Data/comm cables and the 2014

National Electrical Code

The National Electrical Code (NEC) is published by the
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA;www.nfpa.org)
with revisions on a three-year schedule.
Sep 1st, 2013

From the September, 2013 Issue of Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Magazine

Recently made available from the NFPA, the 2014

NEC includes several changes of interest to
professionals in the data/comm cabling field.

By Stanley Kaufman, PhD, CableSafe Inc.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) is published by the National Fire

Protection Association (NFPA; www.nfpa.org) with revisions on a three-
year schedule. The 2014 NEC, which replaces the 2011 NEC, was released
by the NFPA in August 2013. (NFPA 70, NFPA, National Fire Protection
Association, National Electrical Code, and NEC are registered
trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association.)

This article, written on behalf of the Communications Cable and

Connectivity Association (CCCA; www.cccassoc.org), is intended to
provide the reader with a guide to the key changes in the 2014 NEC that
are of interest to manufacturers, installers, distributors and users of
data/comm cables.

This article is not intended to be a primer on the NEC. In 2011 and 2012,
Cabling Installation & Maintenance published a series of articles, which I
also authored on behalf of the CCCA, on the 2011 NEC and the
development of the 2014 NEC. These articles provide a great deal of
information on the National Electrical Code development process.

Data/comm cables

Although widely used in the industry, the term data/comm cable does
not appear in the NEC. The term data/comm cable, as used in this
article, encompasses six families of cable types in the NEC.

1. Optical fiber cables, Types OFNP, OFCP, OFNR, OFCR, OFN and
OFC
2. Communications cables, Types CMP, CMR, CMG and CM
3. Coaxial cable TV cables, Types CATVP, CATVR and CATV
4. Class 2 cables, Types CL2P, CL2R and CL2
5. Class 3 cables, Types CL3P, CL3R and CL3
6. Power-limited fire alarm cables, Types FPLP, FPLR and FPL

The applications of data/comm cables and their associated equipment

are in 11 articles that are the responsibility of three code-making panels.

This article organizes the Code changes into two categories: 1) entirely
new topics/issues, 2) continued development.

New topics and issues

Field-assembled optical fiber cables--Not all optical fiber cables are

made in a factory; some are assembled in the field by first installing a
tube and then blowing fibers into the tube. Article 770 now recognizes
field-assembled optical fiber cables.
 1. The definition of an optical fiber cable has been broadened to
include field-assembled cables, and
2. Listing requirements have been established for the components
(jacket and fibers) of field-assembled optical fiber cables.

Plenum-rated cable ties and cable accessories--NFPA 90A,

Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilation
Systems, has requirements for discreet components in a plenum,
including cable ties. These requirements have been incorporated into the
2014 NEC, which now requires that nonmetallic cable ties and other
nonmetallic cable accessories used to support and secure cables in a
plenum are listed as having low smoke- and heat-release properties.

Modular data centers--Article 646, Modular Data Centers, makes its

debut in the 2014 NEC. Modular data centers, which are commonly built
up of modules housed in shipping containers, are becoming a common
way to construct a data center. Article 645, Information Technology
Equipment, is a voluntary article, i.e. it is permitted to provide alternate
wiring methods to the usual wiring methods. Article 646 is mandatory. It
is not voluntary. It applies to modular data centers.

Continuing topics and issues

Prohibition on cables in ducts carrying flammable materials-

-Section 300.22(A) prohibits the installation of any electrical wiring
system in ducts used to transport dust, loose stock or flammable vapors.
This requirement only applies to Chapter 8 (Communications), where it
is specifically referenced in Chapter 8; see 90.3 Code Arrangement. The
2011 NEC added a reference to 300.22(A) in 800.3 "Other Articles." The
2014 NEC extended this requirement to CATV (Article 820) and
network-powered broadband cables (Article 830), and also to conductive
optical fiber cables (Articles 770 and 840).
Wiring in air ducts--The 2011 and 2014 NEC restrict the lengths of
plenum-grade optical fiber and communications cables in air ducts
(fabricated ducts used for environmental air) to a maximum of 4 feet of
cable directly associated with the air distribution system. The 2011 NEC
retained the long-standing permission [725.154(A) and 760.154(A)] to
install unlimited lengths of Class 2, Class 3 and power-limited fire alarm
plenum cables in air ducts. The 2014 NEC restricts the lengths of Type
CL2P, CL3P and FPLP cables to "lengths as short as practicable to
perform the required function."

Riser installations--In the 2008 NEC, riser rated (or plenum) cables
were required in vertical runs of more than one floor, but general-
purpose cables were permitted for cables penetrating only one floor.
Where general-purpose cables were used, they had to be in a separate
floor penetration from multi-floor runs of riser and plenum cables. The
2011 NEC simplified this complex situation by requiring riser (or
plenum) optical fiber and communications cables even if penetrating
only one floor. The 2014 NEC continued this simplification by extending
it to Class 2, Class 3 and power-limited fire alarm installations.

