[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 30, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 30CFR18.35]

[Page 99-100]
 
                       TITLE 30--MINERAL RESOURCES
 
  CHAPTER I--MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
 
PART 18--ELECTRIC MOTOR-DRIVEN MINE EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES--Table of Contents
 
             Subpart B--Construction and Design Requirements
 
Sec. 18.35  Portable (trailing) cables and cords.

    (a) Portable cables and cords used to conduct electrical energy to 
face equipment shall conform to the following:
    (1) Have each conductor of a current-carrying capacity consistent 
with the Insulated Power Cable Engineers Association (IPCEA) standards. 
(See Tables 1 and 2 in Appendix I.)
    (2) Have current-carrying conductors not smaller than No. 14 (AWG). 
Cords with sizes 14 to 10 (AWG) conductors shall be constructed with 
heavy jackets, the diameters of which are given in Table 6 in Appendix 
I.
    (3) Be accepted as flame resistant under this part or approved under 
subpart K of part 7 of this chapter.
    (4) Have short-circuit protection at the outby (circuit-connecting) 
end of ungrounded conductors. (See Table 8 in Appendix I.) The fuse 
rating or trip setting shall be included in the assembler's 
specifications.
    (5) Ordinarily the length of a portable (trailing) cable shall not 
exceed 500 feet. Where the method of mining requires the length of a 
portable (trailing) cable to be more than 500 feet, such length of cable 
shall be permitted only under the following prescribed conditions:
    (i) The lengths of portable (trailing) cables shall not exceed those 
specified in Table 9, Appendix I, titled ``Specifications for Portable 
Cables Longer Than 500 Feet.''
    (ii) Short-circuit protection shall be provided by a protective 
device with an instantaneous trip setting as near as practicable to the 
maximum starting-current-inrush value, but the setting shall not exceed 
the trip value specified in MSHA approval for the equipment for which 
the portable (trailing) cable furnishes electric power.
    (6) Have nominal outside dimensions consistent with IPCEA standards. 
(See Tables 4, 5, 6, and 7 in Appendix I.)
    (7) Have conductors of No. 4 (AWG) minimum for direct-current mobile 
haulage units or No. 6 (AWG) minimum for alternating-current mobile 
haulage units.

[[Page 100]]

    (8) Have not more than five well-made temporary splices in a single 
length of portable cable.
    (b) Sectionalized portable cables will be acceptable provided the 
connectors used inby the last open crosscut in a gassy mine meet the 
requirements of Sec. 18.41.
    (c) A portable cable having conductors smaller than No. 6 (AWG), 
when used with a trolley tap and a rail clamp, shall have well insulated 
single conductors not smaller than No. 6 (AWG) spliced to the outby end 
of each conductor. All splices shall be made in a workmanlike manner to 
insure good electrical conductivity, insulation, and mechanical 
strength.
    (d) Suitable provisions shall be made to facilitate disconnection of 
portable cable quickly and conveniently for replacement.

[33 FR 4660, Mar. 19, 1968; 33 FR 6343, Apr. 26, 1968, as amended at 57 
FR 61223, Dec. 23, 1992]