Report on Proposals June 2010 NFPA 70

Transcription

1 16-1 Log #4917o NEC-P16 Caleb M. Ferris, Chadwick Electric Add a diagram table after the scope of each article similar to the one in Article 430. For NEC user cost make the table layout diagram in standard throughout the code. The submitter has not supplied any figures for the panel to consider and the type of figure suggested is inappropriate for CMP-16 articles Log #614n NEC-P16 Paul Guidry, Fluor Enterprises, Inc. Change terms "high voltage" and "medium voltage" to correlate with new proposed definitions in Article 100. This is a companion proposal to a proposal to add definitions for low voltage, medium voltage, and high voltage to Article 100. If the proposal for adding the definitions in Article 100 is accepted, this proposal must be accepted as well to correlate between all chapters of the NEC. CMP-16. The terms high voltage" and medium voltage are not used in the articles under the purview of 1

2 16-3 Log #2282 NEC-P16 David H. Kendall, Thomas & Betts Corp. A raceway for enclosing and routing optical fiber cables. A nonmetallic, pliable, corrugated raceway of circular cross section with integral or associated couplings, connectors, and fittings for the installation of optical-fiber cables. FPN: See Article 100 for a definition of Raceway. Circuits and equipment shall comply with 770.3(A) and (B). Only those sections of Chapter 2, and Articles 300 and 862 referenced in this article shall apply to optical fiber cables and raceways. Composite optical fiber cables shall be classified as electrical cables in accordance with the type of electrical conductors. They shall be constructed, listed, and marked in accordance with the appropriate article for each type of electrical cable. The requirements of for electric wiring shall also apply to installations of optical fiber cables and raceways where they are installed in ducts or plenums or other space used for environmental air. Article 862 applies to the selection and installation of Optical Fiber Raceways (OFCR). Listed plenum optical fiber raceway, listed riser optical fiber raceway, or listed general-purpose optical fiber raceway selected in accordance with the provisions of shall be permitted to be installed as innerduct in any type of listed raceway permitted in Chapter 3. Where optical fiber cables are installed in a raceway, the raceway shall be either of a type permitted in Chapter 3 and installed in accordance with Chapter 3 or Optical Fiber/Communication Raceway (OFCR) selected and installed per Article 862. The number of Optical Fiber Cables shall comply with listed plenum optical fiber raceway, listed riser optical fiber raceway, or listed general-purpose optical fiber raceway selected in accordance with the provisions of , and installed in accordance with through , where the requirements applicable to electrical nonmetallic tubing apply. Where optical fiber cables are installed in raceway without current-carrying conductors, the raceway fill tables of Chapter 3 and Chapter 9 shall not apply. Where nonconductive optical fiber cables are installed with electric conductors in a raceway, the raceway fill tables of Chapter 3 and Chapter 9 shall apply. Nonconductive and conductive optical fiber cables shall comply with any of the requirements given in (A) through (D) and (F), or where cable substitutions are made as shown in (E). Cables installed in ducts, plenums, and other spaces used for environmental air shall be Type OFNP or OFCP. Abandoned cables shall not be permitted to remain. Types OFNR, OFCR, OFNG, OFN, OFCG, and OFC cables installed in compliance with shall be permitted. Listed plenum optical fiber raceways shall be permitted to be installed in ducts and plenums as described in (B) (D) and in other spaces used for environmental air as described in (C) (E). Only Type OFNP and OFCP cables shall be permitted to be installed in these raceways. Cables installed in risers shall be as described in any of (B)(1), (B)(2), or (B)(3). Cables installed in vertical runs and penetrating more than one floor, or cables installed in vertical runs in a shaft, shall be Type OFNR or OFCR. Floor penetrations requiring Type OFNR or OFCR shall contain only cables suitable for riser or plenum use. Listed riser optical fiber raceways and listed plenum optical fiber raceways shall also be permitted to be installed in vertical riser runs in a shaft from floor to floor as described in (F). Only Type OFNP, OFCP, OFNR, and OFCR cables shall be permitted to be installed in these raceways. Type OFNG, OFN, OFCG, and OFC cables shall be permitted to be encased in a metal raceway or located in a fireproof shaft having firestops at each floor. Type OFNG, OFN, OFCG, and OFC cables shall be permitted in one- and two-family dwellings. Listed general-purpose optical fiber raceways, listed riser optical fiber raceways, and listed plenum optical fiber raceways shall be permitted for use as described in (G) with Type OFNG, OFN, OFCG, and OFC cables. FPN: See for firestop requirements for floor penetrations. 2

