Effective May 2, 2016

Standard Information
Standard Number:
UL 183
Standard Name:
Manufactured Wiring Systems
Standard Edition and Issue Date:
4th Edition Dated September 20, 2009
Date of Revision:
March 27, 2015
Date of Previous Revisions to Standard:
4th Edition Dated December 20, 2013
 
Effective Date of New/Revised Requirements

Effective Date (see Schedule below): May 2, 2016

 
Impact, Overview, Fees and Action Required

Impact Statement: A review of all Listing Reports is necessary to determine which products comply with new/revised requirements and which products will require re-evaluation. NOTE: Effective immediately, this revised standard will be exclusively used for evaluation of new products unless the Applicant requests in writing that current requirements be used along with their understanding that their listings will be withdrawn on Effective Date noted above, unless the product is found to comply with new/revised requirements.

Overview of Changes: (Specific details of new/revised requirements are found in table below):

  • Addition of requirements for receptacle outlets
  • Low voltage charging circuits
  • Conductor fill requirements
  • Revision of mating connector requirements
  • Revision to Table 27.1 temperature rise limits

 

Schedule: So that shipping of products with Listing Marks will not be interrupted, an approximate schedule has been established to ensure Listing Reports are found compliant by Effective Date:

  • September 2, 2015 = 8 Month Report Review – Intertek will review all Reports. Update if compliance is verified or issue Findings Letter/Quote for any re-evaluations needed
  • November 2, 2015 = 6 Month Quote Cut-off – Quotes returned for necessary re-evaluations
  • April 4, 2016 = 30 Day Warning – Client advised of all non-compliant Reports to be Suspended
  • May 2, 2016 = Effective Date – ATM Suspended for all non-compliant Reports

Fees: An initial review of Listing Report (s) will be covered by a direct billing project and will be invoiced at not more than $1000 per report.

Client Action Required:

Information - To assist our Engineer with review of your Listing Reports, please submit technical information in response to the new/revised paragraphs noted in the attached or explain why these new/revised requirements do not apply to your product (s).

Current Listings Not Active? – Please immediately identify any current Listing Reports or products that are no longer active and should be removed from our records. We will do this at no charge as long as Intertek is notified in writing prior to the review of your reports.

 
Description of New/Revised Technical Requirements
ClauseVerdictComment
3.7InfoReceptacle configurations constructed in accordance with Wiring Devices – Dimensional
Specifications, ANSI/NEMA WD6 shall comply with the Standard for Attachment Plugs and Receptacles, UL 498.
11InfoMechanical Assembly and Enclosure
11.11 

New clause added;

A receptacle outlet of the type specified in 3.7 installed so that access to the manufactured wiring assembly connector(s), is not accessible without first removing an access cover shall be subjected to either the Overload or Current Cycling Test. The installation instructions shall be used to determine the recommended installation configuration. See Figure 11.1.

Exception: A receptacle outlet of the feed through type when installed as described above shall be subjected to Temperature and Overload Tests.
11.12 

New clause added;

A receptacle as installed and as described in 11.11 shall be marked as shown in 45.22 and instructions shall be provided as specified in 46.8.
15InfoInternal Wiring
15.6 New clause added;

Class 2 powered conductors shall not be run in AC, MC cables, flexible metal conduit or cords with non Class 2 powered conductors.
15A New section added;

Low Voltage Charging Circuits
15A.1 An outlet with one or more Class 2 power outputs shall also comply with the following requirements:

a) The Standard for Class 2 Power Units, UL 1310; or

b) The Standard for Low Voltage Transformers - Part 1: General Requirements, UL 5085-1, and the requirements for Class 2 transformers in the Standard for Low Voltage Transformers – Part 3: Class 2 and Class 3 Transformers, UL 5085-3.
16A New section added;

Conductor Fill Requirements
16A.1 Electrical junction boxes and conduit bodies used as outlet, device and junction boxes shall be of sufficient size to provide free space for all enclosed conductors. Conductor fill requirements and the corresponding volume required are to be determined in accordance with the National Electrical Code (NEC), NFPA 70, Article 314.

