SECTION 711: WIRING
711.1 Description
This Work consists of providing and installing wiring for Traff ic Signal and Highway lighting systems.
711.2 Materials
711.2.1 General
The Contractor shall provide wire and cable in accordance with the appropriate sections of the International Municipal S ignal Association’s (IMSA) Wire and Cable Specifications and the New Mexico Electrical Code (14.10.4 NMAC) and that carries the UL label. The Contractor shall use copper or aluminum conductors of the speci fied trade size.
711.2.2 Multi-Conductor
The Contractor shall provide polyethylene insulated, PVC or pol yethylene jacketed, solid wire signal cable multi-conductors in accordance with IMSA Spec ification 19-1 or 20-1. The Contractor shall provide specia l multi-conductor cable for dire ct burial or self-supporting applications, as specified in the Contract. The Contractor shall provide color code conductors in accordanc e with IMSA Specification 19-1 or 20-1, Section 5.1 Table II for unpaired c onductor cables. The Contractor shall provide No. 14 AWG size copper conductors, or conductors as specified in the Contract. The Contractor shall provide molten dyed polyethylene tracer co lor co-extruded with the base color.
711.2.3 Single Conductor
The Contractor shall provide moisture and heat-resistant thermo plastic insulated electrical cable for single conductors rated at 600 V for insta llation in conduit and pipe. The Contractor shall provide No. 12 AWG size or smaller solid c opper conductors in accordance with ASTM B 3. The Contractor shall use uncoated wi re unless otherwise specified. The Contractor shall provide No. 10 AWG size or lar ger stranded conductors in accordance with ASTM B 8, Class B. The Contractor shall provid e solid No. 8 AWG minimum for ground wires. When designated in the Contract, the Contractor shall provide N o. 10 AWG size or smaller solid aluminum conductors in accordance with ASTM B 3. The Contractor shall use uncoated wire unless otherwise specified. The Contractor shall provide No. 8 AWG size or larger stranded conductors in accordance with ASTM B 8, Class B . The Contractor shall provide solid No. 6 AWG minimum for ground wires. Aluminum wir ing shall only be used for lighting installations.
711.2.3 1 Insulation
711.2.3 1.1 Compound
The Contractor shall provide th ermoplastic high heat resistant nylon coated (THHN) or thermoplastic heat and water re sistant nylon coated conductors in accordance with UL 83 for copper conductors. The Contractor shall provide th ermoplastic high heat resistant nylon coated (THHN) or thermoplastic heat and water re sistant nylon coated conductors in accordance with UL 486B for aluminum conductors. The Cont ractor shall ensure that insu lation thickness for aluminum conductors is in accordance with ASTM D 2220 and NEC®, Table 31 0-13. The Contractor shall provide conductors factory tested to ensure compliance wi th UL 486B. The Contractor shall provide conductors with distinctive, perma nent markings on the outer surface for the entire length showing manufacturer, type of insulation, size of conductor, and voltage rating. The Contractor shall provide solid color o r basic colored insulation with a permanent colored stripe the ent ire length of the conductor.
711.2.3 1.2 Thickness
The Contractor shall ensure that insulation thickness is in acc ordance with ASTM D 2220 and NEC®, Table 310-13.
711.2.3 1.3 Testing
The Contractor shall provide copper conductors factory tested t o ensure compliance with UL 83. The Contractor shall prov ide aluminum conductors factor y tested to ensure compliance with UL 486B.
711.2.3 1.4 Identification
The Contractor shall provide conductors with distinctive, perma nent markings on the outer surface for the entire length showing manufacturer, type of insulation, size of conductor, and voltage rating. The Contractor shall provide solid color o r basic colored insulation with a permanent colored stripe the ent ire length of the conductor.
711.2.4 Communication Cable
The Contractor shall provide a paired polyethylene-insulated, p olyethylene-jacket communication cable with electrical shielding, rated 300 V, in accordance with IMSA Specification No. 40-2-1990 (or Ru ral Electrification Administr ation specification PE-22 or PE-39), suitable for use in underground conduit. The Contracto r shall Provide a conductor of No. 19 AWG copper, unless otherwise specified.
711.2.5 Ground Rods
The Contractor shall provide ground rods from hard-drawn, high- conductivity electrolytic copper fluted rods, or bare, round, hard-drawn copper-covered s teel rods per NEC®.
