1.

Optical fiber cables, Types OFNP, OFCP, OFNR, OFCR,

Data/comm cables and the 2014 National Electrical Code OFN and OFC
2. Communications cables, Types CMP, CMR, CMG and
September 1, 2013 CM
3. Coaxial cable TV cables, Types CATVP, CATVR and
CATV
4. Class 2 cables, Types CL2P, CL2R and CL2
5. Class 3 cables, Types CL3P, CL3R and CL3
From the September, 2013 Issue of Cabling Installation & 6. Power-limited fire alarm cables, Types FPLP, FPLR and
Maintenance Magazine FPL
Recently made available from the NFPA, the 2014 NEC
includes several changes of interest to professionals in the The applications of data/comm cables and their associated
data/comm cabling field. equipment are in 11 articles that are the responsibility of three
By Stanley Kaufman, PhD, CableSafe Inc. code-making panels.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) is published by the National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA; www.nfpa.org) with revisions
on a three-year schedule. The 2014 NEC, which replaces the
2011 NEC, was released by the NFPA in August 2013. (NFPA
70, NFPA, National Fire Protection Association, National
Electrical Code, and NEC are registered trademarks of the
National Fire Protection Association.)
This article, written on behalf of the Communications Cable and
Connectivity Association (CCCA; www.cccassoc.org), is
intended to provide the reader with a guide to the key changes
in the 2014 NEC that are of interest to manufacturers, installers,
distributors and users of data/comm cables.
This article is not intended to be a primer on the NEC. In 2011
and 2012, Cabling Installation & Maintenance published a series
of articles, which I also authored on behalf of the CCCA, on the
2011 NEC and the development of the 2014 NEC. These
articles provide a great deal of information on the National
Electrical Code development process.
Data/comm cables This article organizes the Code changes into two categories: 1)
Although widely used in the industry, the term data/comm cable entirely new topics/issues, 2) continued development.
does not appear in the NEC. The term data/comm cable, as New topics and issues
used in this article, encompasses six families of cable types in Field-assembled optical fiber cables--Not all optical fiber cables
the NEC. are made in a factory; some are assembled in the field by first
installing a tube and then blowing fibers into the tube. Article 770
now recognizes field-assembled optical fiber cables.
 1. The definition of an optical fiber cable has been
broadened to include field-assembled cables, and
2. Listing requirements have been established for the
components (jacket and fibers) of field-assembled optical
fiber cables.
Plenum-rated cable ties and cable accessories--NFPA 90A,
Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilation
Systems, has requirements for discreet components in a
plenum, including cable ties. These requirements have been
incorporated into the 2014 NEC, which now requires that
nonmetallic cable ties and other nonmetallic cable accessories
used to support and secure cables in a plenum are listed as
having low smoke- and heat-release properties.
Modular data centers--Article 646, Modular Data Centers,
makes its debut in the 2014 NEC. Modular data centers, which
are commonly built up of modules housed in shipping
containers, are becoming a common way to construct a data
center. Article 645, Information Technology Equipment, is a
voluntary article, i.e. it is permitted to provide alternate wiring
methods to the usual wiring methods. Article 646 is mandatory.
It is not voluntary. It applies to modular data centers.
Continuing topics and issues
Prohibition on cables in ducts carrying flammable materials--
Section 300.22(A) prohibits the installation of any electrical
wiring system in ducts used to transport dust, loose stock or
flammable vapors. This requirement only applies to Chapter 8
(Communications), where it is specifically referenced in Chapter
8; see 90.3 Code Arrangement. The 2011 NEC added a
reference to 300.22(A) in 800.3 "Other Articles." The 2014 NEC
extended this requirement to CATV (Article 820) and network-
powered broadband cables (Article 830), and also to conductive
optical fiber cables (Articles 770 and 840).
Wiring in air ducts--The 2011 and 2014 NEC restrict the lengths
of plenum-grade optical fiber and communications cables in air
ducts (fabricated ducts used for environmental air) to a
maximum of 4 feet of cable directly associated with the air
distribution system. The 2011 NEC retained the long-standing
permission [725.154(A) and 760.154(A)] to install unlimited
lengths of Class 2, Class 3 and power-limited fire alarm plenum
cables in air ducts. The 2014 NEC restricts the lengths of Type
CL2P, CL3P and FPLP cables to "lengths as short as
practicable to perform the required function."
Riser installations--In the 2008 NEC, riser rated (or plenum)
cables were required in vertical runs of more than one floor, but
general-purpose cables were permitted for cables penetrating
only one floor. Where general-purpose cables were used, they
had to be in a separate floor penetration from multi-floor runs of
riser and plenum cables. The 2011 NEC simplified this complex
situation by requiring riser (or plenum) optical fiber and
communications cables even if penetrating only one floor. The
2014 NEC continued this simplification by extending it to Class
2, Class 3 and power-limited fire alarm installations.
