2011 NEC CODE REFERENCE

CHAPTER: 3 Wiring Methods and Materials

ARTICLE: 310 Conductors for General Wiring
SECTION: II. Installation

310.15(B) Ampacities for Conductors Rated 02000 Volts

(3) Adjustment Factors
(a) More Than Three Current-Carrying Conductors in a Raceway or Cable
Where the number of current-carrying conductors in a raceway or cable exceeds
three, or where single conductors or multiconductor cables are installed without
maintaining spacing for a continuous length longer than 600 mm (24 in.) and are
not installed in raceways, the allowable ampacity of each conductor shall be
reduced as shown in Table 310.15(B)(3)(a). Each current-carrying conductor of a
paralleled set of conductors shall be counted as a current-carrying conductor.
Where conductors of different systems, as provided in 300.3, are installed in a
common raceway or cable, the adjustment factors shown in Table 310.15(B)(3)(a)
shall apply only to the number of power and lighting conductors (Articles 210, 215,
220, and 230).
The basis for the last paragraph of 310.15(B)(3)(a) is the assumption that the watt
loss (heating) from any control and signal conductors in the same raceway or cable
will not be enough to significantly increase the temperature of the power and
lighting conductors. See 725.48 and 725.133 for limitations on the installation of
control and signal conductors in the same raceway or cable as power and lighting
conductors.
Informational Note No. 1: See Annex B, Table B.310.15(B)(2)(11), for
adjustment factors for more than three current-carrying conductors in a raceway
or cable with load diversity.
Informational Note No. 2: See 366.23(A) for adjustment factors for conductors
in sheet metal auxiliary gutters and 376.22(B) for adjustment factors for
conductors in metal wireways.
(1) Where conductors are installed in cable trays, the provisions of 392.80
shall apply.

2011 NEC Code Reference

Rev. 1/25/12

310.15(B)(3)(c)
Page 1
of 7

(2) Adjustment factors shall not apply to conductors in raceways having a

length not exceeding 600 mm (24 in.).
(3) Adjustment factors shall not apply to underground conductors entering or
leaving an outdoor trench if those conductors have physical protection in the
form of rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, rigid polyvinyl
chloride conduit (PVC), or reinforced thermosetting resin conduit (RTRC)
having a length not exceeding 3.05 m (10 ft.), and if the number of
conductors does not exceed four.
Notes: Section 310.15(B)(3)(a)(3) defines conditions under which derating factors
do not apply, as illustrated in Exhibit 310.3. The conductors have physical
protection (conduit) that does not exceed 10 ft. in length, and the number of
conductors does not exceed four.

Exhibit 310.3 An application of 310.15(B)(3)(a)(3)

2011 NEC Code Reference

Rev. 1/25/12

310.15(B)(3)(c)
Page 2
of 7

(4) Adjustment factors shall not apply to Type AC cable or to Type MC cable
under the following conditions:
a. The cables do not have an overall outer jacket.
b. Each cable has not more than three current-carrying conductors.
c. The conductors are 12 AWG copper.
d. Not more than 20 current-carrying conductors are installed without
maintaining spacing, are stacked, or are supported on bridle rings.
CALCULATION EXAMPLE
A commercial office space requires fourteen 277-volt fluorescent lighting circuits to
serve a single open office area. The office area lighting is assumed to be a
continuous load, and the office ambient temperature will not exceed 30C (86F).
Each circuit will be arranged so that it has a calculated load not exceeding 16
amperes. The selected wiring method is Type MC cable, 3-conductor (with an
additional equipment grounding conductor), 12 AWG THHN copper. Each individual
MC cable will contain a 3-wire multiwire branch circuit. To serve the entire area,
this arrangement requires a total of seven Type MC cables bundled for a distance
of about 25 ft., without maintaining spacing between them where they leave the
electrical room and enter the office area.
Determine the ampacity of each circuit conductor in accordance with 310.15,
applying 310.15(B)(3)(a)(4) to account for the bundled cables. Then determine the
maximum branch-circuit overcurrent protection permitted for these bundled MC
cables.
SOLUTION

Step 1.

To apply 310.15(B)(3)(a)(4), first determine the quantity of currentcarrying conductors. According to 310.15(B)(5), equipment grounding conductors
are not counted as current-carrying conductors. According to 310.15(B)(4)(c),
fluorescent lighting is considered a nonlinear load, so the grounded conductor of
each Type MC cable must be counted as a current-carrying conductor:

Because the quantity of current-carrying conductors exceeds 20, a 60 percent

adjustment factor is required by 310.15(B)(3)(a)(5).

Step 2.

Determine the ampacity of each current-carrying conductor given the

MC cables with more than 20 current-carrying conductors being bundled. From
Table 310.15(B)(16):

2011 NEC Code Reference

Rev. 1/25/12

310.15(B)(3)(c)
Page 3
of 7

Because the actual calculated load is 16 amperes of continuous load, 210.19(A)(1)

is applicable. The conductors must have an ampacity equal to or greater than the
load before the adjustment factor is applied. Because the ampacity of the
conductors after the adjustment factor is applied is 18 amperes, no further
adjustment is necessary and the conductors are suitable for this installation.

Step 3.

