400 Flexible Cords, Cables and Fixture Wire

Understanding the wiring requirements of Article 400, including guidelines for flexible cords, cables, and fixture wires
Jun. 1, 2010 Mike olt | Electrical Construction and Maintenance

Understanding the wiring requirements of Article 400, including guidelines for flexible cords, cables, and fixture wires Flexible cords and cabling are very useful, allowing us to do things that Chapter wiring methods do not! "ut this flexibility comes at a cost, and that cost is increased vulnerability! For that reason, Art! 400 requirements are essential for safety!

Fig! "! #efer to $ec! 400!%&A' and &(' for guidance on the am)acit* of flexible cords!

#e can see the various types of flexible cords and cables in $able 400!4, which ta%es up seven pages and comprises more than half of Art! 400! $he first rule of wor%ing with flexible cords and cables is always use that table! &ome other basic rules to always %eep in mind include' Always use a cord and fittings identified for the application (400! )! *ever use a flexible cord or cable in place of a permanent wiring method! +eplace, rather than patch, a damaged cord or cable!

Am)acit*
$ables 400!,-A. and 400!,-". list the allowable ampacity for flexible cords and flexible cables with not more than three current/carrying conductors at an ambient temperature of 012F! $he tables assume copper conductors! $he ampacity from $able 400!,-A. or $able 400!,-". may need to be ad3usted as follows' 4f the number of current/carrying conductors in a cable or raceway exceeds three, ad3ust the allowable ampacity of each conductor with the multipliers listed in $able 400!,! 4f the ambient temperature exceeds 012F, the temperature correction factors listed in $able 50!51 are used to ad3ust the flexible cord or cable ampacity -Fig! ".!

+ermitted uses

Fig! ,! -here.s no maximum length requirement for cords in the /0C!

#iring methods for flexible cords and cables aren6t li%e those defined in Chapter ! &o, where can you use them7 8er 400!9, you can use them in the following applications' 8endants (:50!,0-A. and 54!: -;.) if the cords are identified for pendant use in $able 400!4! #iring of luminaires as allowed by 450!:4-A. and 450!1:-".! Connection of portable luminaires, portable and mobile signs, or appliances as allowed in 4::!51 (400!9-A.- ., but when used with attachment plugs (400!9-".)! <levator cables! #iring of cranes and hoists! Connection of utili=ation equipment to facilitate frequent interchange (4::!51), but only when used with attachment plugs (400!9-".), as shown in Fig! ,! 8revention of the transmission of noise or vibration (4::!51)! Appliances where the fastening means and mechanical connections are specifically designed to permit ready removal for maintenance and repair, and the appliance is intended or identified for flexible cord connections (4::!51), but only when used with attachment plugs (400!9-".)! Connection of moving parts! #here specifically permitted elsewhere in the *<C!

(anned uses
4n 400!0, the *<C lists specific types of uses that are not permitted for flexible cords and cables (400!0)! Unless specifically allowed in 400!9, flexible cords must not be' Used as substitutes for the fixed wiring of a structure! +un through holes in walls, structural ceilings, suspended or dropped ceilings, or floors! +un through doorways, windows, or similar openings! Attached to building surfaces! Concealed by walls, floors, or ceilings > or located above suspended or dropped ceilings - Fig! 1.! 4nstalled in raceways, except as permitted elsewhere in the *<C! Used or installed in a manner that unduly exposes them to physical damage!

Fig! 1! -he /0C doesn.t )ermit the use of flexible cords and cables in certain situations, including abo2e sus)ended or dro))ed ceilings!

&ome clarification is in order for the fifth bulleted item above! ?ou can use flexible cords under a raised floor with removable panels used for environmental air, because this area isn6t considered a concealed space! &ee the definition of @<xposed@ in Art! 500! ?ou can install receptacles above suspended or dropped ceilings, but you can6t install flexible cords up there to plug into them! &o what6s the point of installing the receptacle7 $he receptacle can supply power for portable lights and tools, but that receptacle can6t be used to supply cord/ and plug/connected equipment fastened in place, such as a permanently mounted pro3ector!

3nstallation

Fig! 4! Flexible cords must be installed so that tension will not be transmitted to the conductor terminals!

