2020 National Electrical Code: Article 330 Metal-Clad Cable Type MC

By: Dave Varga | Mar 25, 2021

Metal-Clad (MC) Cable is used every day in the electrical industry. The true conduit benders hate it. The value engineering people love it. MC Cable is really a great product, has a wide variety of uses, and can be installed to look good. Let’s take a closer look at this industry workhorse: Metal-Clad Cable. 

MC Cable Definition 

MC Cable, by most common definition, is a factory assembly of one or more insulated circuit conductors enclosed in an armor of interlocking metal tape or a smooth or corrugated metal sheath. The smaller cables should be unsheathed by using an armored cutter like the famous “Roto-Split”. The fittings must be listed and identified for use. If the manufacturer provides anti-short bushings, they can be used. The bushings are not an NEC requirement since the listed MC connectors provide the conductor protection from sharp edges.  

MC Cable Permitted Uses 

The permitted uses for MC Cable can be found in Article 330.10(A) 1 – 12. MC Cable, when listed and labeled for use, can be a wiring method in locations such as: 

• Commercial, industrial, and residential/commercial buildings 
• Environmental Air Plenums, Article 300.22  
• Hazardous Locations, Article 500 
• Health Care Facilities, Article 517 
• Places of Assembly, Article 518 
• Theaters, Article 520 
• Under raised floors for Information Technology equipment, Article 645 
• Power and lighting control (dimming), Article 725 

Worth mentioning is new Article 330.130 Hazardous (Classified) Locations in the 2020 NEC. This article allows cable installation, where required to be marked MC-HL cable, in hazardous locations. MC-HL cable has a gas/vapor tight continuous corrugated metallic sheath, an overall jacket of suitable polymeric material, and the typical separate grounding conductor.  

MC Cable Sizes 

In general, MC Cable comes in a variety of sheathings, lengths, conductor sizes (ampacities), and even copper or aluminum conductors. The sizes of MC Cable range incredibly from 14 AWG to 1000 kcmil. 

MC Cable Benefits 

Using MC Cable can save a lot of valuable labor hours versus the installation of conduit. In fact, MC cable reduces overall installed costs by roughly 30-50% when compared to the installation of conduit and wire. The cable can be used quickly from small 250’ rolls or even much larger 1000’ spools of cable. Supporting the cable, as described in Article 330.30, is basically every 6’ and 12” before each box.  

A run of conduit is limited to 360 degrees whereas MC cable has an unlimited number of bends. MC cable can fit quickly into many places and tight framing spots. The only limit to a typical corrugated sheathed MC Cable installation is the bending radius as seen in Article 330.24 (B). The radius of the inner edge of the curve must not be less than seven times the outside cable diameter.  

Above the ceiling, small MC cable can be unsupported in lengths up to 6’ as allowed in Article 330.30 (D)(2), luminaire connection. Article 330.30(D)(3) allows cable to be unsupported for up to 3’ where it is connected to equipment and needed to be flexible and to minimize the transmission of vibration. MC Cable can even be grouped together; see Article 310.15(C)(1)(d) and the exception. Also new to the 2020 NEC is Article 330.80(C) Thermal Insulation. This article addresses MC Cable installed in contact with thermal insulation, caulk, or sealing foam and refers us to adjustment factors as found in Table 310.15(C)(1).  

Conclusion 

Overall MC Cable has a lot of capabilities (services, feeders, branch circuits), can be used in many locations (assembly, hazardous, plenums), and can save time and money (30-50% over conduit and wire). An MC Cable installation can be neat and orderly when installed per Article 110.12. All of these reasons contribute to why Metal-Clad Cable is used so often in the electrical industry.