General Construction Specifications
PART 1 - GENERAL
01 WORK INCLUDED
A. Building wire.
B. Cable.
C. Wiring connections and terminations.
02 REFERENCES
A. NEMA WC 5 - Thermoplastic-Insulated Wire and Cable for the Transmission and Distribution of Electrical Energy.
PART 2 - PRODUCTS
03 BUILDING WIRE
A. Thermoplastic-insulated Building Wire: NEMA WC 5.
B. Feeders and Branch Circuits No. 8 AWG and Larger: Copper, stranded conductor, 600 volt insulation, THHN/THWN or XHHW.
C. Feeders and Branch Circuits 10 AWG and Smaller: Copper, solid conductor, 600 volt insulation, THHN/THWN.
D. Control Circuits: Copper, stranded conductor 600 volt insulation, THHN/THWN or XHHW.
E. Light fixture wiring shall be suitable for the environmental conditions and temperatures to which the conductors will be subjected.
04 REMOTE CONTROL AND SIGNAL CABLE
A. Control Cable for Class 1 Remote Control and Signal Circuits: Copper conductor, 600 volt insulation, rated 60 degree C, individual conductors twisted together and covered with a PVC jacket, UL listed. Minimum size #16 AWG.
PART 3 - EXECUTION
05 GENERAL WIRING METHODS
A. Use no wire smaller than 12 AWG for power and lighting circuits except for tap conductors between light fixture terminal connections and its outlet box (fixture tails) in accordance with NEC Article 410 which may be #14 AWG. Use wire no smaller than 14 AWG for mechanical control wiring.
B. Use 10 AWG conductor for 20 ampere, 120 volt branch circuit home runs longer than 75 feet and for 20 ampere, 277 volt branch circuit home runs longer than 175 feet to the first device. Refer to drawings for extremely longer circuit such as site lighting for wire sizes. Provide #12 AWG tap at fixtures where circuit wire size exceeds #8 AWG.
C. Splice branch circuits only in junction or outlet boxes. Splices inside panelboards shall not be permitted. Feeder conductors shall be continuous from origin to termination. Splices in feeders shall not be permitted unless written approval from the Architect is obtained.
D. Neatly train and lace wiring inside boxes, equipment, and panelboards.
E. Make conductor lengths for parallel circuits equal.
F. Support conductors in vertical raceways are required by NEC Article 300-19.
G. Color code wire as follows:
208Y/120Volt
&120/240Volt
Three Phase 480Y/277Volt
Phase A: Black Brown
Phase B: Red Orange
Phase C: Blue Yellow
Neutral: White Gray
Ground: Green Green
Use factory color coded wire for No. 12 and No. 10 AWG. Two bands of color tape one inch minimum width, spaced one inch apart and clearly visible when the panelboard exterior cover is removed may be used for No. 8 AWG and larger. Paint shall not be used for color coding.
Where state or local codes require wire colors different from those listed above inform the Architect in writing. Comply with the state or local requirements. Provide color coding listed above for two pole, single phase wiring and three pole, three phase wiring. Do not install the same color wire for all phases for these type circuits.
H. Branch circuit homeruns to panelboards may be grouped into four wire branch circuits, with three phase conductors and a common neutral provided that each of the three phase conductors originate from different phases in the same panelboard. No more than three circuits with shared neutral shall be installed in single homerun conduit. Do not install more than one feeder circuit in a conduit. Branch circuits shall not be routed into wireways containing more wiring than listed above for a branch circuit conduit.
I. Do not exceed the minimum bending radius recommended by the manufacturer of the conductor.
06 WIRING INSTALLATION IN RACEWAYS
A. Pull all conductors into a raceway at the same time. Use UL listed wire pulling lubricate for pulling 6 AWG and larger wires.
B. Install wire in raceway after interior of building has been physically protected from the weather and all mechanical work likely to injure conductors has been completed.
C. Completely and thoroughly swab raceway system before installing conductors.
D. Do not exceed the manufacturer's recommended maximum pulling tension while installing wire. Take precautions to prevent damage to conductor insulation. Where insulation is damaged remove the entire length of conductor and replace.
07 WIRING CONNECTIONS AND TERMINATIONS
A. Splice only in accessible junction boxes.
B. For solid copper wire 10 AWG and smaller, use insulated spring wire connectors with plastic caps equal to 3M Scotchlok-Y Electrical Spring Connectors.
C. Use pressure connectors for terminating stranded conductors No. 10 AWG and smaller equal to 3M - Scotchlok S-31.
D. Thoroughly clean wires before installing lugs and connectors.
E. Make splices, taps and terminations to carry full ampacity of conductors without perceptible temperature rise.
F. Terminate spare conductors with electrical tape.
G. Double lugging of any phase wire, neutral, or ground wire shall not be allowed.
08 FIELD QUALITY CONTROL
A. Field inspection and testing shall be performed under provisions of applicable Sections of Division 1.
B. Inspect wire and cable for physical damage and proper connection.
C. Torque test conductor connections and terminations to manufacturer's recommended values using a calibrated torque wrench.
D. Perform continuity test on all power and branch circuit conductors. Verify proper phasing connections.
E. Perform an insulation resistance test using a 1000 volt "Megger" on each conductor in all feeder circuits. Test shall be conducted from conductor to ground with the other conductors in that circuit grounded. Voltage shall be applied until Megger reading is constant, three minutes minimum. Minimum acceptable resistance shall be 1.0 megohms, corrected to 60 degrees F. Replace all failing conductors. Record tests including feeder identification and temperature corrected Megger reading at one minute intervals. Submit test results to the Architect.
F. Perform insulation resistance tests on all branch circuit conductors that have apparent physical insulation damage and any other branch circuit conductors when requested by the Architect. Tests shall be as specified for feeder conductors.
END OF SECTION
