Jackets Extend MC Savings

Moisture-resistant jacketed Type MC cable extends benefits of MC Cables.

"Educating contractors on labor saving product options can strengthen your relationship with your customers."

Jacketed MC Applications at a Glance

Contractors all over the country are taking advantage of the cost-reduction benefits of feeder-sized Type MC cable in commercial construction. Many of those contractors customers are also discovering that putting a moisture-resistant jacket on Type MC cable extends MC's benefits to a whole new set of applications. Jacketed MC opens construction options Jacketed MC is a mature, proven cable construction that's been common in industrial applications for years. The jacket is extruded over the top of the flexible armor that gives MC cable mechanical protection.

Jacketed MC opens construction options

Jacketed MC is a mature, proven cable construction that's been common in industrial applications for years. The jacket is extruded over the top of the flexible armor that gives MC cable mechanical protection.

"Putting a jacket on MC cable lets it work in places where non-jacketed MC couldn't be used - including encasement in concrete, direct burial and even some hazardous locations," says Kyle McGovern, Southwire Director, Contractor Solutions.

For starters, Type MC with a jacket is ideal for direct burial. The flexible armor is easy to lay in a trench, and the jacket is an effective moisture barrier. You can even embed jacketed MC cable in concrete. For example, contractors can lay jacketed MC right on top of the rebar, pour the concrete over it and forget it. This type of installation is common practice in parking garages, stadiums, and airport installations around the country, as contractors and architects learn about the possibilities.

Southwire offers the most jacketed MC options

Southwire has the broadest line of MC products in the industry. Southwire's jacketed MC options include single and multiple copper and aluminum conductors in 600V, 5kV, and 15kV ratings. Copper conductors range from #8 AWG to 750kcmil, and aluminum conductors go up to 1,000kcmil. Purchasers can specify isolated grounds, oversized neutral for paralleled circuits, and up to 12 conductors for multiple circuits. Most MC used in commercial construction carries tough PVC jackets that deliver very high moisture resistance and are also rated sunlight-resistant. Most 600V and medium-voltage power cable in industrial applications are protected by PVC jackets. Southwire's standard PVC jacket is black, but other colors are available, subject to manufacturing lead time and minimum order quantities.

Common applications of jacketed MC cables include direct burial applications, installation in concrete, and where exposed to cinder fills, strong chlorides, caustic alkalis, or vapors of chlorine or hydrochloric acids.

Branch, feeder and service power distribution in commercial,industrial, institutional, and multi-residential buildings.
Power, lighting, control, and signal circuits.
Fished or embedded in plaster.
Concealed or exposed installations.
Places of Assembly per NEC 518.4 and theaters per NEC 520.5.
As aerial cable on a messenger.
Installation in cable tray and approved raceways.
Under raised floors for information technology equipment conductors and cables per NEC 645.5(D) & 645.5(D) (2).
Class I Div. 2, Class II Div 2, & Class III Div. 1 Hazardous Locations.