User Advisory
| Advisory Title: | Electrical Cable Wire and Routing Requirements |
| Advisory Number: | 2/Rev. 3 |
| Issue Date: | January 1, 2005 |
| Review Date: | Note: The advisory procedure and all ALS user advisories are undergoing a complete review that will not be completed until early 2008. Until that time, all current advisories and procedures remain in effect. |
| Current Info: | This Advisory is valid for two years from Issue or Review Date(s), at which time it is reviewed for relevancy and accuracy. Copies of all current user advisories are available at the ALS User Services Office, (510) 486-7745. |
Overview
This advisory provides guidelines for how permanent and temporary electrical cables for beamline and endstation equipment should be installed, and what types of wire are acceptable. This document does not replace official Berkeley Lab and ALS procedures and policies concerning electrical safety. For more information on these policies, refer to Chapter 8 of the Laboratory's Health and Safety Manual, PUB-3000.
Cable Routing
Electrical wire and cable that is to be permanently installed from beamline or endstation equipment to power supplies should be routed through 4- or 6-inch (100- or 152-mm) wireway. A wireway is an enclosed rectangular structure made of gray 16-gauge steel with a removable cover along one side. Where the wireway is up high, the cover is usually located on top. The heavy cover can be a significant safety hazard during an earthquake if it is not secured correctly. Only Berkeley Lab electricians are authorized to place cable wire into the wireway.
Electrical wire and cable that is to be temporarily installed between beamline or endstation equipment and power supplies should be routed through open ladder trays (also known as cable trays). Users are allowed to put wire into ladder trays.
Cable Wire
Wiring in ladder trays should conform to the National Electrical Code for Tray Rated Cables and should be appropriately labeled. Extension cords are not allowed in ladder trays or wireways.
For some older cables with specialized wire, molded-in plugs, etc., finding replacements that meet the National Electrical Code may be difficult. In such cases, it may be necessary to route the wire through the enclosed wireway, where the fire safety requirements are less stringent, rather than through the open ladder tray. In all cases, please check with a Beamline Coordinator before putting wire into cable trays, and never put wire into wireways, as only Berkeley Lab electricians are authorized to do so.
| Approved by | Signed |
| Walter Barry, Electrical Engineering Group Leader | 02/11/2005 |
| Ben Feinberg, Division Deputy for Operations | 02/17/2005 |