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READ AND **REMOVE THIS PAGE** BEFORE PLACING

THE SPECIFICATION SECTION IN THE CONTRACT

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[DIVISION 16: ELECTRICAL]{.underline}

SECTION 16120 ‑ CONDUCTORS AND CABLES

USE: Furnishing and installing conductors and cables.

**NOTES TO SPECIFIER:**

A. Options within paragraphs are identified by enclosure in brackets;
blank spaces enclosed by brackets \[\_\_\_\_\_\] provide for information
to be inserted, as appropriate, to individual projects.

B. **TO AVOID CONFLICTING REQUIREMENTS AND COSTLY MISTAKES,** the
specifier must edit (delete, substitute or add to the text). The
remaining paragraphs must be renumbered.

C. DELETE FOR FINAL COPY: Notes to the Specifier, located between lines
of asterisks; all \[brackets\], [underlining]{.underline}, **boldface**,
and *italics*, within the paragraphs; and this page. (Open Reveal Codes
\[alt F3\] to do this accurately.)

D. [To Edit "(Footer B)":]{.underline} (Corel 8). **ENTIRE FOOTER SHOULD
BE BOLDED.** Click in the footer and delete the "Project Name (ftr B)"
text and replace it with the **Name of the Project (upper and lower
case)**. Replace date with current MM/YY (WITHOUT BRACKETS).

E. The Guide Specifications are intended to be continuously reviewed and
revised. User's technical comments are appreciated. Also, other related
or similar specification that are written "from scratch" that could
benefit others, or other questions can be sent to NSTC A/E Group, ST
110, or call (303) 987-6868.

**DRAWING DATA REQUIRED:**

**REVISIONS OF THIS SECTION:**

CSI format, editorial changes 12/01

Metric: Not Applicable

Technical Update: 10/99

**SECTION 16120**

**CONDUCTORS AND CABLES**

**[PART 1: GENERAL]{.underline}**

**1.1 SUMMARY**

** A. Section Includes: \[Furnishing\] \[and\] \[installing\] conductors
and cables as shown on the drawings and schedules. **

**1.2 SUBMITTALS**

** A. General: Submittals shall be according to \[Section 01009 -
General Information and Requirements.\] \[Section 01330 ‑ Submittal
Procedures.\] \[Section 01365 - Certificates of Conformance.\] **

** B. Manufacturer\'s Literature: Submit \[[ ]{.underline}\] copies of
the manufacturer\'s technical data for the wires and cables to be used
on this project.**

**1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE**

** A. Labeling Requirements: Conductors and cables shall be
Underwriters\' Laboratories, Inc. (UL) listed and labeled. UL listing
and labeling will not be required if it can be shown that conductors and
cables meet the requirements of another nationally recognized testing
laboratory (NRTL).**

**[PART 2: PRODUCTS]{.underline}**

**2.1 MATERIALS**

**\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\***

**SELECT APPLICABLE CONDUCTOR MATERIAL.**

**SELECT APPLICABLE JACKET MATERIAL AND VOLTAGE RATING.**

**SELECT APPLICABLE VOLTAGE AND COLOR CODING.**

**\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\***

** A. General: Conductors, cables, and connectors shall be constructed
of the manufacturers standard materials, as listed in published product
information; types and sizes shall be as indicated or as required for
the installation.**

