400.4 Types

Flexible cords and flexible cables shall conform to the description in Table 400.4. The use of flexible cords and flexible cables other than those in Table 400.4 shall require permission by the authority having jurisdiction.

Table 400.4 Flexible Cords and Flexible Cables

Trade Name	Type Letter	Voltage	AWG or kcmil	Number of Conductors	Insulation	AWG or kcmil	Nominal Insulation Thickness		Braid on Each Conductor	Outer Covering	Use
							mm	mils
Lamp cord	C	300	18-16	2 or more	Thermoset or thermoplastic	18-16	0.76	30	Cotton	None	Pendant or portable	Dry locations	Not hard usage
		600	15-10			15-10	1.14	45
Elevator cable	E1,2,3,4	300 or 600	20-2	2 or more	Thermoset	20-16	0.51	20	Cotton	Three cotton; outer one flame-retardant and moisture-resistant	Elevator lighting and control	Unclassified locations
						15-12	0.76	30
						12-10	1.14	45
						8-2	1.52	60
						20-16	0.51	20	Flexible nylon jacket
						15-12	0.76	30
						12-10	1.14	45
						8-2	1.52	60
Elevator cable	EO1,2,4	300 or 600	20-2	2 or more	Thermoset	20-16	0.51	20	Cotton	Three cotton; outer one flame-retardant and moisture-resistant	Elevator lighting and control	Unclassified locations
						15-12	0.76	30
						12-10	1.14	45
						8-2	1.52	60
										One cotton and a neoprene jacket		Hazardous (classified) locations
Elevator cable	ETP2,4	300 or 600							Rayon	Thermoplastic	Hazardous (classified) locations
	ETT2,4	300 or 600							None	One cotton or equivalent and a thermoplastic jacket
Electric vehicle cable	EV5,6	1000	18-500	2 or more plus equipment grounding conductor(s), plus optional hybrid data, signal communications, and optical fiber cables	Thermoset with optional nylon	18-15	0.76 (0.51)	30 (20)	Optional	Oil-resistant thermoset	Electric vehicle charging	Wet locations	Extra-hard usage
						14-10	1.14 (0.76)	45 (30)
						8-2	1.52 (1.14)	60 (45)
						1-4/0	2.03 (1.52)	80 (60)
						250-500	2.41 (1.90)	95 (75)
	EVJ5,6	300	18-12			18-12	0.76 (0.51)	30 (20)					Hard usage
	EVE5,6	1000	18-500	2 or more plus equipment  grounding conductor(s), plus optional hybrid data, signal communications, and optical fiber cables	Thermoplastic elastomer with optional nylon	18-15	0.76 (0.51)	30 (20)		Oil-resistant thermoplastic elastomer			Extra-hard usage
						14-10	1.14 (0.76)	45 (30)
						8-2	1.52 (1.14)	60 (45)
						1-4/0	2.03 (1.52)	80 (60)
						250-500	2.41 (1.90)	95 (75)
	EVJE5,6	300	18-12			18-12	0.76 (0.51)	30 (20)					Hard usage
	EVT5,6	1000	18-500	2 or more plus equipment  grounding conductor(s), plus optional hybrid data, signal communications, and optical fiber cables	Thermoplastic with optional nylon	18-15	0.76 (0.51)	30 (20)		Oil-resistant thermoplastic			Extra-hard usage
						14-10	1.14 (0.76)	45 (30)
						8-2	1.52 (1.14)	60 (45)
						1-4/0	2.03 (1.52)	80 (60)
						250-500	2.41 (1.90)	95 (75)
	EVJT5,6	300	18-12			18-12	0.76 (0.51)	30 (20)					Hard usage
Portable power cable	G	2000	12-500	2-6 plus equipment  grounding conductor(s)	Thermoset	12-2	1.52	60		Oil-resistant thermoset	Portable and extra-hard usage
						1-4/0	2.03	80
						250-500	2.41	95
	G-GC7	2000	12-500	3-6 plus equipment grounding conductors and 1 ground check conductor	Thermoset	12-2	1.52	60		Oil-resistant thermoset
						1-4/0	2.03	80
						250-500	2.41	95
Heater cord	HPD	300	18-12	2, 3, or 4	Thermoset	18-16	0.38	15	None	Cotton or rayon	Portable heaters	Dry locations	Not hard usage
						15-12	0.76	30