Communications raceways--The 2008 edition of the NEC
contained listing requirements and applications for signaling
raceways (Article 725), optical fiber raceways (Article 770),
communications raceways (Article 800) and CATV raceways
(Article 820). Each of these families of raceways had general-
purpose, riser and plenum grades. The 2011 NEC began the
process of consolidating these redundant raceway types by
eliminating CATV raceways and replacing them with
communications raceways. The 2011 NEC also permitted
communications raceways to substitute for optical fiber
raceways so that an installer only had to carry two types--
signaling and communications raceways.
The process of consolidation is complete in the 2014 NEC.
Signaling and optical fiber raceways have been replaced by
communications raceways. Communications raceways are now
permitted for use with Class 2 and Class 3 cables (Article 725),
power-limited fire alarm cables (Article 760), communications
cables (Article 800), CATV cables (Article 820) and low-powered
network-powered broadband communications cables (Article
830).
The definition of a communications raceway has been revised to
reflect its wider applications. It is now defined as follows.
Communications Raceway: An enclosed channel of nonmetallic
materials designed expressly for holding wires and cables,
typically communications wires and cables, optical fiber and
data (Class 2 and Class 3), in plenum, riser, and general-
purpose applications.
Cable routing assemblies--Cable routing assemblies are widely
used in data centers as a support/management system for
cables. They were designed for use with optical fiber cables, but
they are also used for data (Class 2) and communications
cables. The fire tests for listing general-purpose, riser and
plenum cable routing assemblies are identical to the fire tests for
listing general-purpose, riser and communications raceways. UL
2024, Standard for Signaling, Optical Fiber and
Communications Raceways and Cable Routing Assemblies,
covers the listing of cable routing assemblies as well as
signaling, optical fiber and communications raceways.
Applications of general-purpose and riser cable routing
assemblies were introduced for use with optical fiber and
communications cables in Articles 770, 800, 820 and 830 in the
2011 NEC.
The 2014 NEC has extended the applications of cable routing
assemblies to Class 2, Class 3 (Article 725) and power-limited
fire alarm cables (Article 760). The 2014 NEC also established
listing requirements for plenum cable routing assemblies but
restricted their use to riser and general-purpose applications.
The definition of a cable routing assembly has been revised to
reflect its wider applications. Cable Routing Assembly: A single
channel or connected multiple channels, as well as associated
fittings, forming a structural system that is used to support and
route communications wires and cables, optical fiber cables,
data cables associated with information technology and
communications equipment, Class 2 and Class 3 cables, and
power-limited fire alarm cables.
The key difference between a raceway and a cable routing
assembly is that raceways are enclosed. Cable routing
assemblies may or may not be enclosed.
Circuit integrity cables--Circuit integrity data/comm cables are
recognized in the 2011 NEC. Article 725 defines a circuit
integrity (CI) cable as "Cable(s) used for remote-control,
signaling, or power-limited systems that supply critical circuits to
ensure survivability for continued circuit operation for a specified
time under fire conditions." There are similar definitions in Article
760 for a Fire Alarm Circuit Integrity (CI) Cable and in Article
800 for Communications Circuit Integrity (CI) Cable.
There are two types of circuit integrity cables--those that are not
intended to be installed in raceway (or conduit) and those that
use raceway as part of the design for achieving survivability.
Circuit integrity cables that use raceway for achieving
survivability are considered to be part of a "listed electrical
circuit protective system."
The 2014 NEC has a new Article, Article 728, Fire Resistive
Cable Systems, covering circuit integrity and electrical circuit
protective systems. In addition, the provisions of Articles 770
and 800 covering circuit integrity cables have been expanded to
include electrical circuit protective systems.
The purpose of this article is to provide a timely overview of the
changes in the 2014 NEC that apply to data/comm cables and
related raceways and cable routing assemblies. Additional
articles are planned.
The 2014 National Electrical Code is available for purchase from
the National Fire Protection Association--www.nfpa.org
. ::
Stanley Kaufman, Ph.D. is principal of CableSafe Inc. and a
consultant to the Communications Cable and Connectivity
Association (www.cccassoc.org). He is a member of NEC Code-
Making Panels 12 and 16. He is also a member of the NFPA
Technical Committee on Electronic Computer Systems, which is
responsible for NFPA 75; Kaufman also is a member of the
NFPA Technical Committee on Telecommunications, which is
responsible for NFPA 76.
This article, contributed by the Communications Cable and
Connectivity Association (CCCA), is offered for general
information and educational purposes. It is not offered, intended,
nor should it be relied upon as legal advice. The article does not
set forth the views of any member or any other party, nor may it
be taken as such. CCCA makes no warranty regarding the
accuracy of the information provided in this article, and
expressly disclaims any implied warranties and any liability for
use of this paper or reliance on views expressed in it. CCCA
does not endorse, approve or certify any information set forth in
this article, nor does it guarantee the accuracy, completeness,
efficacy, timeliness or correct sequencing of such information.
Use of this article and the views expressed in it is voluntary, and
reliance on it should only be undertaken after an independent
review of its accuracy, completeness, efficacy and timeliness,
and based on the individual facts and circumstances of a user.