stranded conductors.

Revise requirements align with the proposed new edition to Thermoplastic-Insulated Wires and Cables, CSA C22.2 No. 75, UL 83, or NMX-J-010.

Add a statement to 4.2.2 to clarify in Mexico, repairs to finished conductors are not permitted.

Revise 4.5.2 to indicate Table 26 applies to both bare and insulated Equipment-Grounding Conductors.

Revise 5.3.1.2 to cover cases where the center strand consists of more than one wire and to include requirements for specimens taken from a center strand.

Revise Long Term Insulation Resistance tests (5.4 and 5.5) and stability acceptance criteria for clearer interpretation of the LTIR test procedure and stability requirements.

Revise the test requirement for capacitance and relative permittivity at 5.6.1 to assign tolerances to the specified immersion temperatures.

Revise the test requirement for conductor corrosion at 5.7 to specify the temperature and duration of the test.

Add a country difference to the test requirement for hot-creep elongation and hot-creep set at 5.13.

Clarify section title for 5.14.2 to specify the requirement applies to XL insulation types only.

Revise the optional FV-2/VW1 vertical specimen test in 5.14.4.1 to clarify that the requirements apply only to the vertical flame aspect of the test and not the horizontal flame portion.

Revise the optional weather (sunlight) resistance test in 5.15 to increase the exposure duration in Canada.

Revise 5.16 - 5.17 to indicate that a wire that complies with the requirements for PR II also must compy with those for PR I.

Revise the optional marking requirement for gasoline and oil resistance, 5.17.1.

Revise requirement in 5.18.1 for 1200 lbf crush on 14 AWG specimens “and/or” 1800 lbf crush on 2 AWG specimens to include circumstances for testing both specimen.

Revise 5.22 to specify the projected elongation requirement applies to both the insulation and jacket.

Add a reference to Table 5, Conductor diameter and cross-sectional area in 6.1.4 to ensure the correct mm² value is marked.

Add new 6.1.5 to specify that wire is required to be marked when other than those with ASTM Class B, C or SIW stranding.

Revise optional flame test marking requirement in 6.1.10.1(d) to include the option to use FT4/IEEE 1202 marking. Revise the note that follows 6.1.10.1 to make it clear that the CEC specifies this only for certain conditions and cables.

Add a note to 7.1 to indicate In Canada, the minus 40°C rating is required as specified in the CE Code, Part I.

Add 1000 V rating to the US type designations. Indicate that this option is only for use in the United States.

Revise Table 2, type of stranding for aluminum to match what is specified for copper.

Revise Table 8 to address adding diameters for sizes 12-2 AWG and to the title to include single input wire.

Expand Table 16, Thicknesses of insulation on 1000 V Types RW75, R90, and RW90 to include thickness requirements for the inner and outer layers of composite insulation and to permit the inner layer of composite insulation in RW75, RW90 and R90 to be other than silicone.

Add new Table 19, Thickness of composite insulations on 1000 V Types RWU75 and RWU90.

Add Annex F for requirements for rope-lay stranded flexible conductors.

Revise Annex K for editorial purposes in K.1, K.2.3, and K.3.1; to include extruded semi-conducting material in K.2.2; and to references back to test requirements.