Direct Burial Electrical Cable Depth

Decide how much digging you re prepared to do which determines the type of wire you need to use.

Direct burial electrical cable depth.

Underground cable for running electrical power to a remote location can be installed at different depths depending on the type of conduit and type of wire used. Electrical cable depth options. For a 6 in deep trench use galvanized rigid metal electrical conduit with individual conductors inside. The direct burial method is the placement of a multi conductor cable with a jacket that is manufactured to resist the elements of corrosion associated with soil and moisture.

When you run buried electrical cable for example from a house to a garage or to a gazebo it has to be protected to prevent mechanical damage to the insulation. The national electrical code gives minimum burial depth recommendations and building codes specify local requirements that you must follow. Wiring in pvc conduit must have at least. Job aid 08 underground electrical cable bury depth.

According to note 1 under the table cover is defined as the shortest distance in inches between a point on the top surface of any direct buried conductor cable conduit or other raceway and the top surface of finished grade concrete or similar cover. Direct burial cable is a special type of electrical wiring or cable that is designed to be buried in a trench underground. Wiring buried inside rigid metal rmc or intermediate metal imc conduit must have at least 6 inches of earth cover. It is important to remember that minimum cover and minimum trench depth are not the same.

Type uf cable is the most commonly used nonmetallic cable for residential outdoor wiring runs. Uf cable underground feeder cable is specially designed and manufactured with properties that make it ideal for burial. Construction job aid 08 underground electrical cable burial depths building safety division. This cable should be buried at a depth of 24 inches.

The individual electrical conducting wires inside the cable are encased in a solid thermoplastic sheath that seals out moisture and protects the conducting wires within. The cable is less likely to be cut or disturbed by typical digging if it is this far below ground.