Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Melville, NY 11747-3081
November 26, 2003
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TO: Standards Technical Panel for FLEXIBLE CORD AND FIXTURE WIRE - STP 62 for
comment only, no ballot
Standards Technical Panel for POWER CABLES - STP 83 for comment only, no ballot
Subscribers to UL’s Standards Services for
Flexible Cord and Fixture Wire - UL 62, 16ed
Thermoset-Insulated Wires and Cables - UL 44, 15ed
Thermoplastic-InsulatedWires and Cables - UL 83, 13ed
Reference Standard for Electrical Wires, Cables, and Flexible Cords - UL 1581,
4ed
SUBJECT: Opportunity to Comment on Anticipated Tri-National Wire and Cable Test Method
Standard
Summary of Topics:
A preliminary draft of the tri-national UL 2556 Reference Standard for Wire and Cable Test
Methods is available for review and comment.
With UL’s participation, a CANENA Technical Harmonization SubCommittee (THSC) has drafted a First
Edition of the UL 2556 standard containing harmonized versions of a number of new and existing
ANCE, CSA, and UL test methods that are applicable to flexible cords and power wires covered by
standards currently being tri-nationally harmonized (UL 62, 44, and 83 in the US). Tests applicable only
to other wire products are not included. For some tests, both a harmonized test method in the new
standard and the existing test method in UL 1581 will temporarily remain available for reference in any
wire product standard, the choice being left to which test version is determined appropriate in the case
of each individual wire standard. Two descriptions of a test are not desirable so plans currently are
being developed to address this situation.
The current early, working draft of UL 2556 has been posted under ”harmonization information” and the
”interim drafts” option on UL’s website http://ulstandardsinfonet.ul.com. Comments on the draft should
reference ”Subject 2556“ and should be sent to UL by January 15, 2004 by addressing e-mail, a fax, or
postal mail as indicated in the table below. As this is a preliminary draft, UL does not plan to formally
respond to comments. Instead, the THSC will use the comments as guidance in preparing the draft that
UL expects to propose as the First Edition of UL 2556, with STP balloting for designation as an
American National Standard. The THSC plans to revise UL 2556 a number of times in the future
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SUBJECT 2556 -2- NOVEMBER 26,2003
inserting an additional group of tests each time. To assist the THSC with the future additions, UL will
post their working drafts for comment. A bulletin similar to this announcement will accompany each
such posting.
Austin Wetherell
e-mail: austin.wetherelI@us.ul.com
Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
1285 Walt Whitman Road
fax: 631-439-6014
Melville NY 11747-3081
Comments by e-mail or fax should include your full name and company address to facilitate a reply
should the THSC desire to correspond.
SR:CA
03ST546-1581.4
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Summary of Topics:
This bulletin presents the disposition by the CANENA Technical Harmonization Sub-Committee
(THSC) for Building Wire and Cable of comments received during ANSI canvass of the draft
of the tri-national UL 83 Standard proposed in UL’s Subject 83 bulletin dated December 5,2002.
The tri-national UL 83 Standard is being issued to harmonize the UL, Mexican, and Canadian
requirements for thermoplastic-insulated wires.
Attached in Appendix A is the THSC disposition of the ANSI canvass comments. STP 83 ballots for the
tri-national standard were dated December 5, 2002 for return to the STP Secretary by January 20,
2003. Appendix A addresses all of the comments received.
If an STP voting member wishes to change a vote in light of the attached dispositions, the member
should respond to UL in writing by August 1, 2003. If we do not hear by this date, the original vote will
be maintained.
If the STP concurs with the THSC disposition, UL will consider that a consensus has been achieved for
ANSI approval of the Thirteenth Edition of the UL 83 standard. UL expects then to adopt and publish
the Thirteenth Edition of UL 83 as an American National Standard.
You have the right to appeal the disposition actions on a procedural basis. If you wish to appeal, please
respond by August 1, 2003. Guidelines on how to register an appeal can be obtained on htttxll
ulstandardsinfonet.uI.com.
UL appreciates the time and effort you have put forth to review the proposed tri-national standard, and
looks forward to your continued participation in future activities regarding the ANSIlUL 83 Standard.
