1、NEMA Standards PublicationNational Electrical Manufacturers AssociationNEMA BWCP 1-2017Aluminum Conductors Used for Building Wire and CableNEMA BWCP-1 2017 Page 1 2017 National Electrical Manufacturers Association A NEMA Building Wire and Cable Section Document White Paper BWCP 1-2017 Aluminum Condu
2、ctors Used for Building Wire and Cable Prepared by National Electrical Manufacturers Association 1300 North 17th Street, Suite 900 Rosslyn, Virginia 22209 www.nema.org 2017 National Electrical Manufacturers Association. All rights, including translation into other languages, reserved under the Unive
3、rsal Copyright Convention, the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, and the International and Pan American copyright conventions. NEMA BWCP-1 2017 Page 2 2017 National Electrical Manufacturers Association DISCLAIMER The standards or guidelines presented in a NEMA stand
4、ards publication are considered technically sound at the time they are approved for publication. They are not a substitute for a product sellers or users own judgment with respect to the particular product referenced in the standard or guideline, and NEMA does not undertake to guarantee the performa
5、nce of any individual manufacturers products by virtue of this standard or guide. Thus, NEMA expressly disclaims any responsibility for damages arising from the use, application, or reliance by others on the information contained in these standards or guidelines. NEMA BWCP-1 2017 Page 3 2017 Nationa
6、l Electrical Manufacturers Association Aluminum Alloy Research In the 1960s significant discoveries were made in aluminum wire and cable technology. While exploring the technology of metallurgical composites, laboratories in several companies uncovered surprising facts that led to the discovery of a
7、 new category of electrical grade aluminum alloys. As a result of this research, aluminum alloys were developed with excellent electrical and mechanical properties. These particular composites were later assigned the 8000 series category of the Aluminum Association designation system. Superior chara
8、cteristics of these metals included higher strength, greater ductility, and improved thermal stability. The development of these new alloys was of critical importance to address a newly discovered connection issue. Installation History Aluminum conductors were in great demand in the 1960s, primarily
9、 due to the limited availability of copper. With that increase in demand, manufacturers began using aluminum for a greater range of wiring products, including building wire in the smaller circuit sizes (10 and 12 AWG sizes). Due to low cost and availability, utility grade AA-1350 aluminum building w
10、ire was a popular choice and was installed in many buildings. Aluminum wire and cable had long been used in transmission and distribution by the power companies, but this was the first time it was extensively used in branch circuits. However, field complaints involving wiring device termination fail
11、ures began to appear in the late 1960s. To address the problems being experienced in the field, wire and cable producers (along with other industry stakeholders such as testing laboratories, wiring device, and connector manufacturers) helped create a reevaluation program that was developed in 1970.
12、Qualification tests for aluminum building wire were developed by testing laboratories, and connector and wiring device manufacturers developed new connectors for use with aluminum wiring. In qualifying wire for aluminum building wire applications, wire and cable manufacturers began to produce and li
13、st the AA-8000 series conductors. By mid-1972, only these re-qualified aluminum conductors (in AWG sizes 8, 10, and 12) and wiring devices (designated CO/ALR) were acceptable by industry standards. In support of the developmental work of the manufacturers and testing laboratories, educational progra
14、ms focusing on the installation of aluminum conductors were implemented by several wire manufacturers. Additionally, UL Standard 486B for aluminum conductors was revised and reissued in 1978. Today, wiring devices and connectors are rigorously tested using AA-1350 conductors in order to verify that
15、they are suitable for both AA-1350 and AA-8000 series conductors. The superior properties of the AA-8000 series type of aluminum when compared to the earlier types provided the industry with a suitable wiring material for all sizes of aluminum building wire. At present, the alloy is available primar
16、ily in sizes 8 AWG and larger. In addition to improved connectability, the electrical contractor was provided with a material that was easier to handle on the job site due to its increased flexibility and decreased spring back. The 1980s During the 1980s, the electrical industry began to acknowledge
17、 the changes that had taken place in the wire and cable industry. Standards, codes, and specifications began to reference the AA-8000 series electrical grade aluminum alloy conductors that are readily available and in use today. In 1981, an ASTM Task Group was appointed to write a standard on the AA
18、-8000 series conductors. In 1985, a proposal was made to include the AA-8000 series conductors in the National Electrical Code(NEC). The proposal was adopted and incorporated into Section 310-14 of the 1987 NEC (currently found in 310.106(B). Underwriters Laboratories updated UL 83, Safety Standard
19、for Thermoplastic-Insulated Wires, and UL 44, Safety Standard for Thermoset-Insulated Wires, to require the use of the AA-8000 series conductors in most types of aluminum building wire. In the fall of 1988, ASTM completed the work on the AA-8000 series specification and ASTM standards B800 and B801
20、were published. NEMA BWCP-1 2017 Page 4 2017 National Electrical Manufacturers Association Today The connection problems experienced with utility grade AA-1350 aluminum conductors installed with non-compatible connectors occurred over 40 years ago, and are no longer relevant to aluminum building wir
21、e installed today. With the development of an improved aluminum alloy and updated NEC and UL requirements, aluminum building wire has a proven track record of over 40 years. Wiring device and connector manufacturers have developed and now manufacture products that are intended specifically for use w
22、ith aluminum conductors, and the product standards and installations codes have changed to reflect the technology necessary for reliable connections. NATIONAL ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION 1300 NORTH 17TH STREET, SUITE 900 ROSSLYN. VA 22209www.NEMA.orgTO ORDER ADDITIONAL NEMA STANDARDS VISITWWW.GLOBAL.IHS.COM OR CALL 1-800-854-7179/1-303-397-79565612_0514TB