** B. Conductors for General Wiring: Unless indicated otherwise, shall
be as follows:**

**  1. Single solid copper for sizes No. 8 AWG and smaller.**

** 2. Single stranded \[copper\] \[aluminum\] for sizes No. 6 AWG and
larger.**

** 3. Type THW, THWN or XHHW insulation and rated 600 V for use in
conduit.**

** 4. Type UF or USE for direct burial.**

** 5. Insulation colored to meet color coding requirements.**

** C. Type NM, NMC and UF Non‑Metallic Sheathed Cables: Shall be as
follows:**

**  1. Multiple copper conductors.**

** 2. With color coded, type TW insulated phase and neutral conductors
rated 600 V.**

** 3. With full size grounding conductor.**

** 4. With a polyvinylchloride jacket overall.**

** D. Type N‑SD Self‑Supporting Secondary and Service Drop Cables: Shall
be as follows:**

**  1. Hard‑drawn aluminum, insulated phase conductors.**

** 2. High molecular weight polyethylene or cross‑linked polyethylene
insulated phase conductors, rated 300 V.**

** 3. With full size ACSR neutral/messenger wire.**

** E. Direct‑Buried Signal and Communication Cables: Shall be as
follows:**

**  1. Color coded thermoplastic insulated, copper conductors.**

** 2. With extruded polyethylene inner jacket over the conductors.**

** 3. With gopher resistant, 4 mil (min) thick metallic shield over the
inner jacket.**

** 4. With extruded high density polyethylene outer jacket overall.**

** F. Type URD Primary Service Cables: Shall be as follows:**

**  1. Single, stranded, aluminum conductor.**

** 2. With extruded semi‑conducting shield over conductor.**

** 3. With high molecular weight polyethylene or cross‑linked
polyethylene or ethylene propylene insulation over conductor shield.**

** 4. With extruded semi‑conducting shield and jacket over insulation.**

** 5. With full size neutral consisting of bare solid copper wires,
uniformly spaced and spiraled concentrically overall.**

** G. Portable Power Cords: Shall be as follows:**

**  1. Multiple, flexible‑stranded or extra flexible‑stranded copper
conductors individually insulated with color‑coded rubber and spiraled
together.**

** 2. With suitable fillers and separators to produce a round cable.**

** 3. With overall jacket material and voltage rating as follows:**

** CORD TYPE JACKET MATERIAL VOLTAGE RATING**

** SJ rubber 300**

** S rubber 600**

** SJO neoprene 300**

** SO neoprene 600**

** H. Submersible Pump Feeder Cables: Shall be single stranded, copper
conductors, with color‑coded neoprene insulation rated 600 V, assembled
to form a triple conductor cable sized according to the pump
manufacturer\'s recommendations and cabled together as follows:**

**  1. Conductors No. 10 AWG and smaller, assembled parallel to each
other in a flat configuration with an extruded neoprene jacket
overall.**

** 2. Conductors No. 8 AWG and larger, twisted together with or without
jacket.**

** I. Conductors for Suspended, Liquid‑Level Electrodes: Shall be No. 18
AWG (minimum) stranded copper conductor with vinyl insulation. Electrode
and conductor shall be supplied by the same manufacturer.**

** J. Fixture Wires: Shall be single, stranded, No. 18 AWG copper
conductor with silicone rubber insulation rated 600 V and with a glass
braid jacket overall. Fixture wires shall be type SF‑2 (rated 200
degrees C) or type SFF‑2 (rated 150 degrees C).**

** K. Conductor Color Coding: Insulation shall be solid color compound
for No. 8 AWG and smaller; larger conductors shall be painted or taped
for 2 inches (min.). Color coding shall be as follows:**

** 120/208 V 120/240 V 277/480 V**

** [ 1-]{.underline}[Ø]{.underline}[ ]{.underline} [
3-]{.underline}[Ø]{.underline}[ ]{.underline}**

** Phase A Black Black Black Brown**

** Phase B Red Red Orange Orange**

** Phase C Blue \-- Blue Yellow**

** Neutral White White White Grey**

** Ground Green Green Green Green**

** L. Connectors and Lugs: Shall be solderless, pressure type of high
conductivity and high strength metals or alloys with current and voltage
ratings not less than the conductors to which they are connected and
with characteristics to suit application as follows:**

**  1. Screw‑On Splice Connector: Shall be a steel spring, helically
wound into a cone shape with integral thermoplastic insulating cover.**

** 2. Crimp‑On Splice Connector: Shall be tubular metal sleeve designed
to accept one conductor in each end for crimp attachment, with wire‑stop
indentation at the center of the sleeve. Connector shall have a fixed,
vinyl insulating sleeve over the metal sleeve, extending beyond the
metal ends and flared to fit over conductor insulation.**

** 3. Split‑Bolt Splice Lug: Shall consist of a threaded bolt
longitudinally slotted to accommodate the conductors, with hex nut to
clamp the conductors against the head end of the slot.**

** 4. Two‑Bolt Splice Lug: Shall consist of a saddle and cinch plate
design to clamp over conductors by the use of two bolts.**

