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National Electrical Code Articles and Information

National Electrical Code Explanations

Based on the 2020 NEC

by Mark Lamendola

National Electrical Code Tips: Article 727, Instrumentation Tray Cable: Type ITC



  1. From the title, you would think this Article belongs in Chapter 3. After all, isn't Instrumentation Tray Cable (being a cable) a wiring method? What's going on is ITC is a very special type of cable. It doesn't conduct power. It's a signal cable. It operates at under 150V and at 5A or less [727.1]. And it's used strictly with instrumentation and control circuits.
  2. Type ITC cable is a factory assembly of two or mor insulated conductors enclosed in a metallic sheath; it may (or may not) have a grounding conductor [727.2].
  3. Interestingly enough, Article 727 follows a format similar to that used for Chapter 3 Wiring methods such as types of cables. That does make sense, considering this is a type of cable. So, as with those other Articles, you will find "Uses Permitted" and "Uses Not Permitted." You just don't find it laid out as xxx.10 and xxx.12; instead, it's 727.4 and 727.5.
  4. Among the nine permitted uses for Type ITC Cable, you can run it in cable tray. That seems obvious, given the name of this cable type. You can also run it in raceways [727.4].
  5. It may not be surprising that you can run this low-voltage, low-current cable in hazardous locations (as permitted in the applicable Chapter 5 Articles). You can also use it for direct burial applications, where it's identifed for that use [727.4]. One place where you will find this cable in huge amounts is under raised floors in information technology rooms. Especially if such rooms serve the control rooms of paper mills, refineries, and other measurement-intensive operations.




  6. Type ITC Cable is, by definition, operating at 150V or less and 5A or less. Thus, you cannot use it for circuits operating over 150V or over 5A [727.5]. No surprise here. Generally, you can't install Type ITC cable with other cables, unless the governing Articles contain stated provisions for such an installation. By default, that is, you can't mix Type ITC with other cables; you need explicit permission from an NEC Article that governs your particular installation [727.5].
  7. You absolutely cannot install Type ITC cable with power, lighting, Class 1 circuits that are not power limited (also off limits are those that are "non-power limited") [727.5].
  8. A couple of exceptions apply to the two preceding points. One is where there's a metallic sheath or armor over the nonmetallic sheath of the Type ITC cable. Presumably, this will provide a Faraday cage. But it's best to maintain separation in the first place. Another exception is that you maintain separation by insulating barriers or other means, where the ITC cable is terminated within equipment or junction boxes.
  9. The construction and marking requirements are in 727.6 and 727.7. These are primarily for the manufacturer, but you also need to be able to know what ITC looks like and be able to read those markings to make sure the cable you're using is the ITC cable you intended to use.
  10. Some installers get fancy with their cable bends. While a nice, neat installation with uniform bends is desirable, don't use needle nose pliers to make sharp nineties in the cable. That will exceed the bend radius and damage the cable, something the NEC forbids [727.10]. The damage can make for a lot of "fun" trying to figure out why the operator's panel show the valve actuated but nothing's happening out in the plant. Use some type of arbor that will leave a gradual curve that doesn't exceed the bend radius. You might look up the actual number, or you could just apply common sense and the "feel" of the cable. If you're causing a sudden rise in the tension on the cable jacket while bending it with your fingers, you've hit the limit. Back off and make the bend over a larger radius next time. Don't use cable that you've already damaged by exceeding its bend radius.