What Is Building Wire?
Allied Wire and Cable's building wires include THHN, TFFN, and TFN wires, as regulated by the National Electrical Code (NEC). TFFN wires are for branch circuits in buildings and commercial premises, while TFFN and TFN are fixture wires for luminaires and control panels. These wires must be installed in a conduit, flexible tubing, or raceway except if they're used for machine tool or appliance wiring. Building and fixture wires conform to various UL styles, and many have dual Machine Tool Wiring (MTW) certification. AWC building wires use solid or stranded copper conductors, PVC insulation, and a nylon jacket.
Types of Building Wire
THHN Building Wire
THHN wire is a relatively stiff single conductor wire with solid or stranded copper conductors, PVC insulation, and a nylon jacket. It's a tough, abrasion-resistant wire suitable for use in conduits and raceways. THHN wire has a voltage rating of 600 volts. You can use THHN wire for branch circuits in building and commercial wiring installations. The wires have a maximum temperature rating of 90°Celsius in dry and damp conditions. Available sizes are from 14 American Wire Gauge up to 1000 MCM, with current ratings between 15 and 615 amps. The letters THHN have the following meaning:
- T: Thermoplastic insulation
- HH: High heat resistance and a temperature rating of 90°C
- N: Nylon jacket
TFFN Fixture Wire
Fixture wire is a single-conductor, flexible stranded copper wire with PVC insulation and a nylon jacket. You can use this wire for wiring luminaires to branch circuits and for internal wiring inside luminaires and other enclosed equipment where the wires aren't subject to movement, bending, or flexing. The NEC requires that TFFN wire is enclosed, and unlike THHN wire, you can't use TFFN wire for branch circuit wiring. The wire's voltage rating is 600 volts, and it has a maximum temperature of 90°C. The NEC permits only two gauge sizes: 18AWG and 16AWG. The letters TFFN stand for:
- T: Thermoplastic insulation
- FF: Flexible fixture
- N: Nylon jacket
TFN Fixture Wire
TFN fixture wire is a less flexible version of TFFN wire, with a solid copper conductor. The NEC also permits versions with seven strands. The letters TFN stand for:
- T: Thermoplastic insulation
- F: Fixture
- N: Nylon jacket
Other Building Wire Applications
Most AWC THHN wires carry dual ratings. These include machine tool wire, UL1063 microphone wire, and certain types of UL758 appliance wire. Our TFFN and TFN wires have dual UL style ratings including UL1316, UL1408, and UL1452. These wires also conform with the Canadian Standards Association Appliance Wiring Material (AWM) 1 A/B standard and TWEN certifications.
Building Wire General Specifications
- Conductors: Solid or stranded annealed copper wire
- Insulation: Flame-retardant extruded PVC
- Jacket: Abrasion-resistant nylon
- Size THHN: 14 AWG to 1000 MCM
- Sizes TFFN and TFN: 18 AWG and 16 AWG
Building Wire Certifications
THHN
THHN wire certifications include:
- NEC THHN
- MTW
- UL83
- UL1063
- UL758
- RoHS (on request)
TFFN and TFN
TFFN and TFN wire certifications include:
- TFFN
- TFN
- MTW
- UL1316
- UL1408
- UL1452
- CSA AWM 1 A/B
- CSA TWEN
Building Wire Frequently Asked Questions
What types of wire should I use for my project?
The type of wire you should use for your industrial project depends on the specific application and where the wiring will be utilized. Common types of wire used in industrial applications include THHN, TFFN, and TFN. THHN is a versatile wire that can be used in both wet and dry environments. TFFN is generally used for fixtures or branch circuit wiring. TFN is slightly less flexible than TFFN, with a single copper conductor.
What gauge wire should I use for my project?
The gauge of wire you should use for your industrial project depends on the amount of current (amps) that will be flowing through the wire and the length of the wire run. Typically, the higher the amp rating, the larger the gauge wire will need to be. Ampacity tables that list the maximum ampacity for different gauges of wire at different wire lengths are available in The National Electric Code (NEC). Licensed electricians or electrical engineers can provide guidance on determining the appropriate gauge wire for your specific application.
How do I run wire through walls and ceilings?
Use a stud finder to locate the framing members and avoid running the wire through them. Use fish tape or a flexible cable running tool to guide the wire through the walls or ceilings. Run the wire through conduit or protective sleeves where necessary to protect it from damage. Metal conduit, and protective sleeves, to a lesser extent, protect wiring from abrasion, damage, and other threats to wire integrity such as rodents. The National Electric Code (NEC) guidelines for running wire through walls and ceilings should always be followed.
What is the correct method to ground wire?
Run a grounding wire from the main service panel to a grounding rod driven into the ground. Connect the grounding wire to the grounding rod and to the grounding terminal on the main service panel. Always use a green or bare wire for grounding. Run the grounding wire alongside the circuit wires. Any metal parts such as light fixtures or electrical boxes should also be grounded.
How do I properly install wire connectors?
Use a wire stripping tool to remove a small section of insulation from the end of the wire. Insert the stripped wire into the connector and make sure it is securely fastened. There are a variety of connector types, such as twist-on wire connectors or push-in wire connectors. For twist-on wire connectors, simply screw onto the stripped wire. When using a push-in wire connector, inserted the wire into the then release it.
Contact us for help and technical advice on selecting the right building wire.