3 Cables installed in building locations other than the locations covered in (A) and (B) shall be Type OFNG, OFN, OFCG, or OFC. Such cables shall be permitted to be installed in listed general-purpose optical fiber raceways, listed riser optical fiber raceways, and listed plenum optical fiber raceways as described in (G). Optical fiber cables of the types listed in Table shall be permitted to be installed in cable trays. FPN: It is not the intent to require that these optical fiber cables be listed specifically for use in cable trays. The substitutions for optical fiber cables listed in Table (E) and illustrated in Figure (E) shall be permitted. **Table (E) Cable Substitutions (existing)** Optical fiber raceways shall be listed in accordance with (A) through (C). Nonmetallic Optical-Fiber Raceways (OFCR) shall be listed in accordance to Article Plenum optical fiber raceways shall be listed as having adequate fire-resistant and low smoke-producing characteristics. FPN: One method of defining that an optical fiber raceway is a low smoke producing raceway and a fire-resistant raceway is that the raceway exhibits a maximum peak optical density of 0.5 or less, an average optical density of 0.15 or less, and a maximum flame spread distance of 1.52 m (5 ft) or less when tested in accordance with the plenum test in UL 2024, Standard for Optical Fiber Cable Raceway. Riser optical fiber raceways shall be listed as having fire-resistant characteristics capable of preventing the carrying of fire from floor to floor. FPN: One method of defining fire-resistant characteristics capable of preventing the carrying of fire from floor to floor is that the raceways pass the requirements of the test for Flame Propagation (riser) in UL 2024, Standard for Optical Fiber Cable Raceway. General-purpose optical fiber cable raceway shall be listed as being resistant to the spread of fire. FPN: One method of defining resistance to the spread of fire is that the raceways pass the requirements of the Vertical-Tray Flame Test (General Use) in UL 2024, Standard for Optical Fiber Cable Raceway. This is a companion proposal to correlate with the proposal for a new optical fiber/communication raceway article. The new optical fiber/communication raceway article was proposed to Panel 16 as Article 862. Optical fiber/communication raceways (Type OFCR) are currently listed raceways for use in plenums, risers or general purpose applications for the management of signaling, optical fiber, communication and CATV cables. This new Article and the companion proposals will clarify the selection, and installation optical fiber/communication raceways including the construction specifications. It is not the intent of the submitter to revise or change any of the currently permitted uses by this proposal, but only to enhance the usability of the Code. This proposal was submitted in companion with Proposal , which was rejected. The submitter of this proposal assumes the acceptance of Proposal , which was rejected. 3

4 16-4 Log #2270 NEC-P16 Terry Peters, The Society of the Plastics Industry Revise text to read as follows: The provisions of this article apply to the installation of optical fiber cables, and raceways and optical fiber /communications cable routing assemblies. This article does not cover the construction of optical fiber cables and raceways. Article 770 currently covers optical fiber raceways and provides applications and listing requirements for these raceways.. UL lists these raceways to UL 2024, UL lists optical fiber /communications cable routing assemblies to UL2024a, Routing assemblies are u-shaped wiring troughs that may or may not have covers. (If they always had covers, they would be raceways and this proposal would not be necessary.) For further information see the attached application guide from one of the manufacturers or got to on the web. The significant difference between optical fiber /communications cable routing assemblies and optical fiber raceways is that the routing assemblies are larger and open, therefore present a greater fire load. We have submitted companion proposals to provide for the listing and applications of optical fiber /communications cable routing assemblies. Note: Supporting material is available for review at NFPA Headquarters. Revise text to read as follows: The provisions of this article apply to the installation of optical fiber cables, raceways, and cable routing assemblies. This article does not cover the construction of optical fiber cables and raceways. The panel recognizes that the TCC is responsible for the scope. The panel recommends that the TCC accept this proposal. The panel changed the name from "optical fiber/communications cable routing assemblies" to "cable routing assemblies". See panel action on Proposal Log #1443 NEC-P16 Dan Leaf, Seneca, SC Change "may result" to "is likely". Edit. "May" is subjective and a term to be avoided per the Style Manual. Likely is defined as such a nature or circumstance as to make something probabe, and is used in many sections. The submitters recommendation is not editorial. The term "may" connotes "a possibility"; the term "likely" connotes "is probable". The panel does not agree that these are probable events. 4

5 16-6 Log #813 NEC-P16 J. L. Richardson, Engineering Services Group, Inc. Delete the following text: Abandoned Optical Fiber Cable. Installed optical fiber cable that is not terminated at equipment other than a connector and not identified for future use with a tag. To be replaced by general definition Article 100, Definitions. For the 2008 NEC, a TCC-directed task group, including representation from CMP-3, CMP-12 and CMP-16, determined there were enough differences in the installation of abandoned cables to justify them being addressed in individual articles. The current code wording is aligned with what was proposed by the task group Log #2087 NEC-P16 Ron L. Janikowski, City of Wausau, Wisconsin / Rep. CMP16 Special Editorial Task Group Add a definition of air duct: A conduit or passageway for conveying air to or from heating, cooling, air conditioning, or ventilating equipment, but not including the plenum. [ 3.3.5] The term air duct is used in the task group s proposal for It should be defined. It is defined in Articles 800 and 820. The task group is also proposing to define it in Article 830. A proposal has been submitted to define air duct in Article 100. If the proposal for Article 100 is accepted, the panel or the TCC can act to remove the definitions from panel sixteen s articles. This is one of a group of Proposals prepared by the CMP-16 Special Editorial Task Group. The goals of the task group were to: 1) place requirements in the appropriate sections; 2) improve the parallelism between related Articles such that similar requirements are stated the same way in each Article; 3) make the Articles as self-sufficient as is reasonably possible; and, 4) improve the language in the difficult to understand Sections. The Task Group members are Jim Brunssen, Sandy Egesdal, Ralph Esemplare, Steve Johnson Stan Kahn, Stan Kaufman and Harry Odhe. The term air duct is not used in Article 770 and should not be defined in the article, in accordance with the NEC Style Manual. 5