Exception: Electrical junction boxes, conduit bodies used as outlet, device and junction boxes having a fill exceeding, or a volume less than, that specified in the NEC meets the intent of the requirement when the enclosure with the provided conductor fill and volume, complies with Temperature Test, Section 27, and has no provision for field installed conductors.
22A.5InfoMating connector physical requirements
22A.5.1 

Additions to existing requirements are underlined and deletions are shown lined out below.

Mating connectors shall:

a) Be of the locking type;

b) Be reliably keyed by a physical or mechanical means to maintain correct polarity consistent with the wiring diagram on the power-feed of connected parts and proper interconnection of parts;

Exception: Mating connectors for the lighting industry shall be reliably keyed by a physical or mechanical means to maintain correct polarity between the following groups:

a) Group I – 120 V;
b) Group II – 277 V; and
c) Group III – 120 V IG (Isolated Ground), 208 V, 240 V, 250 V, 347 V, or 480 V.

The terminals shall be marked identifying the terminal positions and identifying the hot, neutral, and ground terminals.

c) Be rated 20 amperes minimum, or shall be investigated to determine their acceptability for handling 20 amperes minimum;
Be reliably keyed so that a system with a lower ampere rating cannot interconnect to a system with a higher ampere rating;

d) Have the grounding-conductor terminals connect before or at the same time mating supply-conductor terminals connect when two or more connectors are mated as intended. During disconnection of mating connectors, the supply-conductor terminals shall disconnect before or at the same time the grounding-conductor terminal disconnects.

e) Be rated 20, 30 or 40 amperes in accordance with 15.3.

Exception: In a limited-energy circuit, the mating connector may be rated for maximum current available.
25InfoSpacings
25.1 Relocated to 25A.5 (see clause below)
25.2 Relocated to 25A.6 (see clause below)
25A New section added;

Spacings
25A.1 Unless provided with insulation rated for the highest voltage involved, insulated conductors of different circuits - internal wiring - shall be separated by barriers or shall be segregated and shall, in any case, be separated or segregated from uninsulated live parts connected to different circuits. Also see 15.6.
25A.2 Segregation of insulated conductors may be accomplished by clamping, routing, or equivalent means that provides permanent separation from an insulated or uninsulated live part of a different circuit.
25A.3 A barrier used to separate or segregate internal wiring shall have mechanical strength and be held in place to provide permanent separation, and it shall be acceptable for the temperatures involved.
25A.4 A barrier intended to separate or segregate low-voltage field wiring from line-voltage parts shall be of material of sufficient thickness to serve its intended purpose. It shall be supported so that its deformation cannot be readily accomplished to defeat its purpose.
25A.5InfoFor factory-installed components and wiring, spacings through air and over surface of insulation between uninsulated live parts of opposite polarity, between uninsulated live parts of Class 2 circuits and Class 2 conductors, and dead metal parts shall be:

a) Not less than 1/16 inch (1.60 mm) where adjacent parts may be subjected to a difference in potential of 250 volts or less; and

b) Not less than 1/8 inch (3.17 mm) where adjacent parts may be subjected to a difference in potential of more than 250 volts.

Exception: The inherent spacings of a component, such as a snap switch, are judged on the basis of the requirements for the component in question.
25A.6InfoAt a field-wiring terminal, spacings of at least 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) shall be maintained.
27InfoTemperature Test
27.1InfoAssemblies used in a manufactured wiring system shall not attain a temperature that exceeds:

a) The material’s capability, as determined in accordance with the Standard for Polymeric
Materials – Use in Electrical Equipment Evaluations, UL 746C, for a plastic enclosure; and

b) The temperatures specified in Table 27.1 when corrected to a 40°C (104°F) ambient temperature.

The temperature measurement shall be made on wiring terminals in connectors, fittings, and other assemblies that are likely to produce temperature rises due to resistive connections in the live part.
Table 27.1 

Additions to existing requirements are underlined and deletions are shown lined out below.