711.3 Construction Requirements
711.3.1 General
The Contractor shall install wire in accordance with the NEC®, state, and local requirements. The Contractor shall neatly arrange and lace wir ing within cabinets, pull boxes, and pole bases. The Contractor may use cable pulling lubricant for inserting co nductors into conduit. The Contractor shall install bushings on metallic conduit ends befo re pulling wire. For each conductor or cable, the C ontractor shall leave a minim um of four (4) ft of slack Section 711: Wiring Page 833 at each signal or lighting Standard and a minimum of two (2) ft of slack at each pull box. The Contractor shall wire nut ends of spare conductors.
711.3.2 Identification
The Contractor shall identify the phase or function of signal c able conductors with the insulation colors specified in the Contract and the following: 1. Black insulation for lighti ng circuit and signal service con ductors; 2. Black or red insulation for two (2) ungrounded multiple ligh ting circuits; and 3. White insulation for neutral and common wiring. The Contractor shall install identification tags at cabinet, pu ll box, and pole locations where two (2) or more conductors or cables for different functi ons have the same insulation colors. The Contractor shall us e permanent fiber or PVC tags f or tagging wires. The Contractor shall place the low-voltage circuits for pedestr ian push buttons in a separate multi-conductor cable from 115-V function conductors, and identify all conductors at each splice point.
711.3.3 Terminals
The Contractor shall secure cable wires to screw-type terminals in Traffic Signal heads, pedestrian push buttons, and traf fic controllers using spades o r as specified in the Contract. Spade tongue-type connectors sha ll be affixed to conductors usi ng a pigtail connector or a tool specifically designed for c onnecting connectors to conductors.
711.3.4 Splices
The Contractor may use conductor splices for Traffic Signals on ly inside cabinets and transformer bases with wiring access. The Contractor shall not use splices in pull boxes. The Contractor may use conductor splices for lighting installations inside cabinets, transformer bases, or pull boxes. The Contractor shall make wiring connections at the appropriate terminals. The Contractor shall loop detector wire or video camera power and d ata cables as specified by the manufacturer. The Contractor shall not splice suspended cable used on permanent span wire installations. The Contractor shall not use soldered connections for splicing, except for connection of loop lead in cable to loop detector wire. The Contractor shall weatherproof the entire splice. The Contractor shall wrap splices with all-weather plastic elec trical recording. The Contractor shall tape recording cable ends to exclude moisture while pulli ng cables into conduit. The Contractor shall keep ends recording until completing splices o r attaching terminal appliances. The Contractor shall use communication cables for signal interc onnect systems, with splicing at terminals or as specified in the Contract. The Dep artment will not allow other splicing. For signal installations, the Contractor shall use o nly spring-type connectors for splicing 600 V conductors. For lighting installations, the Con tractor shall make underground splices waterproof, using an NEC® approved method.
711.3.4 1 Spring-Type Connector
The Contractor shall join the wire ends with an insulated sprin g-type connector without Section 711: Wiring Page 834 soldering. The Contractor shall provide a two (2)-component, s elf-curing epoxy resin in a double-compartment plastic envel ope. To make the splice insula tion, the Contractor shall thoroughly mix the components in the envelope and, after cuttin g open one (1) end of the envelope, insert the wire connection into the epoxy resin and r ecording the envelope shut. The Contractor shall provide sufficient epoxy resin to complete ly cover the connector and exposed bare wires at the connector.
711.3.4 2 Fused Splice Connector
The Contractor shall install a fused disconnect splice connecto r of the “Breakaway” type at each ungrounded conductor in Type IV and V Standard bases be tween the line and load sides on multiple lighting circuits. The Contractor shall prov ide an integral un-fused connection in the connector, pro viding similar and simultaneous disconnect between the load and line sides on the neutral, if a neutral is used. The Contr actor may use fused splice connectors with either single or dual housings. The Contractor shall make connectors readily accessible from the Standard base hand hole. The Contractor shall provide a fully self-insulated and waterpr oof splice connector. The Contractor shall provide line and load side housings of an elas tomeric Material capable of meeting the Impact and Dielectric Voltage Withstand Test , in accordance with UL 486D, for an assembled connector. The Contractor shall integrally mold line and load side housings with cable sealing boots providing a defined series of cylindrical b ores to receive and provide a waterproof seal on appropriately sized insulated conductors. T he Contractor shall not use recordings or other sealing compounds. The Contractor shall design fu sed-splice connectors to disconne ct at a maximum tension of 35 lb, for each conductor attached to the load side. The Co ntractor shall ensure that the fuse(s) or neutral pin contact is securely retained on the load side when disconnected. The Contractor shall provide line-si de housings with a thickness of at least 1 1/4 inch. The Contractor shall use in-line type Buchanan 65/D65 fused spl ice connectors, or an approved equal, with fuse housi ngs for all phase/phase type con nections requiring one (1) or two (2) fuses. The Contractor shall use polarized dual connect ors (D65 or equivalent) that provide simultaneous disconnect of both phases, assuring no exp osure to energized electrical contacts. The Contractor shall use 20/D65 PN connectors, or an approved e qual, for circuit designs of the phase/neutral type connection. The Contractor shall pro vide polarized dual connectors (D65PN or equal) with two (2) compartments. The Contractor sha ll fit one (1) compartment with fuse contacts and the opposite compartment with a solid ne utral pin contact. The Contractor shall fit the neutral side with a white marker to in dicate the neutral side. The Contractor shall rigidly cr imp splice connector terminals o nto line and load connectors using a tool recomme nded by the connector manufactur er. The Contractor shall insulate and waterproof terminals in accordance with the connec tor manufacturer's recommendations. The Contractor shall use Standard midget ferrule type fuses. T he Contractor shall use 10 A fuses for 240 W or 400 W lamps.