6 16-8 Log #2088 NEC-P16 Ron L. Janikowski, City of Wausau, Wisconsin / Rep. CMP16 Special Editorial Task Group Revise text to read as follows: Composite Optical Fiber Cable. These A cables containing optical fibers and current-carrying electrical conductors. This is an editorial proposal to change the style of the definition to the format typically used for definitions. This is one of a group of Proposals prepared by the CMP-16 Special Editorial Task Group. The goals of the task group were to: 1) place requirements in the appropriate sections; 2) improve the parallelism between related Articles such that similar requirements are stated the same way in each Article; 3) make the Articles as self-sufficient as is reasonably possible; and, 4) improve the language in the difficult to understand Sections. The Task Group members are Jim Brunssen, Sandy Egesdal, Ralph Esemplare, Steve Johnson Stan Kahn, Stan Kaufman and Harry Odhe. Revise text to read as follows: A cable containing optical fibers and current-carrying electrical conductors. The panel notes that the original submittal had the plural "cables" changed to "cable" Log #2089 NEC-P16 Ron L. Janikowski, City of Wausau, Wisconsin / Rep. CMP16 Special Editorial Task Group Revise text to read as follows: Conductive Optical Fiber Cable. These An optical fiber cables containing non current-carrying conductive members such as metallic strength members, metallic vapor barriers, and metallic armor or sheath. This is an editorial proposal to change the style of the definition to the format typically used for definitions. This is one of a group of Proposals prepared by the CMP-16 Special Editorial Task Group. The goals of the task group were to: 1) place requirements in the appropriate sections; 2) improve the parallelism between related Articles such that similar requirements are stated the same way in each Article; 3) make the Articles as self-sufficient as is reasonably possible; and, 4) improve the language in the difficult to understand Sections. The Task Group members are Jim Brunssen, Sandy Egesdal, Ralph Esemplare, Steve Johnson Stan Kahn, Stan Kaufman and Harry Odhe. 6

7 16-10 Log #213 NEC-P16 Stanley Kaufman, CableSafe Inc. Revise text to read as follows: A raceway for enclosing and routing optical fiber cables. listed as a Plenum Optical Fiber Raceway, or a Riser Optical Fiber Raceway, or a General-Purpose Optical Fiber Raceway. FPN: See Article 100 for a definition of Raceway. The current definition Optical Fiber Raceway is wrong. It could be misinterpreted to be any raceway used for routing optical fiber cables; that is not the way the term optical fiber raceway is used in Article 770. The proposed definition is precise. Companion proposals have been submitted for Articles 800 and 820. The panel notes that the print line should be "Definitions" not "General-Purpose Optical Fiber" Log #2090 NEC-P16 Ron L. Janikowski, City of Wausau, Wisconsin / Rep. CMP16 Special Editorial Task Group Revise text to read as follows: Nonconductive Optical Fiber Cable. These An optical fiber cables containing no metallic members and no other electrically conductive materials. This is an editorial proposal to change the style of the definition to the format typically used for definitions. This is one of a group of Proposals prepared by the CMP-16 Special Editorial Task Group. The goals of the task group were to: 1) place requirements in the appropriate sections; 2) improve the parallelism between related Articles such that similar requirements are stated the same way in each Article; 3) make the Articles as self-sufficient as is reasonably possible; and, 4) improve the language in the difficult to understand Sections. The Task Group members are Jim Brunssen, Sandy Egesdal, Ralph Esemplare, Steve Johnson Stan Kahn, Stan Kaufman and Harry Odhe. 7

8 16-12 Log #3594 NEC-P16 Terry Peters, The Society of the Plastics Industry Add new text to read as follows:. A flame retardant, nonmetallic assembly of pliable lengths, rigid straight sections, elbows, bends and fittings such as expansion joints, female and male adapters, and couplings used to support and protect optical fiber, communications and data cables in applications with a high density of cabling such a information technology (computer) rooms, broadcast stations and telecommunications offices. Parts of the assembly may have hinged or removable covers. The assembly is designed for cables be laid or set in place after the enclosures have been installed as a complete system. Article 770 currently covers optical fiber raceways and provides applications and listing requirements for these raceways. UL lists these raceways to UL 2024, Optical Fiber and Communication Cable Raceway. UL lists optical fiber /communications cable routing assemblies to UL2024a, Outline of Investigation for Optical Fiber Cable Routing Assemblies. Routing assemblies are u-shaped wiring troughs that may or may not have covers. (If they always had covers, they would be raceways and this proposal would not be necessary.) For further information see the attached application guide from one of the manufacturers or got to on the web. The significant difference between optical fiber /communications cable routing assemblies and optical fiber raceways is that the routing assemblies are larger and open, therefore present a greater fire load. Since users of the code may not be familiar with optical fiber /communications cable routing assemblies we are submitting this proposal to define them. We have submitted companion proposals to provide for a change of the scope of Article 770 to include optical fiber /communications cable routing assemblies and to provide listing and application for requirements for them. Since these routing assemblies are used for optical fiber, data and communications cables, proposals are being submitted for Articles 725, 770, 800 and 820. Revise text to read as follows: Cable Routing Assembly. A unit or assembly of units or sections and associated fittings that are listed and form a structural system used to support listed cables. The panel action meets the submitters intent. 8

