Page 10 of 14 SPECIFICATION WCD 3106, ISSUE 10
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4.4.7 Insulation Elongation and Tensile Strength
Specimens of the insulation shall be carefully removed from all component or finished wire, as
applicable, and tested for tensile strength and elongation in accordance with ASTM D 3032,
Section 17, using 1-inch (25-mm) bench marks and 1.5-inch (38-mm) initial jaw separation,
with the conditions and exceptions as shown in Table 5.
TABLE 5. CROSSHEAD SPEED
Crosshead Speed (per minute)
Construction Qualification Process Control
DW (primary insulation only) 2 inches (51 mm) 20 inches (508 mm)
HT 2 inches (51 mm) 2 inches (51 mm)
MT 2 inches (51 mm) 2 inches (51 mm)
TW 2 inches (51 mm) 20 inches (508 mm)
TX 20 inches (508 mm) 20 inches (508 mm)
In the event of a failure of a DW or TW finished wire under the process control conditions, a
referee test shall be performed to the qualification crosshead speed of 2 inches (51 mm) per
minute and these results shall take precedence over the process control results.
4.4.8 Insulation Flaws - Spark Test
Finished wire or cable shall be passed through a chain electrode spark test device using the
specified voltage at a frequency of 60 or 3000 Hz. The conductor shall be grounded at one or
both ends. The electrode shall be of a suitable bead chain or fine mesh construction that will
give intimate metallic contact with practically all of the wire or cable surface. Electrode
length and speed of specimen movement shall be such that the finished wire or cable is
subjected to the test voltage for a minimum of 0.2 second. Any portion showing insulation
breakdown shall be cut out including at least 2 inches (51 mm) of insulation on each side of
the failure.
4.4.9 Insulation Thickness
4.4.9.1 UL
4.4.9.1.1 9 AWG and Smaller
The minimum insulation wall thickness shall be measured on one 5-foot (1.5-m) specimen
using cross-sections taken at the 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 inch (254, 508, 762, 1016 and
1270 mm) points along the specimen. The minimum wall thickness shall be the smallest of the
five measurements. The minimum average wall thickness shall be the average of the five
measurements.
4.4.9.1.2 8 AWG and Larger
The minimum insulation wall thickness shall be measured on one 24-inch (610-mm) specimen
using cross-sections taken at the 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 inch (102, 203, 305, 406 and 508 mm)
points along the specimen. The minimum wall thickness shall be the smallest of the five
measurements. The minimum average wall thickness shall be the average of the five
measurements.