UL 854

Description / Abstract: These requirements cover Type USE and USE-2 (below-ground) and Type SE (above-ground) power cables for installation in accordance with Article 338 and other applicable parts of the National Electrical Code (NEC). These cables are for the service-entrance and other (NEC) uses described in 1.4 – 1.8. In a multiple-conductor cable that is other than submersible-pump cable and does not have a grounding conductor it is appropriate to have one circuit conductor without insulation. It is also appropriate for a submersible pump cable to have a grounding conductor and for Type USE and USE-2 cables to have an insulated grounding conductor. Each insulated conductor in these cables is rated for 600 V. Type USE cable has thermoset insulation, except for the HDPE portion of HDPE-over-XL insulation where used for single-conductor Type USE cable. Type SE cable has thermoset or thermoplastic insulation.

These cables have insulation of solid, extruded dielectric material(s) that are for use in wet locations at 75°C (167°F) and lower temperatures. Cables that are marked with a conductor type that includes the letters ²HH² have insulation that is for use in dry locations at temperatures as high as 90°C (194°F) as well as in wet locations at 75°C (167°F) and lower temperatures. Cables that are marked with a conductor type that includes ²-2² have insulation that is for use in wet or dry locations at temperatures as high as 90°C (194°F).

Cables containing any conductor that is of a metal other than copper are marked to identify the metal as aluminum or copper-clad aluminum. Aluminum single-rated (see 1.4) Type USE or USE-2 cables containing other than solid 12, 10 or 8 AWG conductor(s) are of an EC-1350 grade aluminum alloy or a registered AA-8000 series electrical-conductor-grade aluminum alloy. In all other cables, the aluminum conductor(s) are of a registered AA-8000 electrical-conductor-grade alloy only.

"Single-rated" Type USE cable is single-conductor, jacketed or coverless multiple-conductor, and submersible-pump cable without any indication of the conductor type letters on type cable, on the individual conductor(s), or on the tag, reel, or carton. "USE" is the only type designation associated with the cable. See 40.4.

Type SE cables that are not marked with conductor type letters or are marked with conductor type letters alone (²XHHW², ²RHW², or ²RHH OR RHW² not followed by ²cdrs² or the like) have insulated conductors that do not comply with the Thermoset-Insulated Wires and Cables, UL 44, horizontal flame test. Type SE cables that are marked for use in cable trays comply with a 70,000 Btu/h (20.5 kW) vertical-tray flame test as described in Sections 4 – 11 of the Standard for Vertical-Tray Fire-Propagation and Smoke-Release Test for Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cables, UL 1685 or the FT4/IEEE 1202 flame test as described in Sections 12 – 19 of UL 1685. Smoke measurements are not applicable. See 31.1.

The outer surface of each single- and multiple-conductor cable that is marked for sunlight-resistance use and the outer surface of each Type SE cable that is marked for sunlight-resistance use in cable trays complies with a 720-h sunlight-resistance test. Each insulated conductor under an overall covering on such multiple-conductor cable complies with a 300-h sunlight-resistance test. All other cables are not marked ²sunlight resistant² however comply with a 300-h or equivalent (see 30.4) sunlight-resistance test (each insulated conductor complies and, except in the case of submersible pump cable, any overall covering also complies).

Type USE and USE-2 cables are single-conductor in sizes through 2000 kcmil or are flat or round multiple-conductor in sizes through 4/0 AWG copper, 300 kcmil aluminum or copper-clad aluminum jacketed and through 2000 kcmil coverless. Type USE and USE-2 cables are not required to comply with a cable flame test. Jacketed multiple-conductor Type USE and USE-2 cables have 1 – 5 insulated conductors of the same size with or without an uninsulated grounded conductor that, in some cases, is smaller than the insulated conductors. It is appropriate to include one insulated equipment-grounding conductor that is, in some cases, smaller than the circuit conductors in a cable with no uninsulated conductor. Coverless multiple-conductor Type USE and USE-2 cables have two or more (no limit) insulated conductors of the same size with or without a grounded conductor that bare (in round or flat cable) or insulated (in round cable) and, in some cases, is smaller than the other conductors. Coverless multiple-conductor Type USE and USE-2 cables with a bare conductor are tag marked to restrict the cable to direct burial (no covering to protect the bare conductor during and after duct and pole installations). Single-conductor Type USE and USE-2 cables that are not larger than 4/0 AWG copper, 300 kcmil aluminum or copper-clad aluminum and multiple-conductor jacketed and coverless Type USE and USE-2 cables without an uninsulated or bare conductor are for use as Type USE or USE-2 and also are for use underground as Type UF cable would be used however are not marked ²UF². All single-conductor Type USE and USE-2 cables and the following multiple-conductor Type USE and USE-2 cables are for direct-burial and underground-duct service-entrance uses and are eligible to be terminated on a utility pole where each conductor and any overall jacket are exposed to the weather and not subject to physical damage:

a) Jacketed multiple-conductor Type USE and USE-2 cables with or without an uninsulated conductor.

b) Coverless multiple-conductor Type USE and USE-2 cables without a bare conductor.

Submersible-pump cable (four varieties are described in 19.1) is an assembly of single-conductor Type USE cables that are eligible to be individually surface marked ²pump cable². The assembly is not tested for sunlight resistance however each of its conductors is so tested and complies. Submersible-pump cable is flat or round and is multiple-conductor in sizes through 4/0 AWG copper, 300 kcmil aluminum or copper-clad aluminum with all conductors insulated. It is appropriate for one conductor to be a grounding conductor that, in some cases, is smaller than the circuit conductors. All of the circuit conductors are of the same size. This cable has a tag marking stating that the cable is for use within well casings for wiring deep-well submersible water pumps. Each conductor in a coverless, cabled assembly is surface marked as Type USE, and each conductor in any other pump-cable assembly is eligible to also be so marked. Assemblies other than those that are coverless are surface marked "submersible pump cable". A coverless, cabled assembly without a grounding conductor is appropriate for use as Type USE and also appropriate for use underground as Type UF cable however it is not to be marked "UF". All other pump-cable assemblies are for use only as submersible-pump cable.

Type SE cable is a flat or round multiple-conductor cable in sizes through 4/0 AWG copper, 300 kcmil aluminum or copper-clad aluminum and has an overall nonmetallic covering. All of the insulated conductors are of the same size. This cable complies with a cable flame test.

These requirements do not cover metal-clad cables (Type MC) or medium-voltage cables (Type MV). Type MC cables (600 V and 2 kV) are covered in the Standard for Metal-Clad Cables, UL 1569. Type MV cables (5, 8, 15, 28, and 35 kV) are covered in the Standard for Medium-Voltage Power Cables, UL 1072.

A product that contains features, characteristics, components, materials, or systems new or different from those covered by the requirements in this standard, and that involves a risk of fire or of electric shock or injury to persons shall be evaluated using appropriate additional component and end-product requirements to maintain the level of safety as originally anticipated by the intent of this standard. A product whose features, characteristics, components, materials, or systems conflict with specific requirements or provisions of this standard does not comply with this standard. Revision of requirements shall be proposed and adopted in conformance with the methods employed for development, revision, and implementation of this standard.