The voting roster in Appendix B shows the names, affiliations, and interests of the STP members.
The UL staff members named or otherwise referenced in Appendix C are available at any time to
interpret requirements for Thermoplastic-Insulated Wires, ZLGR.
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SUBJECT 83 -2- JULY 1, 2003
The following impact and effective date information is repeated from the December 5, 2002 Subject 83
proposal buIletin:
Adoption of the tri-national UL 83 Standard will not require manufacturers to take any action to maintain
their current UL Listings of any PVC-insulated National Electrical Code (NEC) wire type.
If the tri-national UL 83 Standard is adopted, except for Clauses 5.12.6 and 5.12.7 (change in the
limited smoke marking), the standard will become effective upon publication. The effective date for
Clauses 5.12.6 and 5.12.7 will be one year after publication - that is, "STI" can replace the present
"-LS" at any time but UL will require "STI" one year after publication.
The insulation resistance, capacitance, and relative humidity test water temperature increase to 60°C
will not require retest of any currently recognized 60°C PVC insulation compound. However, UL will use
a 60°C test for all compounds submitted on and after the date of publication.
The dielectric voltage withstand potential increase from 1500 to 2000 volts for Type l
W will not require
retest of any currently Listed Type l
W wire.
Upon publication of the adopted tri-national standard, UL will require manufacturers of pump cable
interested in using PE insulation to submit the cable and request a Procedure change.
LS
03ST327-UL83.12
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SUBJECT 83 -Al- JULY l,2003
APPENDIX A
COMMENT MATRIX
The Tables below show the disposition by the THSC of the comments received on BSWUL 83.
STP Secretary: WALTER HOFFMANN INT+I 631 271 6200 EXT 22564 walter.hoffmann@us.ul.com
STP Chair: STEVEN GALAN INT+I 631 271 6200 EXT 22435 Stevan.A.Galan@us.ul.com
Text Reference The specific clause, table, or figure referred to in the comment
Comment or Comment Summary Comment or summary of the comment and the suggested
wording of proposals
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SUBJECT 83 -A2- JULY 1, 2003
Suggested Deletion or Change of the Canadian Deviation for the "SR" Weather Resistance Marking
be marked SR, the insulation of a single wet-rated conductor having no outer jacket or
covering, the outer jacket of a multiconductor cable, and the insulation and nylon covering of nylon-covered conductors of a
completed single wire or a multiconductor cable shall retain at least 80% of their unconditioned tensile strength and elongation
values, after conditioning bFE2û-h in xenon or carbon arc in accordance with Clause 8.13.
In the United States and Mexico, the conditionina shall be for 720 h.
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SUBJECT 83 -A3- JULY 1, 2003
Suggested Deletion or Change of the Canadian Deviation for the "SR" Weather Resistance Marking
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colours are allowed to be used elsewhere as
Jause 5.13
Douglas S . Reith long as they meet the 80% retention of tensile
:Item 14 of the
Nexans Canada Inc. and elongation requirements after being tested
xoposal)
in accordance with paragraph 8.13? In addition
why are coloured PVC jackets acceptable while
coloured insulation is not?
c) PVC is known to have excellent ultra-violet
resistance. PVC insulation and jackets of all
colours have been used for over fifty years with
no problems. The colour of the PVC may fade
but it is known to retain its physical properties
and has demonstrated this by its worldwide use.
The Canadian deviation is unnecessary and runs
contrary to the harmonization process. Our
recommendation is to delete it and retain just the
first paragraph of Clause 5.13, removing the
references to Mexico and the United States. If
there are those that are uncomfortable with this
solution, another would be to have the Canadian
deviation require a longer test duration such as
1000 hours, but still remove the requirement for
black onlv insulation.
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SUBJECT 83 -A4- JULY 1, 2003
Suggested Editorial Correction of Vertical Tray Flame Test Specimens Mounting and Conditioning Sections
8.12.6.1.13.2 Conditioninq
Before the test is started, the test specimens shall be conditioned for at least 3 h in air whose temperature is 23 f 5°C (73 f
9°F). The test chamber shall be drv.