** 5. Compression Sleeve Splice Lug: Shall consist of hollow tubular
sleeve designed for pressure‑indent attachment of one conductor at each
end, with wire stop at midpoint and suitable for copper to aluminum
splice.**

** 6. Forked Tongue Terminal Connectors: Shall have one end flat and
slotted to form a two prong fork and the other end tubular, designed for
pressure‑indent attachment to a conductor. Connector shall have fixed
plastic insulating sleeve over the tubular end extending beyond the
outside end of the tube and flared to fit over the conductor
insulation.**

** 7. Disconnect Terminal Connector: Shall have one end flat with side
edges curled toward the centerline designed to make a tight, push‑on
connection with a flat male tang. Other end tubular, designed to accept
one conductor for crimp attachment. Connector shall have a fixed plastic
insulating sleeve over the tubular end extending beyond the outside end
of the tube and flared to fit over conductor insulation.**

** 8. Screw Clamp Terminal Lug: Shall have one end barreled to receive a
stranded conductor and shall have a threaded clamping element designed
to screw in perpendicular to the axis of the barrel. Clamping element
may be a slotted screw, hex socket screw or hex bolt. Other end shall be
a flat-tongue with hole to permit bolting to a flat surface. Lugs for
conductors larger than 250 kcmil shall have two clamping elements in the
barrel and two holes in the tongue. Lug for terminating two conductors
at the same terminal point shall be double barreled.**

** 9. Compression Terminal Lug: Shall have one end tubular for pressure‑
indent connection of one conductor and other end flat‑tongued with hole
to permit bolting to a flat surface. Lugs for conductors larger than 250
kcmil shall have two holes in the tongue.**

** M. Insulating Materials: Shall be of the type approved for the
particular use, location, and voltage and shall be noncorrosive to the
conductors being spliced.**

**  1. Plastic Tape: Shall be flame‑retardant vinyl plastic not less
than 3/4‑inch wide and 7 mils thick, with a minimum stretchability of
50% at -15 degrees C and shall remain soft, pliable and adhesive
throughout a working temperature range of ‑15 to 100 degrees C.**

** 2. Rubber Tapes: Shall be self‑fusing, corona‑resistant and shall be
compatible with butyl rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, polyethylene
and cross‑linked polyethylene insulations. Tapes shall have a minimum
dielectric strength of 800 V per mil and shall remain soft, pliable and
adhesive throughout a working temperature range of 0 to 90 degrees C.**

**[PART 3: EXECUTION]{.underline}**

**3.1 INSTALLATION**

** A. General: Install conductors, cables, and connectors as indicated
or as necessary, complying with the manufacturer\'s written
instructions, applicable requirements of codes and standards, and
according to recognized industry practices.**

** B. Conductor Protection: Unless otherwise indicated, install circuits
consisting of one or more single conductors in conduit.**

** C. Wiring Required: Install and connect conductors from the Utility
Company\'s point of delivery to equipment requiring electrical
connections and to outlets for future connections as specified or shown
on the drawings.**

** D. Cable Bends: Do not bend cables to radii less than 10 times the
cable\'s overall diameter.**

** E. Bundling: In \[panelboards,\] \[control cabinets,\]
\[switchboards,\] \[and motor control centers,\] train conductors No. 10
and smaller neatly from terminal points to the sides of the box, then
bundle and tie them together with nylon locking straps. For conductors
No. 8 and larger bundle and tie each circuit separately.**

** F. Voltage Drop Reduction for Long Home Runs: Install No. 10 wire
between the circuit breaker and the first outlet in any 20 ampere branch
circuit where the distance between panelboard and outlet exceeds 75
feet.**

** G. Pulling Lines and Lubricants: Use either rope or flat steel lines
to pull conductors into conduits. Attach the conductor to the pulling
line with either a woven basket grip or a pulling eye connected directly
to the conductor. Verify that any lubricant used for pulling conductors
will not damage conductor insulation. Pull all conductors together.**

