Revised NFPA 79 standard permits the use of certain AWM cables, many of which can be used for high-flex applications.

1. TECHTALK DESIGN
ADVICE SERIES YOUR CONTACT
NFPA 79 STANDARD UPDATE: WHEN TO
USE AWM CABLES
All industrial machines and
equipment have special Don Nester
requirements for their electrical Product manager, Chainflex®
systems. In order to standardize continuous-flex cables
these requirements and also keep
DNester@igus.com
up with any changes, the National
Fire and Protection Agency
developed the NFPA 79 –
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Electrical Standard for Industrial
Machinery. The standard provides guidance on how a machine’s >> Contacts in your location
electrical system should be designed, as well as ways to keep machine (on-site within 24-48 hours)
operators safe. >> Request catalogs / free
samples
If you are one of the many machine designers who need to follow the
NFPA standard, you’re often left with limited options for applications >> myigus
that require continuous-flex cables. But, there’s good news: NFPA 79
>> myCatalog
has been revised and the 2012 edition permits the use of certain AWM
cables, many of which can be used for high-flex applications.
An AWM cable is defined by Underwriters Laboratories® (UL) as
appliance wire material. These wire types cover a wide range of cable igus Inc.
constructions across many industries and applications. Many
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continuous-flex cables are made in accordance with the UL AWM
standard and, during the past decade, the use of AWM cables has East Providence, RI 02914
been a highly debated topic. The NFPA 79 2007 edition prohibited their P. 1-800-527-2747
use, even though these types of cables have been used in the industry
F. (401) 438-7270
for many years.
sales@igus.com
After a number of proposals from the technical committee charged with
developing the standards, Section 12 of the NFPA 79 standard –
“Conductors, Cables and Flexible Cables”, was revised. The addition of
www.igus.com
AWM cables to the standard provides a wider range for cable

2. conductor cross-sections, the number of conductors, and cable constructions specifically designed for
continuous flexing. For example, many of igus®’ Chainflex® continuous-flex cables now comply with all
AWM requirements outlined in the NFPA 79 standard. The revision broadens the available options for
continuous-flex cables and makes your job a little easier.
The NFPA 79 standard outlines the requirements that AWM
cables have to comply with. The following summarizes some
of the main requirements.
• The standard allows AWM cables when the cable
has been identified for use with the approved
equipment and is used in accordance to the
manufacturer’s instructions. For example, many of
igus®’ customers use Chainflex® cables because they
are specifically designed for continuous-flex
applications and many have the UL AWM mark.
• The NFPA 79 standard defines some of the cable construction requirements for AWM cables,
including the minimum conductor strand count, flame resistance and wall thickness.
• The standard also requires the cable adhere to all the requirements of the respective UL AWM
style page.
If you are required to follow the NFPA 79 standard, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables with UL AWM are
a good choice. They not only meet all the requirements of the standard, but also deliver optimal
performance in demanding, flexing applications on all types of automated machinery.
What do you think about the revised NFPA 79 standard? Do you think it has the potential to make your
job easier? I’m interested in hearing your thoughts so e-mail me at dnester@igus.com.
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