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SUBJECT 83 -A5- JULY 1, 2003
INCORI
CT PART OF TABLE C I
Wire Type I THW or ~~ 7 5 ,
THWN Or
I
Designation + THW-2, THHW,
TWN75,
THHN or T ~ O
TWU TWU75
THW-LS, Nylon
THWN-2
Requirement 1
Short-term (5.4, Table 23)
insulation
resistance at
(5.4, Table 23) Not required
elevated
temperature i n
water
Long-term (5.5, Table 23)
insulation
(5.5, Table 23) Not required
resistance in
water
Long-term
insulation
resistance in
(5.6, Table 24)
air for 90°C
rated
conductors
Capacitance
and relative (5.7) Not required
permittivity
Requirement 1
Short-term
nsulation
.esistanCe at
(5.4, Table 23) Not required (5.4, Table 23)
devated
:emperature i n
Nater
-ong-term
nsulation
(5.5, Table 23) Not required (5.5, Table 23)
.esistanCe in
water
-eng-term
nsulation
.esistanCe in - (5.6, Table 24)
rir for 90°C
,ated
:onductors
:apacitance
ind relative (5.7) Not required (5.7)
)ermittivity
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SUBJECT 83 -A6- JULY 1, 2003
I
The wording changes
are shown below.
In the United States aí+Msee , conductors with a lesser number of strands shall be permitted based on an evaluation for
connectability and bending.
In Mexico. conductors with a lesser number of strands shall be uermitted.
In Canada. footnote b does not auulv.
Suggested Addition of a Note to Clause 4.1.4.3 Clarifying the Reference to ASTM B 189 for Mexico
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SUBJECT 83 -BI- JULY 1, 2003
APPENDIX B
VOTING ROSTER
I Name
Richard G. Alford
I
I
Affiliation
Citv of Seattle. WA
I
I
Interest Category
User I
I James J. Anastasi Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc. User I
Timothy Arendt Chicago, IL User
Kurt A. Bolz Union Carbide / Dow User
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Andre R. Carta1 Princeton Borouah. PA User
I Paul L. Cinouemani I Pirelli Cables and Svstems NA I Producer I
David Cooper I Southwire Company I Producer
James M. Daly General Cable Industries Producer
I Gerald Lee. Dorna I Belden Wire and Cable I Producer I
I Mark W. Earlev I NFPA I General I
Herbert L. Ergott Alcan Cable Producer
James V. Fitzgerald The Okonite Company Producer
UL
Steven A. Galan Non Voting
STP Chairman
Joseph A. Hertel State of Wisconsin User
UL
Walter H. Hoffmann Non Voting
STP Secretary
Alfred J. Hoaan Reedv Creek Imorovmt District fFLì User
Teknor Apex Company
Charles Hoover User
Vinyl Division
Michael J. Hopkins NOMA Cable Tech Producer
Thomas R. Jurczak Superior Essex Electrical Products Producer
Frank E. LaGase Rome Cable Corooration Producer
Lowell S . Lisker American Insulated Wire Corporation Producer
John E. Merando Bechtel Corporation User
Rockbestos-Surprenant Cable
James M. Morganelli Producer
Corooration
Timothy S . Owens City of San Diego, CA User
Pradip K. Ray New York City Transit General
Douglas R. Reith Nexans Canada Inc. Producer
H.R. Stewart HRS Consulting (TX) General
George A. Straniero AFC Cable Systems Producer
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SUBJECT 83 -CI- JULY 1, 2003
APPENDIX C
The following individuals are involved with the investigation of products covered under the ZLGR
category. The Primary Designated Engineer (shown in UPPERCASE LETTERS) coordinates the
establishment and uniform interpretation of UL requirements applicable to the ZLGR category. The
Designated Engineers (shown in lowercase letters) work with the Primary Designated Engineer to
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Should you have questions regarding interpretation of the requirements discussed in this bulletin or any
adopted requirements that affect THERMOPLASTIC-INSULATED WIRES, you are encouraged to
contact one of the following individuals. If a manufacturer, you should contact the individual at the office
to which you normally submit your wire.
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