805 – Communications Circuits

805.179(D) – Limited Power (LP) Cables

Change at a Glance:

Provisions were added at 805.179(D) to permit limited power (LP) cables to act as a substitute for Class 2 and Class 3 cables.

805.179 Communications Wires and Cables. (Communications Circuits)

Communications wires and cables shall be listed in accordance with 805.179(A) through (F) and marked in accordance with Table 805.179 and 805.179(G). Conductors in communications cables, other than coaxial cable, shall be copper. Communications wires and cables shall have a voltage rating of less than 300 volts. The insulation for the individual conductors, other than the outer conductor of a coaxial cable, shall be rated for 300 volts minimum. The cable voltage ratings shall not be marked on the cable or on the under-carpet communication wire. Communications wires and cables shall have a temperature rating of not less than 60°C (140°F). The temperature rating shall be marked on the jacket of communications cables that have a temperature rating exceeding 60°C (140°F).
Exception: Voltage markings shall be permitted where the cable has multiple listings and voltage marking is required for one or more of the listings.
Informational Note: Voltage markings on cables may be misinterpreted to suggest that the cables may be suitable for Class 1, electric light, and power applications.

(D) Type CMP-LP, CMR-LP, CMG-LP, and CM-LP Limited Power (LP) Cables. Type CMP-LP, CMR-LP, CMG-LP, and CM-LP communications limited power cables shall be listed as suitable for carrying power and data up to a specified current limit for each conductor without exceeding the temperature rating of the cable where the cable is installed in cable bundles in free air or installed within a raceway, cable tray, or cable routing assembly. The cable shall be marked with the suffix “-LP(XXA),” where XX designates the current limit in amperes per conductor.
Informational Note: An example of the marking on a communications cable with an LP rating is “CMP-LP (0.6A) (75°C) 23AWG 4 pair” which indicates that it is a 4-pair plenum cable with 23 AWG conductors, a temperature rating of 75°C, and a current limit of 0.6 ampere.