Electrical Overhead Conductor Code Word Names

B1006-17: Standard Specification for Electrical Overhead Conductor Code Word Names

In the complex world of electrical infrastructure, precise communication and unambiguous identification of components are paramount. For engineers and procurement specialists working with overhead power lines, understanding and utilizing standardized naming conventions is not just a matter of efficiency, but also of safety and interoperability. ASTM's Standard Specification for Electrical Overhead Conductor Code Word Names, B1006-17, provides this essential framework, offering a comprehensive and industry-leading system for identifying a vast array of conductor types.

What is B1006-17?

ASTM B1006-17 establishes a standardized system of code word names for bare overhead electrical conductors commonly recognized in North America. Originating from historical practices within utility companies and industry associations, this specification's primary purpose is to provide a clear, concise, and universally understood method for referencing various conductor constructions, thereby facilitating accurate specification, procurement, and design.

Scope & Purpose

This industry-leading standard governs the naming conventions for bare overhead electrical conductors. It outlines specific code word designations for conductors based on their construction, including materials and layering. The scope explicitly covers conductors recognized in North America and provides a mechanism for incorporating new code word names. While it references international standards like CSA and CENELEC for cross-referencing, it primarily focuses on the North American nomenclature for these conductors and their associated ASTM specifications. It does not dictate manufacturing processes or performance criteria, but rather the descriptive nomenclature used to identify them.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Electrical Engineers, Power Systems Engineers, Standards Engineers, Procurement Specialists, and Project Managers involved in the design, specification, and acquisition of overhead electrical conductors.
• • Industries affected: Utilities (power generation, transmission, and distribution), Electrical Manufacturing, Construction, and Telecommunications.
• • Compliance nature: While ASTM standards are typically voluntary, adherence to B1006-17 is often a contractual requirement in project specifications and procurement documents, making it effectively mandatory for many projects.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically verified by project owners, engineering consultants, and regulatory bodies through review of design documents, material submittals, and equipment specifications.

Key Requirements Overview

The standard requires the use of specific code word names to identify different types of bare overhead electrical conductors. Professionals must ensure that conductor selections in design documents and procurement orders accurately reflect their intended construction using these standardized code words. Key provisions include:

• • Categorization of conductor code words based on similar construction types.
• • Inclusion of suffix modifiers to denote variations in conductor construction, such as steel core material and its coating.
• • Cross-referencing of code words to the relevant ASTM (and in some cases, CSA) specifications that define the actual conductor construction requirements.
• • A defined procedure for the addition of new code word names to ensure the standard remains current.

Related Standards & References

ASTM B1006-17 is intrinsically linked to a suite of other ASTM standards that define the physical and electrical characteristics of the conductors themselves. For instance, ASTM B232/B232M (Specification for Concentric-Lay-Stranded Aluminum Conductors, Coated-Steel Reinforced (ACSR)) and **ASTM B399/B