Building wire and cable is used in the construction of almost every commercial, industrial, and residential property in the world. Most commonly known as branch circuit wiring in homes and businesses, these products carry electrical current to all external uses of power in a building or dwelling.
The Building Wire and Cable Group and Dues Center develops technical standards and guidelines, influences government affairs and trade issues, collects market data, and develops marketing programs on its products.
For more information on the section:
Scope
7WC-1 Building Wire and Cable Group and Dues Center
1.1 All types of building wires and cables as identified in the National Electrical Code (NEC), Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards, Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards, Mexican Electrical Code (MEC), and Association Nacional de Normalización y Certificación del Sector Eléctrico (ANCE) standards.
1.1.1 UL, CSA and ANCE categories of building wire as follows:
UL/CSA/ANCE Standard, Category
- UL 4/C22.2.2 No. 51, Armored Cable
- UL 44/C22.2 No. 38/NMX-J-451-ANCE, Thermoset-Insulated Wires and Cables
- UL 83/C22.2 No. 75/NOM-J-010-ANCE, Thermoplastic Insulated Wires and Cables
- UL 493, Thermoplastic Insulated Underground Feeder and Branch Circuit Cables
- UL 719/C22.2 No. 48, Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable
- UL 854/C22.2 No. 52, Service Entrance Cables including single, paralleled, or cabled conductors, with XLP insulation, with or without an overall covering, which are NRTL Listed as Type SE, Type USE or USE-2 combined with another NRTL Type on the same wire or cable.
1.1.2 UL, CSA and ANCE categories of wire and cable products that are utilized as building wire as follows:
UL/CSA/ANCE Standard, Category
- UL 1063/C22.2 No. 127, Machine Tool Wire/Equipment Wires
- UL 1569, Metal Clad Cables - 600V
- Type MC cables containing 4 conductors or less, in sizes 14 - 10 AWG, sold in standard packages and utilized as a building wire.
Technical Activities
For 2012, the Building Wire and Cable Technical Committee is engaged in the following activities:
1) In cooperation with their Canadian and Mexican counterparts, the development and maintenance of building wire standards and test procedures for use throughout North America, under the auspices of CANENA.
2) Development of Public Comments in response to Proposals to the 2014 National Electrical Code.
3) Publication or maintenance of the following NEMA application and installation guidelines:
NEMA RV 1-2005, Application and Installation Guidelines for Armored Cable and Metal-Clad Cable
NEMA RV 4-2009, Application and Installation Guidelines for Service-Entrance Cables
4) Publication or maintenance of NEMA Engineering Bulletins, which provide industry positions on specific product application or installation issues, including:
New Engineering Bulletin for building wire and cable in photovoltaic installations
New Engineering Bulletin on terminations with fine wire conductor stranding
5) Interaction with the outlet box and cable fittings industries as needed. This year, the Committee will be invited to review and comment on the new edition of NEMA OS 3-2012, Selection and Installation Guidelines for Electrical Outlet Boxes.
6) Impacting environmental issues critical to the industry.
Government Relations
Through NEMA, the section develops industry positions on legislative and regulatory initiatives that may affect member products, markets, and customers. NEMA's work has resulted in contributions to public policy development and in promoting competitiveness, technological progress, and public safety. On the Government Affairs homepage members can search for and e-mail federal representatives to convey opinions regarding energy policy or other issues related to the electroindustry.
NEMA Government Affairs provides specific services to its members and information in the areas of Environment, Health & Safety; Energy; and International Trade & Commerce.
Market Economics
NEMA Business Information Services (NEMA/BIS) provides market data to the public as well as to members. Activities specific to the Building Wire and Cable Section include:
- Monthly Sales Shipment Report (S-624) to all participating member companies
- Quarterly industry economic forecast to all active Section members.
For the public:
Statistics on domestic product shipments of building wire and cable are available. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau has been re-packaged to reflect the products within NEMA divisions.
For members:
Through NEMA, member companies are able to develop and implement tailored, industry-specific market and statistical programs that benefit participating companies. Reports may include:
- Product orders and sales
- Market forecasting
- Shipments by trading areas
- Channels of distribution
- Financial and operating ratios
- Wages and benefits
- Foreign trade
The association also conducts economic analyses on the impact of legislation and regulations on member products, and monitors and reports on key industry market indicators. All programs comply with NEMA statistical confidentiality policies. For more information, please see Business & Economy.
Membership
Membership in NEMA is open to any firm actively engaged in the manufacture in North America of a product within the NEMA scope and for sale in the open market. Membership of foreign firms is subject to product section policies and NEMA Board of Governors approval.
NEMA operates on a fee-for-service basis. Each product section establishes its projects and activities and approves an annual operating budget. Visit our members & membership center for more information on joining.
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