ARTICLE 310 — CONDUCTORS FOR GENERAL WIRING 310.

15

rating of the conductor, if the corrected and adjusted ampacity Table 310.15(B)(2)(a) Ambient Temperature Correction
does not exceed the ampacity for the temperature rating of the Factors Based on 30°C (86°F)
termination in accordance with the provisions of 110.14(C).
Informational Note: Table 310.15(B)(16) through Table For ambient temperatures other than 30°C (86°F), multiply the
310.15(B)(19) are application tables for use in determining allowable ampacities specified in the ampacity tables by the
conductor sizes on loads calculated in accordance with Article appropriate correction factor shown below.
220. Allowable ampacities result from consideration of one or
Temperature Rating of
more of the following: Ambient Ambient
Conductor
(1) Temperature compatibility with connected equipment, Temperature Temperature
especially the connection points. (°C) 60°C 75°C 90°C (°F)
(2) Coordination with circuit and system overcurrent protec‐
10 or less 1.29 1.20 1.15 50 or less
tion.
(3) Compliance with the requirements of product listings or 11–15 1.22 1.15 1.12 51–59
certifications. See 110.3(B). 16–20 1.15 1.11 1.08 60–68
(4) Preservation of the safety benefits of established industry 21–25 1.08 1.05 1.04 69–77
practices and standardized procedures. 26–30 1.00 1.00 1.00 78–86
31–35 0.91 0.94 0.96 87–95
(1) General. For explanation of type letters used in tables and 36–40 0.82 0.88 0.91 96–104
for recognized sizes of conductors for the various conductor 41–45 0.71 0.82 0.87 105–113
insulations, see Table 310.104(A) and Table 310.104(B). For 46–50 0.58 0.75 0.82 114–122
installation requirements, see 310.1 through 310.15(A)(3) and 51–55 0.41 0.67 0.76 123–131
the various articles of this Code. For flexible cords, see 56–60 — 0.58 0.71 132–140
Table 400.4, Table 400.5(A)(1), and Table 400.5(A)(2). 61–65 — 0.47 0.65 141–149
(2) Ambient Temperature Correction Factors. Ampacities for 66–70 — 0.33 0.58 150–158
ambient temperatures other than those shown in the ampacity 71–75 — — 0.50 159–167
tables shall be corrected in accordance with Table 76–80 — — 0.41 168–176
310.15(B)(2)(a) or Table 310.15(B)(2)(b), or shall be permit‐ 81–85 — — 0.29 177–185
ted to be calculated using the following equation:
auxiliary gutters and 376.22(B) for adjustment factors for
conductors in metal wireways.
[310.15(B)(2)]
(1) Where conductors are installed in cable trays, the provi‐
Tc − Ta ′ sions of 392.80 shall apply.
I′ = I
Tc − Ta
(2) Adjustment factors shall not apply to conductors in race‐
ways having a length not exceeding 600 mm (24 in.).
where:
I′ = ampacity corrected for ambient temperature (3) Adjustment factors shall not apply to underground
I = ampacity shown in the tables conductors entering or leaving an outdoor trench if those
Tc = temperature rating of conductor (°C) conductors have physical protection in the form of rigid metal
Ta′ = new ambient temperature (°C) conduit, intermediate metal conduit, rigid polyvinyl chloride
Ta = ambient temperature used in the table (°C) conduit (PVC), or reinforced thermosetting resin conduit
(RTRC) having a length not exceeding 3.05 m (10 ft), and if
(3) Adjustment Factors. the number of conductors does not exceed four.
(a) More than Three Current-Carrying Conductors. Where the (4) Adjustment factors shall not apply to Type AC cable or to
number of current-carrying conductors in a raceway or cable Type MC cable under the following conditions:
exceeds three, or where single conductors or multiconductor
cables are installed without maintaining spacing for a continu‐ a. The cables do not have an overall outer jacket.
ous length longer than 600 mm (24 in.) and are not installed b. Each cable has not more than three current-carrying
in raceways, the allowable ampacity of each conductor shall be conductors.
reduced as shown in Table 310.15(B)(3)(a). Each current-
carrying conductor of a paralleled set of conductors shall be c. The conductors are 12 AWG copper.
counted as a current-carrying conductor.
d. Not more than 20 current-carrying conductors are instal‐
Where conductors of different systems, as provided in 300.3, led without maintaining spacing, are stacked, or are supported
are installed in a common raceway or cable, the adjustment on “bridle rings.”
factors shown in Table 310.15(B)(3)(a) shall apply only to the
number of power and lighting conductors (Articles 210, 215, Exception to (4): If cables meeting the requirements in
220, and 230). 310.15(B)(3)(4)a through c with more than 20 current-carrying
conductors are installed longer than 600 mm (24 in.) without main‐
Informational Note No. 1: See Annex B for adjustment factors taining spacing, are stacked, or are supported on bridle rings, a
for more than three current-carrying conductors in a raceway or 60 percent adjustment factor shall be applied.
cable with load diversity. •
(b) Raceway Spacing. Spacing between raceways shall be
Informational Note No. 2: See 366.23 for adjustment factors for
maintained.
conductors and ampacity for bare copper and aluminum bars in

