2/3/2019 The NEC and Optical Fiber Cable and Raceway Rules

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NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE > CODE BASICS

The NEC and Optical Fiber Cable and Raceway Rules

Mastering NEC guidelines with a thorough understanding of Art. 770

Mike Holt | Jun 11, 2013

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Time for a quick pop quiz. Where does the NEC provide all of its requirements
for wiring methods? If you answered Chapter 3, you are almost correct. When
installing optical fiber cables, the requirements for wiring methods are located
in Art. 770. Only when Art. 770 references sections in Chapter 2 and Art. 300 do
these apply to optical fiber cables and raceways [770.3].

For example, subsection 770.113 refers to 300.22, which applies when installing
optical fiber cables and optical fiber raceways in ducts and plenum spaces.
Article 770 does not refer to 300 15 so you do not have to put optical splices in
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2/3/2019 The NEC and Optical Fiber Cable and Raceway Rules
Article 770 does not refer to 300.15, so you do not have to put optical splices in
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boxes.  SEARCH

Article 770 also applies to composite cables, which combine optical fibers with
current-carrying conductors. You can use these only where the optical fibers and
current-carrying electrical conductors are functionally associated [770.133(A)].
Because the NEC considers these electrical cables [770.3(B)], they must comply
with the appropriate requirements of Chapter 1 through Chapter 4.

Mechanicals matter

You must install equipment and cabling in a neat and workmanlike manner
[770.24]. One of the implications of this is the routing of your cables cannot
interfere with access to equipment [770.21]. For example, you must run them so
they are not resting on top of ceiling tiles in a way that blocks access.

Ideally, you will run those cables with supports that fasten to frame members.
But such an approach in a ceiling space is not always cost-effective or even
possible. However, you must take this approach for exposed cables to ensure the
cable will not be damaged by normal building use. Secure the cables with straps,
staples, hangers, cable ties, or similar fittings designed and installed in a manner
that won’t damage the cable (Fig. 1).

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2/3/2019 The NEC and Optical Fiber Cable and Raceway Rules

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Fig. 1. Per the NEC, make sure you secure cables with straps, staples, hangers, cable ties, or similar fittings
designed and installed in a manner that won’t cause damage to them.

You can support raceways and cables by independent support wires attached to
the suspended ceiling per 300.11(A). Do not use the ceiling-support wires or
ceiling grid directly [300.11]. In addition, do not strap, tape, or attach optical
fiber cables (or any other kind of cable) to the exterior of any raceway as a means
of support [770.133(D)].

Cables installed through (or parallel to) framing members or furring strips must
be protected where they are likely to be penetrated by nails or screws. Install the
wiring method so it is at least 1¼ in. from the nearest edge of the framing
member or furring strips, or is protected by a ¹⁄₁₆-in.-thick steel plate or the
equivalent [300.4(D)].

You’ll find the accepted industry practices in ANSI/NECA/BICSI 568, “Standard

for Installing Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling” and
ANSI/NECA/FOA 301, “Standard for Installing and Testing Fiber Optic Cables.”
See NFPA 90A-2009, “Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and
Ventilating Systems,” for discrete combustible components installed per
300.22(B) and (C). NFPA 90A-2009 does not require support hardware to be
listed, but NFPA 90A-2009 has heat release and smoke emissions requirements
for cable ties in sections 4.3.11.2.6.5 (plenums) and 4.3.11.5.5.6 (raised floor
plenums).

Stop combustion spread

One way to reduce the spread of fire or products of combustion within a building
is to remove abandoned cables [770.25]:

• If you do not terminate some cables because they are for future use, make sure
you identify each one with a tag that can withstand the environment involved.
This way, it’s easy to distinguish them from abandoned cables.

• If a cable does not terminate and is not for future use, then you must remove
th ibl ti f it C bl i t ll d i
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2/3/2019 The NEC and Optical Fiber Cable and Raceway Rules
the accessible portion of it. Cables installed in concealed raceways are not
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Another way is install cables and raceways with proper firestopping [770.26]:

• Firestop any openings in fire-rated walls, floors, and

ceilings for electrical equipment.

• Use firestop material listed for the specific types of wiring methods and
construction structures.

• Use firestop methods approved by the AHJ to maintain the fire-resistance

rating of the fire-rated assembly (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Openings around electrical penetrations must be firestopped using approved methods to maintain the
fire-resistance rating.

You also need to use methods that do not substantially increase the risk of
spreading combustion. For example:

• Directories of electrical construction materials published by qualified testing

laboratories contain listing and installation restrictions necessary to maintain
the fire-resistive rating of assemblies [770.26 Note].

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• Outlet boxes must have a horizontal separation at least 24 in. when installed in
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a fire-rated assembly, unless an outlet box is listed for closer spacing or

protected by fire-resistant “putty pads” per manufacturer’s instructions.

Listing

Install listed optical fiber cables and raceways as indicated in Table 770.154(A)
and as limited by 770.113. You can use cable substitutions per Table 770.154(B).
For indoor installations, optical fiber cables must be listed [770.179].

What if you have unlisted cables entering a building? First, understand what the
“point of entrance” is — the point within a building at which the optical fiber
cable emerges from one of these [770.2]: external wall; concrete floor slab; or
rigid metal conduit or an intermediate metal conduit connected by a grounding
conductor to an electrode per 770.100.