9 16-13 Log #2091 NEC-P16 Ron L. Janikowski, City of Wausau, Wisconsin / Rep. CMP16 Special Editorial Task Group Revise Optical Fiber Cable as follows: A factory-assembly of one or more optical fibers having an overall covering. Optical fiber cables transmit light for control, signaling, and communications through an optical fiber. This additional text, editorially relocated from 770.6, appropriately belongs in a definition and more fully defines an optical fiber cable. (See companion proposal to delete ) The proposed revision is editorial. This is one of a group of Proposals prepared by the CMP-16 Special Editorial Task Group. The goals of the task group were to: 1) place requirements in the appropriate sections; 2) improve the parallelism between related Articles such that similar requirements are stated the same way in each Article; 3) make the Articles as self-sufficient as is reasonably possible; and, 4) improve the language in the difficult to understand Sections. The Task Group members are Jim Brunssen, Sandy Egesdal, Ralph Esemplare, Steve Johnson Stan Kahn, Stan Kaufman and Harry Odhe. Revise Optical Fiber Cable as follows: A factory-assembly of one or more optical fibers, having an overall covering, which transmit light for control, signaling, and communications. The panel revised the definition to meet the NEC Style Manual. The revised recommendation wording meets the submitter's intent Log #2092 NEC-P16 Ron L. Janikowski, City of Wausau, Wisconsin / Rep. CMP16 Special Editorial Task Group Revise 770.2, Optical Fiber Raceway, as follows: A raceway for enclosing and routing optical fiber cables., and identified as a Plenum Optical Fiber Raceway, a Riser Optical Fiber Raceway, or a General-Purpose Optical Fiber Raceway. The current definition is too broad and could possibly be interpreted as including all types of metallic and nonmetallic conduit and ducts. The proposed editorial clarification associates the raceway with specific application to optical fiber cables. This is one of a group of Proposals prepared by the CMP-16 Special Editorial Task Group. The goals of the task group were to: 1) place requirements in the appropriate sections; 2) improve the parallelism between related Articles such that similar requirements are stated the same way in each Article; 3) make the Articles as self-sufficient as is reasonably possible; and, 4) improve the language in the difficult to understand Sections. The Task Group members are Jim Brunssen, Sandy Egesdal, Ralph Esemplare, Steve Johnson Stan Kahn, Stan Kaufman and Harry Odhe. See panel action on Proposal

10 16-15 Log #118 NEC-P16 Stanley Kaufman, CableSafe Inc. Optical Fiber Raceway. A raceway for enclosing and routing listed optical fiber cables. A raceway listed as a Plenum Optical Fiber Raceway, or a Riser Optical Fiber Raceway, or a General-Purpose Optical Fiber Raceway. The current definition Optical Fiber Raceway is confusing. The definition of Optical Fiber Raceway in the 2005 NEC is: Optical Fiber Raceway. A raceway designed for enclosing and routing listed optical fiber cables. The 2008 NEC changed the definition to: Optical Fiber Raceway. A raceway designed for enclosing and routing listed optical fiber cables. The 2008 NEC definition is confusing because any raceway used for routing optical fiber cables could be considered an optical fiber raceway and that is not the way the term optical fiber raceway is used throughout Article 770. The proposed definition is precise. Companion proposals have been submitted for Articles 800 and 820. This text does not appear in

11 16-16 Log #2093 NEC-P16 Ron L. Janikowski, City of Wausau, Wisconsin / Rep. CMP16 Special Editorial Task Group Make the following changes: Installations of optical fiber cables and raceways Circuits and equipment shall comply with 770.3(A) and 770.3(B). Only those sections of Chapter 2 and Article 300 referenced in this article shall apply to optical fiber cables and raceways. Listed optical fiber cables shall be permitted to be installed in hazardous (classified) locations. The cables shall be sealed in accordance with the requirements of , , , or , as applicable. Composite optical fiber cables shall be classified as electrical cables in accordance with the type of electrical conductors. They shall be constructed, listed, and marked in accordance with the appropriate article for each type of electrical cable. (B) Ducts, Plenums, and Other Air-Handling Spaces. The requirements of for electric wiring shall also apply to installations of optical fiber cables and raceways where they are installed in ducts or plenums or other space used for environmental air. Exception: As permitted in (A). This proposal is a clarification. There are no circuits and equipment in Article 770 which only covers optical fiber cables and raceways. The proposed wording is more accurate. The current section 770.3(B) provides no additional guidance or requirements that are not already in (A). It s redundant and perhaps confusing. Section does not have a similar requirement. The task group has also submitted proposals to delete 820.3(B) and 830.3(B) in order to remove conflicts within Articles 820 and 830. If these proposals are accepted there will be no Ducts, Plenums and Other Air Handling Spaces in the Other Articles sections of Articles 770, 800, 820 and 830. The hazardous locations requirements from (F) have been moved to this section to improve the parallelism with Articles 800 and 820. This proposal to delete circuits and equipment and the provisions for Ducts, Plenums, and Other Air Handling Spaces was submitted by the CMP 16 Special Editorial Task Group during the development of the 2008 NEC. The proposal was rejected in order to comply with the NFPA Standards Council Decision (SC #05-7-4) dated 29 July The Standards Council Decision does not apply to the current NEC code cycle. This proposal is one of a group of Proposals prepared by the CMP-16 Special Editorial Task Group for the 2011 NEC. The goals of the task group were to: 1) place requirements in the appropriate sections; 2) improve the parallelism between related Articles such that similar requirements are stated the same way in each Article; 3) make the Articles as self-sufficient as is reasonably possible; and, 4) improve the language in the difficult to understand Sections. The Task Group members are Jim Brunssen, Sandy Egesdal, Ralph Esemplare, Steve Johnson, Stan Kahn, Stan Kaufman and Harry Odhe. Revise proposed recommendation text to read as follows. Installations of optical fiber cables and raceways shall comply with 770.3(A) and 770.3(B). Only those sections of Chapter 2 and Article 300 referenced in this article shall apply to optical fiber cables and raceways. Listed optical fiber cables and raceways shall be permitted to be installed in hazardous (classified) locations. The optical fiber cables and raceways shall be sealed in accordance with the requirements of , , , or , as applicable. Composite optical fiber cables shall be classified as electrical cables in accordance with the type of electrical conductors. They shall be constructed, listed, and marked in accordance with the appropriate article for each type of electrical cable. The panel modified the recommendation to include 11

