Cat5e cable burial depth outdoors in PVC

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tortuga

tortuga

Code Historian
Location
Oregon
Occupation
Electrical Design
Greetings all silly question
I have some PVC going in a trench and would like to know if the minimum burial depth required by the NEC 300.5 applies to communications conductors installed in a raceway not within a building?
As per 90.3 I am not seeing anything in 800 referring back to 300.5 for underground installations.
Note this is not within a building.
(2014 NEC applies)
Thanks in advance
 
I don't know what depth you need but the cable you use should be rated for wet location. Not all CAT5e is rated for wet locations. Make sure you get the proper cable.
 
There is no code requirement for that. Also many code authorities have CAT 5 under Article 725 and not 800, but that still doesn't require Table 300.5 burial depths.
 
mgookin said:
I don't know what depth you need but the cable you use should be rated for wet location. Not all CAT5e is rated for wet locations. Make sure you get the proper cable.
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Thanks yeah were not the contractor installing the cable just providing the conduit.
When we do install cable we use the direct burial cat5.
There is this little debate happening about how deep the conduit needs to be.
The NEC 90.3 states other articles don't apply to 800 unless by reference. All I can find in 800 referencing 300.5 would be 800.110(A) which is under section V "Installation Methods Within Buildings".
So there is not a reference to 300.5 for outdoor communications "feeders" between buildings?
The conduit can be a shallow as you want?
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
There is no code requirement for that. Also many code authorities have CAT 5 under Article 725 and not 800, but that still doesn't require Table 300.5 burial depths.
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Thank you yes 725 I am rusty on low voltage, I might be looking in the wrong book.
Here in Oregon the state adopts the NEC and the NESC, If there is a conflict between the NEC and the NESC the NEC prevails, however in this case the NEC is silent on com depth there is then perhaps no conflict and the NESC 24" depth applies.
Ill have to double check the NESC requirement.
 
tortuga said:
Thank you yes 725 I am rusty on low voltage, I might be looking in the wrong book.
Here in Oregon the state adopts the NEC and the NESC, If there is a conflict between the NEC and the NESC the NEC prevails, however in this case the NEC is silent on com depth there is then perhaps no conflict and the NESC 24" depth applies.
Ill have to double check the NESC requirement.
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I will be surprised if the NESC has any depth requirement for data / com cables.
 
"NESC requires you to place direct-buried cable 24 in. below finished grade. However, when installing optical fiber cable it's generally recommended that you place the cable at a minimum depth of 3 ft below grade. The added depth takes into account the added circuit — carrying capabilities of the optical fiber cable. In areas of the country where the ground freezes, you should place the cable below the frost line because frost uplift can damage cables."

From an old article referring ANSI/EIA/TIA - 758 which covers outside plant cable this isn't exactly what you are doing but it's similar

Link - http://m.ecmweb.com/content/selecting-route-osp-installations
 
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