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 310.15 ARTICLE 310 — CONDUCTORS FOR GENERAL WIRING

Table 310.15(B)(2)(b) Ambient Temperature Correction Factors Based on 40ºC (104ºF)

For ambient temperatures other than 40°C (104°F), multiply the allowable ampacities specified in the ampacity tables by the appropriate
correction factor shown below.
Ambient Temperature Rating of Conductor Ambient
Temperature Temperature
(°C) 60°C 75°C 90°C 150°C 200°C 250°C (ºF)
10 or less 1.58 1.36 1.26 1.13 1.09 1.07 50 or less
11–15 1.50 1.31 1.22 1.11 1.08 1.06 51–59
16–20 1.41 1.25 1.18 1.09 1.06 1.05 60–68
21–25 1.32 1.2 1.14 1.07 1.05 1.04 69–77
26–30 1.22 1.13 1.10 1.04 1.03 1.02 78–86
31–35 1.12 1.07 1.05 1.02 1.02 1.01 87–95
36–40 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 96–104
41–45 0.87 0.93 0.95 0.98 0.98 0.99 105–113
46–50 0.71 0.85 0.89 0.95 0.97 0.98 114–122
51–55 0.50 0.76 0.84 0.93 0.95 0.96 123–131
56–60 — 0.65 0.77 0.90 0.94 0.95 132–140
61–65 — 0.53 0.71 0.88 0.92 0.94 141–149
66–70 — 0.38 0.63 0.85 0.90 0.93 150–158
71–75 — — 0.55 0.83 0.88 0.91 159–167
76–80 — — 0.45 0.80 0.87 0.90 168–176
81–90 — — — 0.74 0.83 0.87 177–194
91–100 — — — 0.67 0.79 0.85 195–212
101–110 — — — 0.60 0.75 0.82 213–230
111–120 — — — 0.52 0.71 0.79 231–248
121–130 — — — 0.43 0.66 0.76 249–266
131–140 — — — 0.30 0.61 0.72 267–284
141–160 — — — — 0.50 0.65 285–320
161–180 — — — — 0.35 0.58 321–356
181–200 — — — — — 0.49 357–392
201–225 — — — — — 0.35 393–437