Parallel heater cord	HPN8	300	18-12	2 or 3	Oil-resistant thermoset	18-16	1.14	45	None	Oil-resistant thermoset	Portable	Damp locations	Not hard usage
						15	1.52	60
						14	2.41	95
						12
Thermoset jacketed heater cords	HSJ	300	18-12	2, 3, or 4	Thermoset	18-16	0.76	30	None	Cotton and thermoset	Portable or portable heater	Damp locations	Hard usage
						15-12	0.14	45
	HSJW	300	18-12		Thermoset					Cotton and thermoset		Damp locations
	HSJO	300	18-12							Cotton and oil-resistant thermoset		Damp and wet Locations
	HSJOW9	300	18-12									Damp locations
	HSJOO	300	18-12		Oil-resistant thermoset
	HSJOOW9	300	18-12									Damp and wet Locations
Non-integral parallel cords	NISP-1	300	20-18	2 or 3	Thermoset	20-18	0.38	15	None	Thermoset	Pendant or portable	Damp locations	Not hard usage
	NISP-2	300	18-16			18-16	0.76	30
	NISPE-18	300	20-18		Thermoplastic elastomer	20-18	0.38	15		Thermoplastic elastomer
	NISPE-28	300	18-16			18-16	0.76	30
	NISPT-18	300	20-18		Thermoplastic	20-18	0.38	15		Thermoplastic
	NISPT-28	300	18-16			18-16	0.76	30
Twisted portable cord	PD	300	18-16	2 or more	Thermoset or thermoplastic	18-16	0.76	30	Cotton	Cotton or rayon	Pendant or portable	Dry locations	Not hard usage
		600	14-10			15-10	1.14	45
Portable power cable	PPE7	2000	12-500	1-6 plus optional equipment grounding conductor(s)	Thermoplastic elastomer	12-2	1.52	60		Oil-resistant thermoplastic elastomer	Portable, extra-hard usage
						1-4/0	2.03	80
						250-500	2.41	95
Hard service cord	S7	600	18-2	2 or more	Thermoset	18-15	0.76	30	None	Thermoset	Pendant or portable	Damp locations	Extra-hard usage
						14-10	1.14	45
						8-2	1.52	60
Flexible stage and lighting power cable	SC7,10	600	8-250	1 or more	Thermoset	8-2	1.52	60		Thermoset	Portable, extra-hard usage
	SCE7,10	600			Thermoplastic elastomer	1-4/0	2.03	80		Thermoplastic elastomer
	SCT7,10	600			Thermoplastic	250	2.41	95		Thermoplastic
Hard service cord	SE7	600	18-2	2 or more	Thermoplastic elastomer	18-15 14-9 8-2	0.76 1.14 1.52	30 45 60	None	Thermoplastic elastomer	Pendant or portable	Damp locations	Extra-hard usage
	SEW7,9	600										Damp and wet Locations
	SEO7	600								Oil-resistant thermoplastic elastomer		Damp locations
	SEOW7,9	600										Damp and wet Locations
	SEOO7	600			Oil-resistant thermoplastic elastomer							Damp locations
	SEOOW7,9	600										Damp and wet Locations
Junior hard service cord	SJ	300	18-10	2-6	Thermoset	18-11 10	0.76 1.14	30 45	None	Thermoset	Pendant or portable	Damp locations	Hard usage
	SJE	300			Thermoplastic elastomer					Thermoplastic elastomer
	SJEW9	300										Damp and wet Locations
	SJEO	300								Oil-resistant thermoplastic elastomer		Damp locations
	SJEOW9	300										Damp and wet Locations
	SJEOO	300			Oil-resistant thermoplastic elastomer							Damp locations
	SJEOOW9	300										Damp and wet Locations
	SJO	300			Thermoset					Oil-resistant thermoset		Damp locations
	SJOW9	300										Damp and wet Locations
	SJOO	300			Oil-resistant thermoset							Damp locations
	SJOOW9	300										Damp and wet Locations
	SJT	300			Thermoplastic					Thermoplastic		Damp locations
	SJTW9	300										Damp and wet locations
	SJTO	300				18-12 10	0.76 1.14	30 45		Oil-resistant thermoplastic		Damp locations
	SJTOW9	300										Damp and wet locations
	SJTOO	300			Oil-resistant thermoplastic							Damp locations
	SJTOOW9	300										Damp and wet locations