12 "optical fiber cables and raceways" in 770.3(A). This action accomplishes the "accept in principle" action of Proposal Log #2094 NEC-P16 Ron L. Janikowski, City of Wausau, Wisconsin / Rep. CMP16 Special Editorial Task Group Delete the following: The requirements of for electric wiring shall also apply to installations of optical fiber cables and raceways where they are installed in ducts or plenums or other space used for environmental air. Revise Other Articles as follows: Circuits and equipment shall comply with 770.3(A) and (B). Only those sections of Chapter 2 and Article 300 referenced in this article shall apply to optical fiber cables and raceways. This proposal is editorial. Section 770.3(B) provides no additional guidance or requirements that are not already in (A). It s redundant and perhaps confusing. Section does not have a similar requirement. Acceptance of this proposal, as well as companion proposals for and 830.3, will make Articles 770, 800, 820 and 830 consistent and in compliance with section of the NEC Style Manual, shown below: Parallel construction means stating similar requirements in similar ways for greater consistency. This helps makes the clear for users. Lack of consistency often creates confusion, causing users to ask: There are several kinds of parallel construction:. If practicable, the subsections of similar articles should be numbered in the same order (see 2.4.1). Different sections, within the same article, that reflect similar or closely related subjects, should have similar structures. All items in a list should be parallel (that is, singular or plural, written in the same verb tense, using phrases or sentences but not a mix). This proposal was submitted by the CMP 16 Special Editorial Task Group during the development of the 2008 NEC. This proposal was rejected in order to comply with the NFPA Standards Council Decision (SC #05-7-4) dated 29 July The Standards Council Decision does not apply to the current NEC code cycle. This proposal is one of a group of Proposals prepared by the CMP-16 Special Editorial Task Group for the 2011 NEC. The goals of the task group were to: 1) place requirements in the appropriate sections; 2) improve the parallelism between related Articles such that similar requirements are stated the same way in each Article; 3) make the Articles as self-sufficient as is reasonably possible; and, 4) improve the language in the difficult to understand Sections. The Task Group members are Jim Brunssen, Sandy Egesdal, Ralph Esemplare, Steve Johnson Stan Kahn, Stan Kaufman and Harry Odhe. See panel action on Proposal The panel action meets the intent of the submitter by deleting the existing 770.3(B). 12

13 16-18 Log #116 NEC-P16 Stanley Kaufman, CableSafe Inc. Deleted text: The requirements of for electric wiring shall also apply to installations of optical fiber cables and raceways where they are installed in ducts or plenums or other space used for environmental air. Section 770.3(B) provides no additional guidance or requirements that are not already in (A). It s redundant and perhaps confusing to send an optical fiber cable installer to section to look for requirements that are already in Article 770. Section does not have a similar requirement. Elimination of 770.3(B) will improve the parallelism between the articles. See panel action on Proposal Log #2097 NEC-P16 Ron L. Janikowski, City of Wausau, Wisconsin / Rep. CMP16 Special Editorial Task Group Delete as follows: Optical fiber cables transmit light for control, signaling, and communications through an optical fiber. The information contained in more appropriate as a definition and has been incorporated in 770.2, Optical Fiber Cable. (See companion proposal for 770.2, Optical Fiber Cable.) The proposed revision is editorial. This is one of a group of Proposals prepared by the CMP-16 Special Editorial Task Group. The goals of the task group were to: 1) place requirements in the appropriate sections; 2) improve the parallelism between related Articles such that similar requirements are stated the same way in each Article; 3) make the Articles as self-sufficient as is reasonably possible; and, 4) improve the language in the difficult to understand Sections. The Task Group members are Jim Brunssen, Sandy Egesdal, Ralph Esemplare, Steve Johnson Stan Kahn, Stan Kaufman and Harry Odhe. 13

14 16-20 Log #30 NEC-P16 James M. Daly, Upper Saddle River, NJ The panel action on the Proposal should continue to be Accept in Principle, however, the following additional changes should be made to the panel action: Revise as shown: Innerduct for Optical Fiber Cables Installed in Raceways. Listed plenum optical fiber raceways, listed riser optical fiber raceway, or listed general purpose optical fiber raceway selected in accordance with the provisions of shall be permitted to be installed as innerduct in any type of listed raceway permitted in Chapter 3. Revise the new as follows: Raceways for Optical Fiber Cables. Where optical fiber cables are installed in a raceway, the raceway shall be either of a type either permitted in Chapter 3 and installed in accordance with Chapter 3 or a listed plenum optical fiber raceway, listed riser optical fiber raceway, or listed general purpose optical fiber raceway selected in accordance with the provisions of , and installed in accordance with through , where the requirements applicable to electrical nonmetallic tubing apply. Where optical fiber cables are installed in raceway without current carrying conductors, the raceway fill tables of Chapter 3 and Chapter 9 shall not apply. Where nonconductive optical fiber cables are installed with electric conductors in a raceway, the raceway fill tables of Chapter 3 and Chapter 9 shall apply. "Innerduct" is not defined in the Code and is only used in Changing the text as proposed will still permit the installation of listed optical fiber raceways (plenum, riser, or general-purpose) in any type of listed raceway permitted in Chapter 3 without adding an undefined term to the Code. Addition of the term "innerduct" is not necessary to permit the installations proposed, may be confusing to the user since it is not used anywhere else in the Code, and does not add clarity nor enhance usability of the Code. Relocation of the word "either" provides the consistency between Articles 770, 800, and 820 that the proposer indicated as one of the objectives in the substantiation. Using the term "listed optical fiber raceways" will also permit the installation of other types of listed optical fiber 14