(c) Raceways and Cables Exposed to Sunlight on Rooftops. Where Table 310.15(B)(3)(a) Adjustment Factors for More Than
raceways or cables are exposed to direct sunlight on or above Three Current-Carrying Conductors
rooftops, raceways or cables shall be installed a minimum
distance above the roof to the bottom of the raceway or cable Percent of Values in
of 23 mm (7∕8 in.). Where the distance above the roof to the Table 310.15(B)(16) Through
bottom of the raceway is less than 23 mm (7∕8 in.), a tempera‐ Table 310.15(B)(19) as Adjusted
ture adder of 33°C (60°F) shall be added to the outdoor Number of for Ambient Temperature if
temperature to determine the applicable ambient temperature Conductors1 Necessary
for application of the correction factors in Table
310.15(B)(2)(a) or Table 310.15(B)(2)(b). 4–6 80
7–9 70
Exception: Type XHHW-2 insulated conductors shall not be subject to 10–20 50
this ampacity adjustment. 21–30 45
Informational Note: One source for the ambient temperatures 31–40 40
in various locations is the ASHRAE Handbook — Fundamentals. 41 and above 35
• 1
Number of conductors is the total number of conductors in the
(4) Bare or Covered Conductors. Where bare or covered raceway or cable, including spare conductors. The count shall be
conductors are installed with insulated conductors, the temper‐ adjusted in accordance with 310.15(B)(5) and (6). The count shall not
ature rating of the bare or covered conductor shall be equal to include conductors that are connected to electrical components that
the lowest temperature rating of the insulated conductors for cannot be simultaneously energized.
the purpose of determining ampacity.
(5) Neutral Conductor. conductors and shall be counted when applying the provisions
(a) A neutral conductor that carries only the unbalanced of 310.15(B)(3)(a).
current from other conductors of the same circuit shall not be (c) On a 4-wire, 3-phase wye circuit where the major
required to be counted when applying the provisions of portion of the load consists of nonlinear loads, harmonic
310.15(B)(3)(a). currents are present in the neutral conductor; the neutral
(b) In a 3-wire circuit consisting of two phase conductors conductor shall therefore be considered a current-carrying
and the neutral conductor of a 4-wire, 3-phase, wye-connected conductor.
system, a common conductor carries approximately the same
current as the line-to-neutral load currents of the other

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 ARTICLE 310 — CONDUCTORS FOR GENERAL WIRING 310.60