Hard service cord	SO7	600	18-2	2 or more	Thermoset	18-15	0.76	30	None	Oil-resistant thermoset	Pendant or portable	Damp locations	Extra-hard usage
	SOW7,9	600										Damp and wet locations
	SOO7	600			Oil-resistant thermoset	14-9 8-2	1.14 1.52	45 60				Damp locations
	SOOW7,9	600										Damp and wet locations
All thermoset parallel cord	SP-1	300	20-18	2 or 3	Thermoset	20-18	0.76	30	None	None	Pendant or portable	Damp locations	Not hard usage
	SP-2	300	18-16			18-16	1.14	45
	SP-3	300	18-10			18-16 15-14 12 10	1.52 2.03 2.41 2.80	60 80 95 110			Refrigerators, room air conditioners, and as permitted in 422.16(B)
All elastomer (thermoplastic) parallel cord	SPE-18	300	20-18	2 or 3	Thermoplastic elastomer	20-18	0.76	30	None	None	Pendant or portable	Damp locations	Not hard usage
	SPE-28	300	18-16			18-16	1.14	45
	SPE-38	300	18-10			18-16 15 14 12 10	1.52 2.03 2.41 2.80	60 80 95 110			Refrigerators, room air conditioners, and as permitted in 422.16(B)
All thermoplastic parallel cord	SPT-1	300	20-18	2 or 3	Thermoplastic	20-18	0.76	30	None	None	Pendant or portable	Damp locations	Not hard usage
	SPT-1W9	300		2								Damp and wet locations
	SPT-2	300	18-16	2 or 3		18-16	1.14	45				Damp locations
	SPT-2W9	300		2								Damp and wet locations
	SPT-3	300	18-10	2 or 3		18-16 15-14 12 10	1.52 2.03 2.41 2.80	60 80 95 110			Refrigerators, room air conditioners, and as permitted in 422.16(B)	Damp locations	Not hard usage
Range, dryer cable	SRD	300	10-4	3 or 4	Thermoset	10-4	1.14	45	None	Thermoset	Portable	Damp locations	Ranges, dryers
	SRDE	300	10-4	3 or 4	Thermoplastic elastomer				None	Thermoplastic elastomer
	SRDT	300	10-4	3 or 4	Thermoplastic				None	Thermoplastic
Hard service cord	ST7	600	18-2	2 or more	Thermoplastic	18-15 14-9 8-2	0.76 1.14 1.52	30 45 60	None	Thermoplastic	Pendant or portable	Damp locations	Extra-hard usage
	STW7,9	600										Damp and wet locations
	STO7	600								Oil-resistant thermoplastic		Damp locations
	STOW7, 9	600										Damp and wet locations
	STOO7	600			Oil-resistant thermoplastic							Damp locations
	STOOW7	600										Damp and wet locations
Vacuum cleaner cord	SV	300	18-16	2 or 3	Thermoset	18-16	0.38	15	None	Thermoset	Pendant or portable	Damp locations	Not hard usage
	SVE	300			Thermoplastic elastomer					Thermoplastic elastomer
	SVEO	300								Oil-resistant Thermoplastic elastomer
	SVEOO	300			Oil-resistant thermoplastic elastomer
	SVO	300			Thermoset					Oil-resistant thermoset
	SVOO	300			Oil-resistant thermoset					Oil-resistant thermoset
	SVT	300			Thermoplastic					Thermoplastic
	SVTO	300			Thermoplastic					Oil-resistant Thermoplastic
	SVTOO	300			Oil-resistant thermoplastic
Parallel tinsel cord	TPT11	300	27	2	Thermoplastic	27	0.76	30	None	Thermoplastic	Attached to an appliance	Damp locations	Not hard usage
Jacketed tinsel cord	TST11	300	27	2	Thermoplastic	27	0.38	15	None	Thermoplastic	Attached to an appliance	Damp locations	Not hard usage
Portable power cable	W7	2000	12-500	1-6	Thermoset	12-2	1.52	60		Oil-resistant thermoset	Portable, extra-hard usage
			501-1000	1		1-4/0	2.03	80
						250-500	2.41	95
						501-1000	2.80	110
Notes: All types listed in Table 400.4 shall have individual conductors twisted together, except for Types HPN, SP-1, SP-2, SP-3, SPE-1, SPE-2, SPE-3, SPT-1, SPT-2, SPT-3, SPT-1W, SPT-2W, TPT, NISP-1, NISP-2, NISPT-1, NISPT-2, NISPE-1, NISPE-2, and three-conductor parallel versions of SRD, SRDE, and SRDT.