** H. Underground Circuits (Direct Buried): Shall be installed as
follows:**

**  1. Depth: Unless otherwise indicated, install direct‑buried
conductors at least 24 inches below grade.**

** 2. Bedding: Bed conductors according to Section 02229 ‑ Trenching,
Backfilling, and Compacting.**

** 3. Slack: Lay conductors in a snake‑like fashion to permit
contraction.**

** 4. Marker Tape: Install trench marking tape according to Section
02897 ‑ Utility Line Marking.**

** I. Splices and Terminations (Up to 600 V): Shall be:**

**  1. Screw‑On Splice Connectors: Install for splicing two or more
conductors No. 8 and smaller.**

** 2. Crimp‑On Splice Connectors: Install where butt splice is required
on conductors No. 8 and smaller.**

** 3. Split‑Bolt Splice Lugs: Install for splicing or tapping two
conductors size No. 6 through No. 1/0.**

** 4. Two‑Bolt Splice Lugs: Install for splicing or tapping two
conductors No. 2/0 and larger.**

** 5. Compression Sleeve Splice Lugs: Install where butt splice is
required and for splicing copper to aluminum conductors No. 6 and
larger.**

** 6. Forked Tongue Terminal Connectors: Install wherever stranded
conductors No. 8 and smaller are to be connected to devices equipped
with terminal screws.**

** 7. Disconnect Terminal Connectors: Install wherever stranded
conductors No. 8 and smaller are to be connected to devices equipped
with flat, male terminal tangs.**

** 8. Screw Clamp Terminal Lugs: Install wherever stranded conductors
No. 6 and larger are to be connected to a flat surface. Install lugs
with two stud holes and two clamping elements for conductors larger than
250 kcmil. Install double barreled lugs where two conductors are to be
connected to the same terminal point.**

** 9. Compression Terminal Lugs: Install wherever stranded conductors
are to be connected to a flat surface. Install lugs with two stud holes
for conductors larger than 250 kcmil.**

** 10. Compression Tools: Follow manufacturer\'s instructions and use
tools and dies recommended by the manufacturer when installing indent or
compression connectors and lugs.**

** 11. Matching Sizes: Install connectors and lugs designed to
accommodate the conductors to which they are attached. Connector and lug
openings shall be at least as large as conductor cross section (without
insulation).**

** 12. Tight Contacts: Screw down threaded clamping elements and
equipment terminal screws and bolts to assure a tight, stable,
low‑resistance contact at all splices and terminations.**

** 13. Insulation: Insulate splices with preformed plastic covers
designed to fit the lug being insulated or with rubber or plastic tape.
Apply enough tape so that splice insulation is not less than conductor
insulation.**

** 14. Accessibility: Make splices only in accessible locations.**

**3.2 FIELD QUALITY CONTROL**

**\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\***

**DETERMINE WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT OR THE CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO PERFORM
THE REQUIRED TESTING AND EDIT ACCORDINGLY.**

**\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\***

** A. Testing: \[The Government will perform the required testing,
recording, and distributing of the results.\] \[The Contractor shall
conduct the performance and acceptance tests of the
\[\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.\]
The Contractor shall furnish necessary equipment, labor, and materials
to conduct the testing. Testing shall be conducted in the presence of
the Contracting Officer who shall be given 48 hours notice before any
testing is to be made.\] \[The Contractor shall make arrangements for a
certified independent testing laboratory, according to the requirements
of Section 01410 - Testing Laboratory Services, to perform the required
testing, recording, and distributing of the results.\]**

** B. Insulation Tests for Conductors (Up to 600 V): After conductor
installation, but before connection to fixtures or appliances, the
insulation of insulated conductors is tested with a 500 V megger.
Conductors are tested phase‑to‑phase and phase‑to‑ground. Conductor
insulation shall test not less than one megohm. \[Prior to final
inspection, prepare and deliver to the Contracting Officer a record of
measured insulation values for all conductors No. 8 AWG and larger.\]**

**[PART 4: MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT]{.underline}**

**\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\***

**WHEN A \"LUMP SUM\" CONTRACT IS USED, DELETE THE TITLE PART 4:
MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT, AND BOTH ARTICLES FROM THIS SECTION.
MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT WILL BE ADDRESSED IN PART 4 OF SECTION 01010
-SUMMARY OF WORK.**

**\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\***

**4.1 METHOD OF MEASUREMENT**

** A. Units: The work described in this section will not be measured for
payment.**

**4.2 BASIS OF PAYMENT**

** A. Payment: No direct payment for the work described under this
section will be made. Consideration for this item shall be included in
the bid price for other items of the Contract.**

**END OF SECTION**