(6) Grounding or Bonding Conductor. A grounding or bond‐ (C) Engineering Supervision. Under engineering supervision,
ing conductor shall not be counted when applying the provi‐ conductor ampacities shall be permitted to be calculated by
sions of 310.15(B)(3)(a). means of the following general equation:
(7) Single-Phase Dwelling Services and Feeders. For one-
family dwellings and the individual dwelling units of two-family [310.15(C)]
and multifamily dwellings, service and feeder conductors
Tc − Ta
supplied by a single-phase, 120/240-volt system shall be permit‐ I = × 103 amperes
ted to be sized in accordance with 310.15(B)(7)(1) through Rdc (1 + Yc ) Rca
(4).
where:
For one-family dwellings and the individual dwelling units of Tc = conductor temperature in degrees Celsius (°C)
two-family and multifamily dwellings, single-phase feeder Ta = ambient temperature in degrees Celsius (°C)
conductors consisting of 2 ungrounded conductors and the
Rdc = dc resistance of 305 mm (1 ft) of conductor in micro‐
neutral conductor from a 208Y/120 volt system shall be permit‐
ohms at temperature, Tc
ted to be sized in accordance with 310.15(B)(7)(1) through
(3). Yc = component ac resistance resulting from skin effect and
proximity effect
(1) For a service rated 100 through 400 amperes, the service Rca = effective thermal resistance between conductor and
conductors supplying the entire load associated with a surrounding ambient
one-family dwelling, or the service conductors supplying
the entire load associated with an individual dwelling unit 310.60 Conductors Rated 2001 to 35,000 Volts.
in a two-family or multifamily dwelling, shall be permitted (A) Ampacities of Conductors Rated 2001 to 35,000 Volts.
to have an ampacity not less than 83 percent of the serv‐ Ampacities for solid dielectric-insulated conductors shall be
ice rating. permitted to be determined by tables or under engineering
(2) For a feeder rated 100 through 400 amperes, the feeder supervision, as provided in 310.60(B) and (C).
conductors supplying the entire load associated with a
one-family dwelling, or the feeder conductors supplying (1) Selection of Ampacity. Where more than one calculated
the entire load associated with an individual dwelling unit or tabulated ampacity could apply for a given circuit length,
in a two-family or multifamily dwelling, shall be permitted the lowest value shall be used.
to have an ampacity not less than 83 percent of the feeder
rating. Exception: Where two different ampacities apply to adjacent portions of
(3) In no case shall a feeder for an individual dwelling unit a circuit, the higher ampacity shall be permitted to be used beyond the
be required to have an ampacity greater than that speci‐ point of transition, a distance equal to 3.0 m (10 ft) or 10 percent of
fied in 310.15(B)(7)(1) or (2). the circuit length calculated at the higher ampacity, whichever is less.
(4) Grounded conductors shall be permitted to be sized Informational Note: See 110.40 for conductor temperature limi‐
smaller than the ungrounded conductors, if the require‐ tations due to termination provisions.
ments of 220.61 and 230.42 for service conductors or the
requirements of 215.2 and 220.61 for feeder conductors (B) Engineering Supervision. Under engineering supervision,
are met. conductor ampacities shall be permitted to be calculated by
using the following general equation:
Where correction or adjustment factors are required by
310.15(B)(2) or (3), they shall be permitted to be applied to
the ampacity associated with the temperature rating of the [310.60(B)]
conductor. Tc − (Ta + ∆Td )
I = × 103 amperes
Informational Note No. 1: The service or feeder ratings Rdc (1 + Yc ) Rca
addressed by this section are based on the standard ampacity
ratings from 240.6(A). where:
Informational Note No. 2: See Example D7 in Annex D. Tc = conductor temperature (°C)
Ta = ambient temperature (°C)
ΔTd = dielectric loss temperature rise
Rdc = dc resistance of conductor at temperature Tc
Yc = component ac resistance resulting from skin effect and
proximity effect
Rca = effective thermal resistance between conductor and
surrounding ambient
Informational Note: The dielectric loss temperature rise (ΔTd )
is negligible for single circuit extruded dielectric cables rated
below 46 kV.

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310.60 ARTICLE 310 — CONDUCTORS FOR GENERAL WIRING

Table 310.15(B)(16) (formerly Table 310.16) Allowable Ampacities of Insulated Conductors Rated Up to and Including 2000 Volts,
60°C Through 90°C (140°F Through 194°F), Not More Than Three Current-Carrying Conductors in Raceway, Cable, or Earth
(Directly Buried), Based on Ambient Temperature of 30°C (86°F)*

Temperature Rating of Conductor [See Table 310.104(A).]

