NEC Cable Types
The National Electricity Code (NEC or NFPA 70) includes a series of cable types for fixed wiring in
Article 310.104. This page provides an outline of the cable types listed in the standard (based on
NEC 2011 edition).
List of Cable Types
Max Operating
Cable
Temperatures (oC Description Application
Type
/ oF)
Fluorinated etyhlene propylene
90 / 194 (FEP) FEP: dry and damp locations
FEP / FEPB
200 / 392 Fluorinated etyhlene propylene with FEPB: dry locations
braid (FEPB)
90 / 194 90oC: dry and wet locations
MI Mineral insulated (metal sheathed)
250 / 482 250oC: special applications
60oC: machine tool wiring in wet
60 / 140 Moisture, heat and oil resistant locations
MTW
90 / 194 thermoplastic 90oC: machine tool wiring in dry
locations
90 / 194 Perfluoro-alkoxy (PFA) 90oC: dry and damp locations
PFA /
200 / 392 Perfluoro-alkoxy, high temperature 200 and 250 oC: dry locations - special
PFAH
250 / 482 (PFAH) applications
RHH 90 / 194 Thermoset rubber, heat resistant Dry and damp locations
RHW / 75 / 167
Thermoset rubber, moisture resistant Dry and wet locations
RHW-2 90 / 194
90 / 194 90oC: dry and damp locations
SA Silicone rubber
200 / 392 200oC: special applications
SIS 90 / 194 Thermoset Switchboard wiring only
TBS 90 / 194 Thermoplastic with outer braid Switchboard wiring only
TFE 250 / 482 Extruded polytetrafluoroethylene Dry locations only
Thermoplastic, heat resistant, nylon
THHN 90 / 194 Dry and damp locations
jacket outer sheath
75 / 167 Thermoplastic, heat and moisture 75oC: wet locations
THHW
90 / 194 resistant 90oC: dry locations
THW - 75oC: wet locations 90oC:
THW / 75 / 167 Thermoplastic, heat and moisture special applications (electric discharge
THW-2 90 / 194 resistant lighting)
THW-2 - dry and wet locations
THWN / 75 / 167 Thermoplastic, moisture and heat
Dry and wet locations
THWN-2 90 / 194 resistant, nylon jacket outer sheath
TW 60 / 140 Thermoplastic, moisture resistant Dry and wet locations
60 / 140 Underground feeder and branch Dry and wet locations (see Article
UF
75 / 167 circuit 340.10 for provisions)
USE / USE- 75 / 167 Dry and wet locations (see Article 338
Underground service entrance cable
2 90 / 194 for provisions)
XHH 90 / 194 XLPE, heat resistant Dry and damp locations
XHHW - 75oC: wet locations, 90oC:
XHHW / 75 / 167
XLPE, heat and moisture resistant dry and damp locations
XHHW-2 90 / 194
XHHW-2 - Dry and wet locations
90oC: dry and damp locations
90 / 194
Z Modified ethylene tetrafluoroethylene 150oC: dry locations (special
150 / 302
applications)
ZW - 75oC: wet locations, 90oC: dry
75 / 167
Modified ethylene locations, 150oC: dry locations
ZW / ZW-2 90 / 194
tetrafluoroethylene, moisture resistant (special applications)
150 / 302
ZW-2 - dry and wet locations