Maximum acceptable temperature risesg

Materials and components

°C

°F

A. Components

  

          1. Fuses

65 50

117 90

          2. Wood and other cellulosic materiala

65 50

117 90

          3. Sealing compounds

b

b

          4. Insulated wires and cord

c

c

          5. Thermoplastic material

d

d

          6. Enclosure of an automatic starter for a fluorescent ballast

 65 50

117 90

          7. (UL 498) NEMA style receptacle contactse

30e

54e

          8. Printed-wiring boards

f

f

B. Electrical insulation – general

  

         1. Fiber employed as electrical insulation

65 50

117 90

         2. Varnished-cloth insulation

60 45

108 81

a These limitations do not apply to a compound or component that is rated for a higher temperature.

b Unless the material is thermosetting, the maximum sealing compound temperature, when corrected to a 25°C (77°F) ambient temperature, is 15°C (27°F) less than the softening point of the compound as determined by the Ring-and-Ball Apparatus, ASTM E28-77. The maximum thermoplastic sealing compound temperature is 15°C (27°F) less than the softening point of the compound as determined by the Ring-and-Ball Apparatus, ASTM E28-14. Thermoset compounds which have been investigated for particular temperature ratings, the maximum temperature of the compound shall not exceed the temperature rating of the compound when adjusted to a 40°C (104°F) ambient as specified in 27.7.

c The maximum temperature, when corrected to a 25°C (77°F) ambient temperature, is the temperature rating of the wire or cord. For insulated conductors the maximum temperature shall not exceed the maximum operating temperature specified for the wire when adjusted to a 40°C (104°F) ambient as specified in 27.7.

d The maximum temperature, when corrected to a 25°C (77°F) ambient temperature, is the temperature rating of the thermoplastic when tested in accordance with UL 746C. For compounds which have been investigated for particular temperature ratings, the maximum temperature shall not exceed the temperature rating of the compound when adjusted to a 40°C (104°F) ambient as specified in 27.7.

e The maximum temperature when corrected to 25°C (77°F) is 55°C (131°F).

f The maximum temperature rise of the printed-wiring board is the operating temperature of the board minus an assumed ambient of 40°C (104°F).

g The maximum temperature rise of any component shall not exceed the temperature limit of the component minus an assumed ambient temperature of 40°C (104°F).

NOTE – Temperature rises in this table are based on a 40°C (104°F) ambient except for UL 498 NEMA receptacles are certified based on 25°C (77°F) ambient and a correction factor for a higher ambient is not applied.

27A New section added;

Temperature Cycling Test
27A.1 The Temperature Cycling Test shall be conducted when the construction is as specified in 11.11. The Temperature Cycling Test shall be conducted as specified for the Temperature Test, Section 27, except the connectors under test shall be subjected to the heat cycling as specified in Table 27A.1 instead of the Overload Test specified in 27.5.
Table 27A.1 

Temperature test - typical time schedule

Hour

Action taken

0

Power supply on

16

Temperature measurement

17

Power supply off

24

Power supply on

40

Temperature measurement

41

Power supply off

48

Power supply on

71

Temperature measurement

72

Power supply off

27A.2 The Temperature Cycling Test is to be performed for 72 h. During the test, the supply source is to be disconnected from the circuit two times and the system is to return to ambient temperature. The disconnection is to last not less than 4 h and not more than 7 h. Temperature readings are to be taken after at least 6 h have elapsed after each start-up and during the final hour of the test. See Table 27A.1.
45InfoDetails (MARKING)
45.22 New clause added;

A receptacle assembly subjected to the Current Cycling Test instead of the Overload Test as specified in 11.11 shall be permanently marked where visible when disconnecting the receptacle from the manufactured wiring system; “Caution – Risk of fire and shock, disconnect electrical load before removing” or equivalent.
46InfoInstallation and Operating Instructions
46.8 New clause added;

In accordance with 11.11 a receptacle assembly subjected to the Temperature Cycling Test shall be provided with instructions that specify that the receptacle assembly is only for installation behind a removable cover where the utilization equipment load will be removed before servicing the receptacle.

CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE: This Table and column "Verdict" can be used in determining how your current or future production is or will be in compliance with new/revised requirements.

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