4nstall flexible cords so tension, including that from the weight of the cord, won6t be transmitted to the conductor terminals (400!50)! #hile the *<C allows you to accomplish this by %notting the cord or winding the cord with tape, it6s best to use fittings designed for the purpose, such as strain/relief fittings - Fig! 4.! #hile a strain/relief fitting is optional, other types of fittings may not be! ?ou must use bushings or fittings to protect cords where they pass through holes in covers, outlet boxes, or similar enclosures (400!54)! #hile you normally can6t install flexible cords in raceways, there is a provision in the Code that allows cords inside raceways for a specific type of installation! 4n industrial establishments where the conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons will service the installation, you can install flexible cords or flexible cables in aboveground raceways > but only if the cordsAcables arenBt more than ,0 ft long (400!54)!

42ercurrent )rotection
Flexible cords and cables must be protected against overcurrent in accordance with :40!,, which contains the following requirements'

Cvercurrent devices must not be rated higher than the cordBs ampacity, as specified in $able 400!,-A. and $able 400!,-". (:40!,-A.)! Flexible cord for listed utili=ation equipment is considered protected when used per the equipment listing requirements (:40!,-".-5.)! <xtension cord sets are considered protected when used per the extension cord listing requirements (:40!,-".- .)! Flexible cord used in field/assembled extension cords, made with separately listed and installed components, can be supplied by a :0A branch circuit for 51 A#D and larger conductors (:40!,-".-4.)!

Conductor identification
;ow do you %now which conductor in a cord is the neutral7 4t must be identified using one of the following methods (400!::)' #hite or gray colored braid! Colored tracer in the braid! #hite, gray, or light blue insulation! +idges, grooves or white stripes on the exterior of the cord! $he equipment grounding conductor must be identified with one of the following methods (400!: )' Continuous green color! Continuous identifying mar%er distinguishing it from the other conductors! 4f a conductor in a cord or cable has insulation that6s green or green with one or more yellow stripes, don6t use it for an ungrounded or neutral conductor (:,0!55E)!

Fixture wires
Fixture wires are flexible conductors used for wiring fixtures and control circuits, but not branch circuits! $here are some special uses and requirements for fixture wires, and *<C Art! 40: deals especially with fixture wires! &ome %ey points' *o fixture wire can be smaller than 50 A#D (40:!1)! Fixture wires must be of a type listed in $able 40:! ! $hat table ma%es up the bul% of Art! 40:! $he allowable ampacity of fixture wires is in $able 40:!,!

#acewa* si5e
+aceways must be large enough to permit the installation and removal of conductors without damaging conductor insulation (40:!9)! $he number of fixture wires permitted in a single raceway must not exceed the percentage fill specified in $able 5 of Chapter E! #hen all conductors in a raceway are the same si=e and insulation, you can use Annex C to determine the number of conductors permitted for the raceway type! #hen all conductors are not of the same insulation type or the same si=e, then Chapter E, $able , is used to find the area of all conductors, and Chapter E, $able 4 is then used to si=e the raceway that can accommodate that conductor fill!

/eutral identification
$he fixture wire used as a neutral conductor must have continuous white stripes or be identified by one of the means allowed for the neutral of flexible cords and cables as listed in 400!::-A. through -<. (40:!0)! Always remember that in order to prevent electric shoc%, the screw shell of a luminaire or lampholder must be connected to the neutral conductor (:00!50-C. and 450!,0)!

+ermitted uses
?ou can use fixture wires' For installation in luminaires -and similar equipment., where enclosed and protected and not sub3ect to bending and twisting in use (40:!50)! $o connect luminaires to their branch circuit conductors (40:!50)!

For elevators and escalators (1:0!55-C.), Class 5 control and power/limited circuits (9:,!4E-".), and nonpower/limited fire alarm circuits (910!4E-".)!

?ou can6t use fixture wires, however, for branch/circuit wiring, except as permitted elsewhere in the Code (40:!55)!

42ercurrent )rotection
Fixture wires are allowed to be tapped off of a branch/circuit conductor following the requirements of (:40!,-".-:.)' :0A circuits can supply' 50A#D, up to ,0 ft of run lengthF 51A#D, up to 500 ftF 54A#D and larger for any length! 0A circuits can supply' 54A#D and larger! 40A and ,0A circuits can supply' 5:A#D and larger! Fixture wires used for motor control circuit taps must have overcurrent protection per 4 0!9:-A., and Class 5 remote/control circuits must have overcurrent protection per 9:,!4 ! $he requirements for flexible cords, cables, and fixture wires aren6t hard to meetF however, violating them can cause serious problems! Always remember that the rules for flexible cords and cables are in Art! 400 and fixture wires are covered by Art! 40:, then start by using the tables in these articles for application and ampacity details!