Electrical Overhead Conductor Code Word Names

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

Ensuring clarity and standardization in specifying electrical overhead conductors is paramount for reliable power transmission and distribution. ASTM B1006-17 provides an essential framework for this, offering a comprehensive system of code word names that engineers and procurement specialists rely on daily. This industry-leading standard simplifies complex conductor descriptions, facilitating accurate communication and interoperability across North America and beyond.

What is B1006-17?

ASTM B1006-17, the Standard Specification for Electrical Overhead Conductor Code Word Names, establishes a standardized nomenclature for bare overhead electrical conductors recognized in North America. Originating from historical designations developed by utility companies and industry committees, its primary purpose is to provide a clear, concise, and universally understood method for identifying conductor types and constructions.

Scope & Purpose

This authoritative standard governs the identification and specification of bare overhead electrical conductors, primarily focusing on those with established code word names in North America. It outlines a procedure for adding new code word names and provides tables that group conductors by construction type, referencing applicable ASTM standards for detailed specifications. While it references international standards, its direct scope is the North American designation system and related international equivalencies. The standard itself does not specify conductor performance characteristics or manufacturing processes but rather the naming conventions for them.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Electrical Engineers, Transmission Engineers, Distribution Engineers, Standards Engineers, and Procurement Specialists.
• • Industries affected: Electrical Utilities, Power Generation, Electrical Manufacturing, and Construction.
• • Compliance nature: Voluntary, but widely adopted as a best practice for clear specification and procurement.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically checked by project owners, engineering firms during design reviews, and manufacturers during production to ensure accurate order fulfillment and documentation.

Key Requirements Overview

• • The standard requires the use of established code word names to identify specific types of bare overhead electrical conductors.
• • Professionals must ensure that conductor specifications accurately reflect the intended construction using these standardized code words.
• • Key provisions include tables that correlate code word names with their corresponding conductor constructions and applicable ASTM (or CSA) standards.
• • The standard also outlines a method for proposing and incorporating new code word names to accommodate evolving conductor technologies.
• • It details how suffix modifiers can be appended to base code words to denote variations in core materials or coatings.

Related Standards & References

ASTM B1006-17 is deeply integrated with a suite of other ASTM standards that define the actual construction and material properties of conductors. Key complementary standards include:

• • ASTM B232/B232M for Concentric-Lay-Stranded Aluminum Conductors, Coated-Steel Reinforced (ACSR), which provides detailed specifications that a code word like "ACSR" would reference.
• • ASTM B498/B498M and ASTM B606/B606M, which detail requirements for galvanized steel core wire, crucial for specifying ACSR conductors with specific core strengths and coatings.
• • CSA C61089-11 and relevant CENELEC EN standards, which are referenced for international equivalency, ensuring interoperability and understanding in global projects.