60°C (140°F) 75°C (167°F) 90°C (194°F) 60°C (140°F) 75°C (167°F) 90°C (194°F)
Types TBS, SA,
SIS, FEP,
FEPB, MI, Types TBS, SA,
RHH, RHW-2, SIS, THHN,
THHN, THHW,
THHW, THW-2,
Types RHW, THW-2, THWN-2,
THHW, THW, THWN-2, Types RHW, RHH, RHW-2,
THWN, USE-2, XHH, THHW, THW, USE-2, XHH,
XHHW, USE, XHHW, THWN, XHHW,
Types TW, UF ZW XHHW-2, ZW-2 Types TW, UF XHHW, USE XHHW-2, ZW-2
Size AWG or
kcmil COPPER ALUMINUM OR COPPER-CLAD ALUMINUM Size AWG or kcmil
18** — — 14 — — — —
16** — — 18 — — — —
14** 15 20 25 — — — —
12** 20 25 30 15 20 25 12**
10** 30 35 40 25 30 35 10**
8 40 50 55 35 40 45 8
6 55 65 75 40 50 55 6
4 70 85 95 55 65 75 4
3 85 100 115 65 75 85 3
2 95 115 130 75 90 100 2
1 110 130 145 85 100 115 1
1/0 125 150 170 100 120 135 1/0
2/0 145 175 195 115 135 150 2/0
3/0 165 200 225 130 155 175 3/0
4/0 195 230 260 150 180 205 4/0
250 215 255 290 170 205 230 250
300 240 285 320 195 230 260 300
350 260 310 350 210 250 280 350
400 280 335 380 225 270 305 400
500 320 380 430 260 310 350 500
600 350 420 475 285 340 385 600
700 385 460 520 315 375 425 700
750 400 475 535 320 385 435 750
800 410 490 555 330 395 445 800
900 435 520 585 355 425 480 900
1000 455 545 615 375 445 500 1000
1250 495 590 665 405 485 545 1250
1500 525 625 705 435 520 585 1500
1750 545 650 735 455 545 615 1750
2000 555 665 750 470 560 630 2000
*Refer to 310.15(B)(2) for the ampacity correction factors where the ambient temperature is other than 30°C (86°F). Refer to 310.15(B)(3)(a) for
more than three current-carrying conductors.
**Refer to 240.4(D) for conductor overcurrent protection limitations.

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 ARTICLE 310 — CONDUCTORS FOR GENERAL WIRING 310.60

Table 310.15(B)(17) (formerly Table 310.17) Allowable Ampacities of Single-Insulated Conductors Rated Up to and Including
2000 Volts in Free Air, Based on Ambient Temperature of 30°C (86°F)*

Temperature Rating of Conductor [See Table 310.104(A).]

60°C (140°F) 75°C (167°F) 90°C (194°F) 60°C (140°F) 75°C (167°F) 90°C (194°F)
Types TBS, SA,
SIS, FEP, FEPB, Types TBS, SA,
MI, RHH, SIS, THHN,
RHW-2, THHN, THHW, THW-2,
Types RHW, THHW, THW-2, THWN-2, RHH,
THHW, THW, THWN-2, USE-2, Types RHW, RHW-2, USE-2,
THWN, XHH, XHHW, THHW, THW, XHH, XHHW,
Types TW, UF XHHW, ZW XHHW-2, ZW-2 Types TW, UF THWN, XHHW XHHW-2, ZW-2
Size AWG or Size AWG or
kcmil COPPER ALUMINUM OR COPPER-CLAD ALUMINUM kcmil
18 — — 18 — — — —
16 — — 24 — — — —
14** 25 30 35 — — — —
12** 30 35 40 25 30 35 12**
10** 40 50 55 35 40 45 10**
8 60 70 80 45 55 60 8
6 80 95 105 60 75 85 6
4 105 125 140 80 100 115 4
3 120 145 165 95 115 130 3
2 140 170 190 110 135 150 2
1 165 195 220 130 155 175 1
1/0 195 230 260 150 180 205 1/0
2/0 225 265 300 175 210 235 2/0
3/0 260 310 350 200 240 270 3/0
4/0 300 360 405 235 280 315 4/0
250 340 405 455 265 315 355 250
300 375 445 500 290 350 395 300
350 420 505 570 330 395 445 350
400 455 545 615 355 425 480 400
500 515 620 700 405 485 545 500
600 575 690 780 455 545 615 600
700 630 755 850 500 595 670 700
750 655 785 885 515 620 700 750
800 680 815 920 535 645 725 800
900 730 870 980 580 700 790 900
1000 780 935 1055 625 750 845 1000
1250 890 1065 1200 710 855 965 1250
1500 980 1175 1325 795 950 1070 1500
1750 1070 1280 1445 875 1050 1185 1750
2000 1155 1385 1560 960 1150 1295 2000
*Refer to 310.15(B)(2) for the ampacity correction factors where the ambient temperature is other than 30°C (86°F).
**Refer to 240.4(D) for conductor overcurrent protection limitations.

2017 Edition NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE 70 –151