The individual conductors of all cords, except those of heat-resistant cords, shall have a thermoset or thermoplastic insulation, except that the equipment grounding conductor, where used, shall be in accordance with 400.23(B).
1Rubber-filled or varnished cambric tapes shall be permitted as a substitute for the inner braids.
2Elevator traveling cables for operating control and signal circuits shall contain nonmetallic fillers as necessary to maintain concentricity. Cables shall have steel supporting members as required for suspension by 620.41. In locations subject to excessive moisture or corrosive vapors or gases, supporting members of other materials shall be permitted. Where steel supporting members are used, they shall run straight through the center of the cable assembly and shall not be cabled with the copper strands of any conductor.
In addition to conductors used for control and signaling circuits, Types E, EO, ETP, and ETT elevator cables shall be permitted to incorporate in the construction one or more 20 AWG telephone conductor pairs, one or more coaxial cables, or one or more optical fibers. The 20 AWG conductor pairs shall be permitted to be covered with suitable shielding for telephone, audio, or higher frequency communications circuits; the coaxial cables shall consist of a center conductor, insulation, and a shield for use in video or other radio frequency communications circuits. The optical fiber shall be suitably covered with flame-retardant thermoplastic. The insulation of the conductors shall be rubber or thermoplastic of a thickness not less than specified for the other conductors of the particular type of cable. Metallic shields shall have their own protective covering. Where used, these components shall be permitted to be incorporated in any layer of the cable assembly but shall not run straight through the center.
3Insulations and outer coverings that meet the requirements as flame retardant, limited smoke, and are so listed, shall be permitted to be marked for limited smoke after the Code type designation.
4Elevator cables in sizes 20 AWG through 14 AWG are rated 300 volts, and sizes 10 AWG through 2 AWG are rated 600 volts. 12 AWG is rated 300 volts with a 0.76 mm (30 mil) insulation thickness and 600 volts with a 1.14 mm (45 mil) insulation thickness.
5Conductor size for Types EV, EVJ, EVE, EVJE, EVT, and EVJT cables apply to nonpower-limited circuits only. Conductors of power-limited (data, signal, or communications) circuits may extend beyond the stated AWG size range. All conductors shall be insulated for the same cable voltage rating.
6InsuIation thickness for Types EV, EVJ, EVEJE, EVT, and EVJT cables of nylon construction is indicated in parentheses.
7Types G, G-GC, S, SC, SCE, SCT, SE, SEO, SEOO, SEW, SEOW, SEOOW, SO, SOO, SOW, SOOW, ST, STO, STOO, STW, STOW, STOOW, PPE, and W shall be permitted for use on theater stages, in garages, and elsewhere where flexible cords are permitted by this Code.
8The third conductor in Type HPN shall be used as an equipment grounding conductor only. The insulation of the equipment grounding conductor for Types SPE-1, SPE-2, SPE-3, SPT-1, SPT-2, SPT-3, NISPT-1, NISPT-2, NISPE-1, and NISPE-2 shall be permitted to be thermoset polymer.
9Cords that comply with the requirements for outdoor cords and are so listed shall be permitted to be designated as weather and water resistant with the suffix "W" after the Code type designation. Cords with the "W" suffix are suitable for use in wet locations and are sunlight resistant.
10The required outer covering on some single-conductor cables may be integral with the insulation.
11Types TPT and TST shall be permitted in lengths not exceeding 2.5 m (8 ft) where attached directly, or by means of a special type of plug, to a portable appliance rated at 50 watts or less and of such nature that extreme flexibility of the cord is essential.