Change Summary

• New section added to specify that no communication wire or cable be used in such a manner that its operating temperature exceeds that of its rating.

Expert Analysis

When the previous requirements of 800.3 were moved to new Article 800 in the 2020 NEC, it was felt that this temperature limitation requirement deserved its own section in Article 800, so the previous temperature limitations of 800.3(H) were moved to a new 800.27 and titled “Temperature Limitation of Wires and Cables.” This section states that “no wire or cable shall be used in such a manner that its operating temperature exceeds that of its rating.” The requirements of 800.179 states that plenum, riser, general-purpose, and limited-use cables shall have a temperature rating of not less than 60°C (140°F). Another issue with the previous provisions of 800.3(H) and the reference to previous 310.15(A)(3) is the fact that 310.15(A)(3) literally applied to conductors (not necessary to cables). This new text at 800.27 makes it clear that the temperature limitations in Chapter 8 apply to cables and not just conductors.

This new text simplifies the Code by including the temperature limitation requirement directly in Article 800, rather than have a cross-reference in Article 800 to the temperature limitation requirements of Article 310. Without a reference to “Other Articles,” these temperature limitation requirements no longer belonged under 800.3 without the cross-reference.

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