Communications raceways--The 2008 edition of the NEC

contained listing requirements and applications for signaling raceways
(Article 725), optical fiber raceways (Article 770), communications
raceways (Article 800) and CATV raceways (Article 820). Each of these
families of raceways had general-purpose, riser and plenum grades. The
2011 NEC began the process of consolidating these redundant raceway
types by eliminating CATV raceways and replacing them with
communications raceways. The 2011 NEC also permitted
communications raceways to substitute for optical fiber raceways so that
an installer only had to carry two types--signaling and communications
raceways.

The process of consolidation is complete in the 2014 NEC. Signaling and

optical fiber raceways have been replaced by communications raceways.
Communications raceways are now permitted for use with Class 2 and
Class 3 cables (Article 725), power-limited fire alarm cables (Article 760),
communications cables (Article 800), CATV cables (Article 820) and
low-powered network-powered broadband communications cables
(Article 830).

The definition of a communications raceway has been revised to reflect

its wider applications. It is now defined as follows. Communications
Raceway: An enclosed channel of nonmetallic materials designed
expressly for holding wires and cables, typically communications wires
and cables, optical fiber and data (Class 2 and Class 3), in plenum, riser,
and general-purpose applications.

Cable routing assemblies--Cable routing assemblies are widely used

in data centers as a support/management system for cables. They were
designed for use with optical fiber cables, but they are also used for data
(Class 2) and communications cables. The fire tests for listing general-
purpose, riser and plenum cable routing assemblies are identical to the
fire tests for listing general-purpose, riser and communications
raceways. UL 2024, Standard for Signaling, Optical Fiber and
Communications Raceways and Cable Routing Assemblies, covers the
listing of cable routing assemblies as well as signaling, optical fiber and
communications raceways. Applications of general-purpose and riser
cable routing assemblies were introduced for use with optical fiber and
communications cables in Articles 770, 800, 820 and 830 in the 2011
NEC.

The 2014 NEC has extended the applications of cable routing assemblies
to Class 2, Class 3 (Article 725) and power-limited fire alarm cables
(Article 760). The 2014 NEC also established listing requirements for
plenum cable routing assemblies but restricted their use to riser and
general-purpose applications.

The definition of a cable routing assembly has been revised to reflect its
wider applications. Cable Routing Assembly: A single channel or
connected multiple channels, as well as associated fittings, forming a
structural system that is used to support and route communications
wires and cables, optical fiber cables, data cables associated with
information technology and communications equipment, Class 2 and
Class 3 cables, and power-limited fire alarm cables.
The key difference between a raceway and a cable routing assembly is
that raceways are enclosed. Cable routing assemblies may or may not be
enclosed.

Circuit integrity cables--Circuit integrity data/comm cables are

recognized in the 2011 NEC. Article 725 defines a circuit integrity (CI)
cable as "Cable(s) used for remote-control, signaling, or power-limited
systems that supply critical circuits to ensure survivability for continued
circuit operation for a specified time under fire conditions." There are
similar definitions in Article 760 for a Fire Alarm Circuit Integrity (CI)
Cable and in Article 800 for Communications Circuit Integrity (CI)
Cable.

There are two types of circuit integrity cables--those that are not
intended to be installed in raceway (or conduit) and those that use
raceway as part of the design for achieving survivability. Circuit integrity
cables that use raceway for achieving survivability are considered to be
part of a "listed electrical circuit protective system."

The 2014 NEC has a new Article, Article 728, Fire Resistive Cable
Systems, covering circuit integrity and electrical circuit protective
systems. In addition, the provisions of Articles 770 and 800 covering
circuit integrity cables have been expanded to include electrical circuit
protective systems.

The purpose of this article is to provide a timely overview of the changes

in the 2014 NEC that apply to data/comm cables and related raceways
and cable routing assemblies. Additional articles are planned.

The 2014 National Electrical Code is available for purchase from the
National Fire Protection Association--www.nfpa.org. ::

Stanley Kaufman, Ph.D. is principal of CableSafe Inc. and a

consultant to the Communications Cable and Connectivity
Association (www.cccassoc.org). He is a member of NEC Code-
Making Panels 12 and 16. He is also a member of the NFPA
Technical Committee on Electronic Computer Systems, which
is responsible for NFPA 75; Kaufman also is a member of the
NFPA Technical Committee on Telecommunications, which is
responsible for NFPA 76.

This article, contributed by the Communications Cable and Connectivity

Association (CCCA), is offered for general information and educational
purposes. It is not offered, intended, nor should it be relied upon as
legal advice. The article does not set forth the views of any member or
any other party, nor may it be taken as such. CCCA makes no warranty
regarding the accuracy of the information provided in this article, and
expressly disclaims any implied warranties and any liability for use of
this paper or reliance on views expressed in it. CCCA does not endorse,
approve or certify any information set forth in this article, nor does it
guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, timeliness or correct
sequencing of such information. Use of this article and the views
expressed in it is voluntary, and reliance on it should only be
undertaken after an independent review of its accuracy, completeness,
efficacy and timeliness, and based on the individual facts and
circumstances of a user.

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