15 raceways that may be included in future Codes without having to revise The first sentence in the submitter's substantiation states that "This is an editorial proposal." Deletion of the maximum percentage fill requirements for Chapter 3 raceways is not editorial. No substantiation was submitted to support the deletion of the maximum percentage fill requirements of Chapters 3 and 9. The fill requirements are based on the physical limitations of being able to pull conductors or cables into raceways without damaging the conductors or cables, particularly when there are bends in the run, and avoiding conductor/cable jamming. The maximum percentage fill requirements are independent of whether they are electrical conductors or not. The maximum percentage fill requirements in Chapters 3 and 9 are an integral part of the permitted uses of the raceways contained in Chapter 3 and if conductors or cables are to be installed in a Chapter 3 raceway, then the maximum percentage fill requirements must also apply. The first sentence in proposed already states that "installed in accordance with Chapter 3" which would include all of Chapter 3 requirements pertaining to raceways including the maximum percentage fill limitations in Chapter 9. The proposal introduces conflicting requirements between the first and second sentences. Chapter 9, Table 1 permits 53 percent fill when one conductor or cable is installed in a raceway; 31 percent for two; and 40 percent for three or more. When electrical conductors are installed in raceways, with or without nonmetallic optical fiber cable or nonmetallic optical fiber raceways, then applies and the ampacity adjustment factors in Table (B)(2)(a) for more than three current-carrying conductors in a raceway or cable would also apply, if applicable. The panel accepts in principle the revision of See panel action on Proposal 16-47, which addresses The panel rejects the revision to because the term innerduct is well known and understood by installers of optical fiber cables Log #946 NEC-P16 Dan Leaf, Seneca, SC Delete text and substitute: Cables shall be securely supported and fastened in place except where installed in raceways, cable trays or fished between access points in existing buildings and structures and intermediate support is not practical. Such cables shall be secured to supports by straps, staples, cable ties, hangers or other fittings identified for the purpose. The installation shall also comply with applicable provisions of and "Neat" and "workmanlike" are subjective and terms to be avoided per the Style Manual, and "will" is a term that is not to be used, per the Style Manual. The manner of support does not necessarily prevent damage. See (A). The proposed text provides no improvement or clarification over the existing text. The proposal refers to and which are not applicable. 15

16 16-22 Log #3090 NEC-P16 Mike Holt, Leesburg, FL Revise text as follows: Mechanical Execution of Work. Optical fiber cables shall be installed in a neat and workmanlike manner. Cables installed exposed on the surface of ceilings and sidewalls shall be supported by the building structure in such a manner that the cable will not be damaged by normal building use. Such cables shall be secured by hardware including straps, staples, cable ties, hangers, or similar fittings designed and installed so as not to damage the cable. The installation shall also conform with 300.4(D) and FPN: Text to remain unchanged. This is one of a series of proposals intended to provide correlation with sections 640.6(B), , , , , and Due to the power limitations of these circuits, there is no reason that the requirements should be different. Optical fiber cables contain no power and do not present a potential electrical safety hazard. There is insufficient substantiation to justify a major increase in physical protection requirements for optical fiber cables. 16

17 16-23 Log #3721 NEC-P16 Vince Baclawski, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Add the following Fine Print Note: FPN: See NFPA 90A, Standard for Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilation Systems, for discrete combustible components installed in air-handling plenums in accordance with This proposal addresses new requirements in NFPA 90A having an influence on installations in NEC Section , as well as held comments from the 2008 NEC Cycle, ROC and Imposing the requirement that such products be listed in this section of the NEC would result in additional requirements not included in NFPA 90A. The implication of requiring listing in this section of the NEC would impose the full scope of requirements in UL 1565 for cable ties and UL 2239 for other support hardware. This effort to correlate with NFPA 90A would create big correlation issues within NFPA 70 for the same products used for supporting all other cables and conduits outside of the jurisdiction of code-making panel 16, for no good reason. It is not necessary to repeat requirements from NFPA 90A in NFPA 70 especially when doing so imposes unsubstantiated additional requirements. The NFPA 90A requirements are focused on smoke and heat generated from a fire in an air-handling plenum. The NFPA 90A-2009 requirement is as follows for discrete combustible components installed in air-handling spaces in accordance with NEC (C) and (D): (The actual clause numbers in NFPA 90A-2009 may vary editorially) NFPA clause Loudspeakers, recessed lighting fixtures and other electrical equipment with combustible enclosures, including their assemblies and accessories, cable ties and other discrete products shall be permitted in the ceiling cavity plenum where listed as having a maximum peak optical density of 0.5 or less, an average optical density of 0.15 or less, and a peak heat release rate of 100 kw or less when tested in accordance with UL2043, And very similar requirements in apply in NFPA 90A for discrete combustible products installed in a raised floor plenum. Importantly, none of these requirements pertain to noncombustible products. There are many metallic products, including metallic cable ties, used to support power, data and communications conduits and cables and there has been no substantiation offered that these be required to be listed. Revise Fine Print Note text to read as follows: FPN No. 2: See NFPA 90A, Standard for Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilation Systems, for discrete combustible components installed in accordance with (B) and (C). The panel removed the vague term "air-handling plenums" and added the references to (B) and (C). This meets the submitter's intent. 17