Finally, determine the maximum size of the overcurrent protection

device permitted for these bundled MC cable branch circuits. Section 240.4(B)
permits the use of the next higher standard rating of overcurrent protection device.
Therefore, although the conductors have a calculated ampacity of 18 amperes, a
20-ampere overcurrent protective device is permitted. In addition, and of
significance, the 20-ampere overcurrent protective device is in compliance with
210.20(A), given that the actual 16-ampere continuous load would require a 20ampere overcurrent protective device, based on the listing of the overcurrent
device.
(5) An adjustment factor of 60 percent shall be applied to Type AC cable or
Type MC cable under the following conditions:
a. The cables do not have an overall outer jacket.
b. The number of current carrying conductors exceeds 20.
c. The cables are stacked or bundled longer that 600 mm (24 in)
without spacing being maintained.
Table 310.15(B)(3)(a) Adjustment Factors for More Than Three Current-Carrying
Conductors in a Raceway or Cable
Number of Conductors*

Percent of Values in Table 310.15(B)

(16) through Table 310.15(B)(19) as
Adjusted for Ambient Temperature if
Necessary

46

80

79

70

1020

50

2130

45

3140

40

41 and above

35

*Number of conductors is the total number of conductors in the raceway or cable

adjusted in accordance with 310.15(B)(5) and (6).

(b) More Than One Conduit, Tube, or Raceway

Spacing between conduits, tubing, or raceways shall be maintained.
2011 NEC Code Reference

Rev. 1/25/12

310.15(B)(3)(c)
Page 4
of 7

Spacing is normally maintained between individual conduits in groups of conduit

runs from junction box to junction box because of the need to separate the
conduits where they enter the junction box, to allow room for locknuts and
bushings.

(c) Circular Raceways Exposed to Sunlight on Rooftops

Where conductors or cables are installed in circular raceways exposed to direct
sunlight on or above rooftops, the adjustments shown in Table 310.15(B)(3)(c) shall
be added to the outdoor temperature to determine the applicable ambient
temperature for application of the correction factors in Table 310.15(B)(2)(a) or
Table 310.15(B)(2)(b).
Informational Note: One source for the average ambient temperatures in various
locations is the ASHRAE Handbook Fundamentals.
The conductors in outdoor conduits installed on or near the surface of the roof are
subject to a significant increase in temperature when the roof is exposed to direct
sunlight. The closer the conduit is to the roof, the greater the ambient temperature
adjustment. See the following example and Exhibit 310.4.
CALCULATION EXAMPLE
A feeder installed in intermediate metal conduit, Type IMC, supplies a panelboard
inside a mechanical room on top of a commercial building in the St. Louis, MO,
area, as shown in Exhibit 310.4. The calculated load on the feeder is 175 amperes.
The lateral portion of the raceway is secured to elevated supports, crosses the
rooftop, and is exposed to sunlight. The elevated supports are not less than 15 in.
above the finished rooftop surface. Determine the minimum size circuit conductor
using aluminum 90C XHHW-2 insulation, taking into consideration only the
exposure to sunlight. None of the loads are continuous, and the neutral is not
considered a current-carrying conductor. The design temperature is based on the
averaged June, July, and August 2 percent design temperature from the 2005
ASHRAE Handbook.
SOLUTION

Step 1.

Determine the ambient temperature (compensated for proximity of

conduit to the rooftop exposure to sunlight):
a. Ambient temperature (compensated for proximity of conduit to the rooftop
exposure to sunlight) = design temperature + value from Table 310.15(B)(3)(c).
b. Design temperature for St. Louis area = 94F.

2011 NEC Code Reference

Rev. 1/25/12

310.15(B)(3)(c)
Page 5
of 7

c. Temperature adjustment from Table 310.15(B)(3)(c) for a raceway elevated 15

in. above rooftop = 25F
d. Compensated ambient temperature:

Step 2.

Determine the temperature correction factor for this application.

From Table 310.15(B)(16) for aluminum 90C XHHW-2 insulated conductors, select
the proper temperature correction factor. Using the aluminum 90C column and the
temperature correction factor row for 119F, the temperature correction factor is
0.82.

Step 3.

Using aluminum 90C XHHW-2 insulated conductors, determine the

proper conductor size to be used in the IMC to supply the 175-ampere load.
a. Because the load is calculated at 175 amperes noncontinuous, and the neutral
conductor is not considered to be a current-carrying conductor, the conductor
ampacity is calculated as follows:

b. Now, moving back to the 90C column of Table 310.15(B)(16), select a conductor
not less than 213 amperes, or a minimum size conductor of 250-kcmil aluminum
XHHW-2:

c. Verify that the conductor ampacity at 75C is sufficient for the calculated load to
comply with terminal temperature requirements of 110.14(C): The 75C aluminum
column of Table 310.15(B)(16) ampacity equals 205 amperes, which is greater than
the 175-ampere calculated load.
Using a very specific set of circumstances, this example demonstrates that roughly
an 18 percent loss of usable conductor material occurred. This loss is due solely to
high ambient heat present where a cable or raceway is subjected to sunlight and is
installed within a specific proximity to the rooftop.

2011 NEC Code Reference

Rev. 1/25/12

310.15(B)(3)(c)
Page 6
of 7

Exhibit 310.4 An IMC conduit crossing a rooftop and exposed to sunlight.

(Courtesy of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors)

Table 310.15(B)(3)(c) Ambient Temperature Adjustment for Circular Raceways

Exposed to Sunlight on or Above Rooftops

Temperature Adder
Distance Above Roof to Bottom of
Conduit

013 mm ( in.)

33

60

Above 13 mm ( in.)90 mm (3 in.)

22

40

Above 90 mm (3 in.)300 mm (12

in.)

17

30

Above 300 mm (12 in.)900 mm (36

in.)

14

25

Informational Note to Table 310.15(B)(3)(c): The temperature adders in Table

310.15(B)(3)(c) are based on the results of averaging the ambient temperatures.

2011 NEC Code Reference

Rev. 1/25/12

310.15(B)(3)(c)
Page 7
of 7