You can install unlisted optical fiber cables in building spaces (other than risers,
ducts, or plenum spaces), if the length of the optical fiber cable measured from
its point of entrance does not exceed 50 ft and the optical fiber cable terminates
in an enclosure. Unlisted nonconductive outside optical fiber cables can enter
the building up to 50 ft (point of entrance) [770.48].

Raceway

You can install optical fiber cables in any Chapter 3 raceway per the
requirements of Chapter 3 [770.110(A)]. Furthermore, you can install listed
optical fiber raceways as innerduct in any Chapter 3 raceway. You also have the
option of installing them in listed optical fiber raceways per 362.24 through
362.56.

Always install listed optical fiber raceways per the following ENT rules:

• 362.24 (Bending radius)

• 362.26 (Maximum total bends between pull points, 360°)

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2/3/2019 The NEC and Optical Fiber Cable and Raceway Rules

• 362.28 (Trimmed to remove rough edges)

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•362.30 (Support every 3 ft, within 3 ft of any enclosure)

• 362.48 (Joints between tubing, fittings, and boxes)

What about raceway fill? The raceway fill tables of Chapter 3 and Chapter 9
apply if you install optical fiber cables in a raceway with current-carrying
conductors; otherwise, they don’t [770.110(B)].

Ducts vs. plenums

If you run fiber-optic cables in fabricated ducts used for environmental air and
install them per 300.22(B), you can choose from eight permissible cable types.
The options and requirements, listed in 770.113(B), are straightforward. But in
plenum spaces used for environmental air, the requirements are more complex
[770.113(B)]. The reason is the ductwork helps confine the products of
combustion while a plenum space is unlikely to do so.

The typical plenum space is incidentally created during construction. For

example, the space between two sides of an interior wall becomes a plenum
when connected to the air distribution system. These are typically passive parts
of the air distribution system (cold air returns, for example) and thus aren’t
typically sealed. They are often made of combustible materials.

By contrast, ductwork is typically fabricated from sheet metal. It is usually

sealed to reduce energy losses due to air leakage, thus further inhibiting the
spread of combustion.

Mixing with conductors

You can run composite cable that includes optical fibers and power circuits, if
the functions of the optical fibers and the electrical conductors are associated.
Conductive optical fiber cables aren’t permitted to occupy a cable tray or
raceway with electric light, power or Class 1 circuits [770.133].

Nonconductive optical fiber cables:

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2/3/2019 The NEC and Optical Fiber Cable and Raceway Rules
p
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• Can occupy a cable tray or raceway with conductors for electric light, power,
and Class 1 circuits (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. Nonconductive optical fiber cables are permitted to occupy the same tray or raceway with power
conductors and Class 1 circuits.

• Cannot occupy a cabinet, outlet box, panel, or similar enclosure housing the
electrical terminations of an electric light, power, or Class 1 circuit — unless the
nonconductive optical fiber cable is functionally associated with the electric
light, power, or Class 1 circuit.

Optical fiber cables can be in the same raceway, cable tray, cable routing
assembly, or enclosure with conductors of any of the following:

• Communications circuits complying with Parts I and IV of Art. 800.

• Coaxial cables complying with Parts I and IV of Art. 820.

• Class 2 and Class 3 circuits complying with Parts I and III of Art. 725.

• Power-limited fire alarm circuits complying with Parts I and III of Art. 760.

Final ber thoughts

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Because optical fibers don’t carry current, the normal NEC rules related to  SEARCH

ampacity don’t apply — unless, of course, you run them with current-carrying
conductors or use a fiber-conductor composite cable. Where run in
environmental air space, you must account for by-products of combustion.
Protecting those optical fibers from damage is a key factor underlying other Art.
770 requirements.

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TRAINING

Teaching the World About Wholesale Distribution

Stanion Wholesale Electric’s sponsorship of the new Modern Distribution

Sales & Management Program at Pratt Community College, Pratt, KS, will
attract well-trained new employees in the years to come and help
promote the career opportunities that exist in the distribution industry.

Jim Lucy | Feb 01, 2019

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Attracting new talent is a common problem not only for distributors in the
electrical market but also for distributors in the dozens of other niches within
the $5.3 trillion U.S. wholesale-distribution industry.

Even though the wholesale trade employs more than 6 million people and
accounts for 5.9% of total U.S. Gross Domestic Product, according to data from
the National Association of Wholesale-Distributors and the U.S. government,
not many people know the distribution industry exists or that it provides solid
career opportunities at thousands of local businesses across the nation.

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To help get the word out on the employment opportunities that Stanion
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Wholesale Electric Co., Pratt, KS, provides at its 17 locations in Kansas and the
Kansas City metropolitan area, the company is sponsoring and has made a
financial investment in the new Modern Distribution Sales & Management
program that Pratt Community College, Pratt, KS, launched last year.

Pratt Community College’s Jenny Egging, coordinator of the Modern Distribution Sales & Management program, and Bill

Keller, Stanion Wholesale Electric’s president, work with area electrical companies and distributors in other industrial markets

to offer a course curriculum that prepares students for careers in the distribution industry.

READ MORE

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