18 16-24 Log #4551 NEC-P16 Marcelo M. Hirschler, GBH International / Rep. American Fire Safety Council Revise text as follows: Abandoned Cables. The accessible portion of abandoned optical fiber cables shall be removed. Where cables are identified for future use with a tag, the tag shall be of sufficient durability to withstand the environment involved. Removal of abandoned cables shall be performed in a neat and workmanlike manner. This proposal recommends added wording to ensure that abandoned cables are removed appropriately. Section addresses installation and so does section It is important to point out that similar care must be taken when removing cables. Consistent wording is being proposed for other sections in the code. For information, see relevant definitions in the NEC. This is an unenforceable requirement. Removing abandoned cable involves pulling unused cable and wiring from conduit, raceways, ducts, shafts and drop ceilings. The objective of the original text is directed at the final installation, that it be neat and workmanlike, not necessarily the installation (in this case, removal) process. The submitter has provided no substantiation for additional requirements during the removal process. 18

19 16-25 Log #1596 NEC-P16 Russell LeBlanc, The Peterson School of Engineering Add a third sentence to : Conduits or raceways entering enclosures of the ventilated type, shall be sealed or plugged with an approved fire stopping material at the point of entrance to the enclosure to prevent fire, smoke, or other products of combustion from passing through the raceway into other areas of the building or structure. A fire in the area where the enclosure is located will produce smoke, poison gases, and other products of combustion which can easily be carried through the enclosure's vents and these unsealed raceways to other areas in the building. Essentially defeating any firewalls. I have not seen this particular problem addressed in building codes or fire resistance directories since these raceways are not "sleeves" which ARE required to be fire stopped, but rather they are complete raceway systems which generally require only sealing up around the OUTSIDE of the pipe where it penetrates a firewall. In this particular installation smoke could easily pass right through the INSIDE of the raceway because of the ventilation openings in the enclosure. I have witnessed the results of this "chimney-effect" problem when the smoke from a fire in a basement electric room spread throughout the upper floors of a high rise building because the raceways leaving the switch gear acted like chimneys and transported heavy smoke from the basement directly to panelboards and switchboards on the upper floors of the building thus bypassing and defeating any fire walls that the raceways penetrated and completely filling the UPPER floors with smoke. Luckily nobody was injured. If the ends of the raceways were simply filled with some fire-stopping type caulk or similar material this situation would probably never have happened. Once a fire starts to produce toxic fumes we almost have to think of that area as a Hazardous (classified) location similar to those in Article 500. We must try to prevent those hazardous gases passing from one area in a building to another. Just as other sealing requirements throughout the code prevent moisture, condensation, dusts, gases or vapors from traveling through raceways, this requirement for some simple fire proof putty could prevent toxic fumes from spreading throughout the building. The seals required by this proposal are equally as important as any other seals required by the NEC such as 230.8, 300.5(G), 300.7(A), (E), 312.5(C) exception to (D), (A), (A), 368, 238, 372.7, , , , , , (B) and any other seals that may be required. I am submitting companion proposals to sections , , , and Note: Supporting material is available for review at NFPA Headquarters. The proposed recommendation is impractical. The submitter has not supplied sufficient data for substantiation of a problem. 19

20 16-26 Log #2095 NEC-P16 Ron L. Janikowski, City of Wausau, Wisconsin / Rep. CMP16 Special Editorial Task Group Revise text to read as follows: (A) Conductive and Nonconductive Cables. Unlisted conductive and nonconductive outside plant optical fiber cables shall be permitted to be installed in building spaces other than risers, air ducts, plenums and other spaces used for environmental air, locations as described in (C), where the length of the cable within the building, measured from its point of entrance, does not exceed 15 m (50 ft) and the cable enters the building from the outside and is terminated in an enclosure. This proposal is editorial clarification. It is clearer to specify the actual locations in (C) than to refer to section (C). The locations described in (C) are risers, air ducts, plenums and other spaces used for environmental air. This proposal is one of a group of Proposals prepared by the CMP-16 Special Editorial Task Group for the 2011 NEC. The goals of the task group were to: 1) place requirements in the appropriate sections; 2) improve the parallelism between related Articles such that similar requirements are stated the same way in each Article; 3) make the Articles as self-sufficient as is reasonably possible; and, 4) improve the language in the difficult to understand Sections. The Task Group members are Jim Brunssen, Sandy Egesdal, Ralph Esemplare, Steve Johnson Stan Kahn, Stan Kaufman and Harry Odhe. Revise text to read as follows: Unlisted conductive and nonconductive outside plant optical fiber cables shall be permitted to be installed in building spaces other than risers, ducts used for environmental air, plenums used for environmental air, and other spaces used for environmental air, where the length of the cable within the building, measured from its point of entrance, does not exceed 15 m (50 ft) and the cable enters the building from the outside and is terminated in an enclosure. The revised text adds clarity and meets the intent of the submitter. 20