711.3.4 3 Tap Splices
The Contractor shall make tap splices in pole bases are to be a s specified by the service utility provider. Section 711: Wiring Page 835 The Contractor shall splice each circuit conductor in the pole base, inserting the feeder conductor and the continuing ru n conductor into the double end boot of the connector and securing each into the respective set screw terminal. The Cont ractor shall use No. 10 AWG Copper, Type thermoplastic heat and water resistant insulated w ire, rubberized heat and water resistant insulated wire, or approved equal insulation, for the tap conductor feeding the fused splice connector. The Contractor shall not use THHN-type insul ation. The Contractor shall feed the tap conductor through the tap boo t (as specified in the manufacturer’s instructions) and attach under the center set sc rew. The Contractor shall mark neutral conductors with white marking recording.
711.3.5 Bonding and Grounding
The Contractor shall mechanically and electrically secure metal lic cable sheaths, metal conduit service Equipment, and m etal poles and pedestals to for m a continuous system. The Contractor shall effectively ground the system. The Contractor shall bond with copper wire or copper strip of at least the same cross sectional area as No. 8 AWG. The Contractor shall use solid No. 8 AWG at minimum for grounding jumpers. The Contractor shall use a bonding strip attached to the lower portion of the shaft or base to bond Standards and pedestals. For nonmetallic conduit systems, the Contractor shall run a bar e copper wire of No. 8 AWG or larger through conduit runs , pull boxes, and to poles. The Contractor shall splice these wires at termination points and tie into neutral bars at service facilities or control cabinets. The Contractor shall install a ground rod (electrode) at each m ultiple service point, each Traffic Signal Standard, each cabinet foundation, and each Lumi naire foundation. The Contractor shall provide 3/4 inch nominal diameter ground rods. The Contractor shall install so that at least 7.5 ft of the ground rod length is in contact with the soil and in accordance with NEC® Specifications. The Contra ctor shall bond service Equipme nt to the ground rod by a No. 6 AWG copper wire. Where encasing portions of ground rods in concrete, the Contrac tor shall wrap with three
3.layers of pipe insulation recording, 0.01 inch minimum thic kness, or place through a one
1.inch diameter PVC conduit. Where a metallic conduit system parallels or crosses a permanen t water system in accessible areas, the Contractor shall install grounding jumper s at intervals not exceeding 500 ft. The Department will not allow grounding to a metallic water system at or near a service point, in lieu of driven ground rods. The Contractor shall use insulated grounding bushings and bonding jumpers to bond metallic conduit in nonmetallic pul l boxes. The Contractor shall use lock nuts to bond metallic conduit in metal pull boxes. Th e Contractor shall use one (1) lock nut inside and one (1) lock nut outside of each box when t he box is not threaded.
711.4 METHOD OF MEASUREMENT—Reserved
711.5 Basis of Payment
Pay Item Pay Unit Multi-Conductor Cable____ (number) Foot Single Conductor____ (AWG number), _____ (Material) Foot Section 711: Wiring Page 836 Communication Cable____ (number) Pair Foot
711.5.1 Work Included in Payment
The following Work and items will be considered as included in the payment for the main items and will not be measured or paid for separately: 1. Splice connectors; 2. Ground rods and grounding conductors; 3. Hardware; 4. Weatherproofing; and 5. Recording. Section 712: Signal Assemblies Page 837
Source: New Mexico Standard Specifications for Highway and Bridge Construction, 2019 Edition. Pages 0–0 of 974.