21 16-27 Log #2096 NEC-P16 Ron L. Janikowski, City of Wausau, Wisconsin / Rep. CMP16 Special Editorial Task Group Revise text to read as follows: (B) Nonconductive Cables In Raceway. Unlisted nonconductive optical fiber outside plant optical fiber cables shall be permitted to enter the building from the outside and run in raceway systems installed in compliance with any of the following articles in Chapter 3: Article 342, Intermediate Metal Conduit: Type IMC; Article 344, Rigid Metal Conduit: Type RMC; Article 352, Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride Conduit: Type PVC; and Article 358, Electrical Metallic Tubing: Type EMT. This is an editorial proposal (B) deals with nonconductive cables in raceway. The revision of the title is an editorial clarification. Striking optical fiber removes a redundancy. This proposal is one of a group of Proposals prepared by the CMP-16 Special Editorial Task Group for the 2011 NEC. The goals of the task group were to: 1) place requirements in the appropriate sections; 2) improve the parallelism between related Articles such that similar requirements are stated the same way in each Article; 3) make the Articles as self-sufficient as is reasonably possible; and, 4) improve the language in the difficult to understand Sections. The Task Group members are Jim Brunssen, Sandy Egesdal, Ralph Esemplare, Steve Johnson Stan Kahn, Stan Kaufman and Harry Odhe Log #4492 NEC-P16 Steve Zugay, Alcatel-Lucent Add new text as follows: (E) Where a non-metallic fiber optic cable enters a structure through an outside wall and connects to a listed appliance acting as an indoor distribution network for communications cables, grounding of the appliance can be achieved by utilizing a flexible cord and 3-prong plug. Fiber optic network equipment designed to act as an indoor cable distribution network does not specifically require a connection to ground. However, this equipment may be connected to the building ground as required by the listing. If by definition it is not exposed to the outside plant, grounding with a flexible cord and 3-prong plug is sufficient to bring all devices it serves to the same potential. Since some devices in a home that would connect to a cable distribution network do not contain ground and the product standards used for such products may assume that a coax cable shield is grounded, this should not change that assumption. and raceways only. Equipment requirements are beyond the scope of Article 770 which addresses fiber optic cables 21

22 16-29 Log #3091 NEC-P16 Mike Holt, Leesburg, FL Revise text as follows: (A) Grounding Conductor. (1) Listing Insulation. The grounding conductor shall be insulated and shall be listed. There is no electrical reason that this conductor should be required to be insulated. This proposal provides consistency with nearly every other grounding/bonding related section of the code. Revise (A)(1) to read as follows: (1) Insulation. The grounding conductor shall be listed and shall be permitted to be insulated, covered or bare. The grounding conductor does not need to be insulated but for esthetic reasons, such as exposed grounding conductors routed within a premises, insulation or covering may be appropriate. Adding 'covered' accommodates proposal Permitting all three, 'insulated, covered or bare" will clarify that all three are now permitted since for many years only an insulated conductor was permitted. 22

23 16-30 Log #4393 NEC-P16 Jake Killinger, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Revise text as follows: Entrance Cable Grounding. When grounded, the non-current-carrying metallic members of optical fiber cables entering buildings shall be grounded as specified in (A) through (D). (A) Grounding Conductor. (1) InsulationInsulated or Covered Conductors. The grounding conductor shall be permitted to be insulated, or covered and shall be listed as Protector Grounding Conductors. (remaining text remains unchanged) This is a sister proposal to The existing text would require fully insulated and Listed conductors for cable and primary protector grounding whereas in most other cases, bare conductors are usually adequate for most grounding purposes. Prior to the 1990 NEC, protective grounding conductors were required to have 30 mil rubber insulation and be covered by a fibrous covering. It also permitted conductors Listed for this use having less than 30 mil rubber insulation or having other kinds of insulation. In 1990 the NEC removed the thickness statements so that it read the grounding conductor shall be insulated and shall be listed as suitable for the purpose. In 2008, the suitable for the purpose clause was removed. Discussions with past members of this CMP revealed that the reason for specifying insulated conductors was only to combat theft of uncovered copper wire. That being the case, thinner insulated conductor was permitted so long as it gave the same illusion of a conductor carrying power. Listed Protector Grounding Conductors having less than the full insulation of Listed and insulated conductors exist today. These are based on the past allowances for thinner insulations. The 2008NEC text would literally not permit the use of these thinner walled insulated conductors and would make their certification obsolete. If the reason for using the term insulated was merely to provide a theft deterrent, then fully insulated wire is unnecessary. By definition in Article 100, only a covered conductor would be more than adequate. Therefore propose changing the text to permit both insulated as well as covered conductors. Also propose adding Protector Grounding Conductor to help identify the type of Listed products suitable in this application. These Protector Grounding Conductors are surface marked with this terminology to make it clear that they are listed only for this purpose and are not intended for general use with other Articles in the Code. They are presently certified under UL s KDER category, but may be relocated to the KDSH (Grounding and Bonding Equipment Communication) category to make their restricted use more obvious. Accept in principle the part to add covered. See panel action and statement on Proposal which now permits the use of listed insulated, covered or bare conductors. The title is left as "insulation" since the paragraph now deals with levels of insulation. Reject the parts adding the phrases permitted to be and as a protector grounding conductor. The panel does not want to restrict the listed wire to only listed "protector grounding conductors". 23