NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.

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Designation: B 8 – 99

Standard Specification for

Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors, Hard,
Medium-Hard, or Soft1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 8; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope B 3 Specification for Soft or Annealed Copper Wire2

1.1 This specification covers bare concentric-lay-stranded B 33 Specification for Tinned Soft or Annealed Copper
conductors made from round copper wires, either uncoated or Wire for Electrical Purposes2
coated with tin, lead, or lead alloy for general use for electrical B 172 Specification for Rope-Lay-Stranded Copper Con-
purposes. These conductors shall be constructed with a central ductors Having Bunch-Stranded Members, for Electrical
core surrounded by one or more layers of helically laid wires. Conductors2
B 173 Specification for Rope-Lay-Stranded Copper Con-
NOTE 1—This specification also permits conductors for use as covered ductors Having Concentric-Stranded Members, for Elec-
or insulated electrical conductors.
trical Conductors2
NOTE 2—Sealed conductors, that are intended to prevent longitudinal
water propagation and are further covered/insulated, are also permitted B 174 Specification for Bunch-Stranded Copper Conduc-
for Electrical Conductors2
iTeh Standards
within the guidelines of this specification. tors
B 189 Specification for Lead-Coated and Lead-Alloy-
1.2 For the purposes of this specification, conductors are
Coated Soft Copper Wire for Electrical Purposes2
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classified as follows (Explanatory Note 1 and Note 2):
B 193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor
1.2.1 Class AA—For bare conductors usually used in over-
Materials2
head lines.
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B 246 Specification for Tinned Hard-Drawn and Medium-
1.2.2 Class A—For conductors to be covered with weather-
Hard-Drawn Copper Wire for Electrical Purposes2
resistant (weather-proof), slow-burning, materials, and for bare
B 263 Test Method for Determination of Cross-Sectional
conductors where greater flexibility than is afforded by Class
Area of Stranded Conductors2
AA is required.
1.2.3 Class B—For conductors to be insulated with various
ASTM B8-99 B 354 Terminology Relating to Uninsulated Metallic Elec-
trical Conductors2
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materials such as rubber, paper, varnished cloth, etc., and for
B 787 Specification for 19 Wire Combination Unilay-
the conductors indicated under Class A where greater flexibility
Stranded Copper Conductors for Subsequent Insulation2
is required.
1.2.4 Class C and Class D—For conductors where greater 3. Ordering Information
flexibility is required than is provided by Class B conductors.
3.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
1.3 The SI values for density are regarded as the standard.
the following information:
For all other properties, the inch-pound values are to be
3.1.1 Quantity of each size and class,
regarded as standard and the SI units may be approximate.
3.1.2 Conductor size: circular-mil area or AWG (Section 6),
2. Referenced Documents 3.1.3 Class (see 1.2 and Table 1),
3.1.4 Temper (see 13.2),
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2 3.1.5 Whether coated or uncoated; if coated, designate type
B 1 Specification of Hard-Drawn Copper Wire
of coating (see 13.1 and 13.2),
B 2 Specification for Medium-Hard-Drawn Copper Wire2
3.1.6 Details of special-purpose lays, if required (see 5.4),
3.1.7 When physical tests shall be made (see 8.2 and 8.3),
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B-1 on 3.1.8 Package size (see 8.1),
Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.04 on 3.1.9 Lagging, if required (see section 15.2),
Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys. 3.1.10 Special package marking, if required (Section 14),
Current edition approved April 10, 1999. Published June 1999. Originally
published as B8 – 15 T. Last previous edition B8 – 95. and
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.03. 3.1.11 Place of inspection (Section 15).

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 B 8 – 99
TABLE 1 Construction Requirements of Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors
Area of Size, Class AA Class A Class BA Class C Class D
Cross-Section American (or
cmil B & S) Wire Number of Diameter of Number of Diameter of Number of Diameter of Number of Diameter of Number of Diameter of
Gage Wires Wires, mils Wires Wires, mils Wires Wires, mils Wires Wires, mils Wires Wires, mils

*5 000 000 ... ... ... 169 172.0 217 151.8 271 135.8 271 135.8
4 500 000 ... ... ... 169 163.2 217 144.0 271 128.9 271 128.9
4 000 000 ... ... ... 169 153.8 217 135.8 271 121.5 271 121.5
3 500 000 ... ... ... 127 166.0 169 143.9 217 127.0 271 113.6
*3 000 000 ... ... ... 127 153.7 169 133.2 217 117.6 271 105.2
*2 500 000 ... ... ... 91 165.7 127 140.3 169 121.6 217 107.3
*2 000 000 ... ... ... 91 148.2 127 125.5 169 108.8 217 96.0
1 900 000 ... ... ... 91 144.5 127 122.3 169 106.0 217 93.6
1 800 000 ... ... ... 91 140.6 127 119.1 169 103.2 217 91.1
*1 750 000 ... ... ... 91 138.7 127 117.4 169 101.8 217 89.8
1 700 000 ... ... ... 91 136.7 127 115.7 169 100.3 217 88.5
1 600 000 ... ... ... 91 132.6 127 112.2 169 97.3 217 85.9
*1 500 000 ... ... ... 61 156.8 91 128.4 127 108.7 169 94.2
1 400 000 ... ... ... 61 151.5 91 124.0 127 105.0 169 91.0
1 300 000 ... ... ... 61 146.0 91 119.5 127 101.2 169 87.7
*1 250 000 ... ... ... 61 143.1 91 117.2 127 99.2 169 86.0
1 200 000 ... ... ... 61 140.3 91 114.8 127 97.2 169 84.3
1 100 000 ... ... ... 61 134.3 91 109.9 127 93.1 169 80.7
*1 000 000 ... 37 164.4 61 128.0 61 128.0 91 104.8 127 88.7
900 000 ... 37 156.0 61 121.5 61 121.5 91 99.4 127 84.2
*800 000 ... 37 147.0 61 114.5 61 114.5 91 93.8 127 79.4
*750 000 ... 37 142.4 61 110.9 61 110.9 91 90.8 127 76.8
*700 000 ... 37 137.5 61 107.1 61 107.1 91 87.7 127 74.2
650 000 ... 37 132.5 61 103.2 61 103.2 91 84.5 127 71.5
*600 000 ... 37 127.3 37 127.3 61 99.2 91 81.2 127 68.7
550 000 ... 37 121.9 37 121.9 61 95.0 91 77.7 127 65.8

iTeh Standards
*500 000 ... 19 162.2 37 116.2 37 116.2 61 90.5 91 74.1
450 000 ... 19 153.9 37 110.3 37 110.3 61 85.9 91 70.3
*400 000 ... 19 145.1 19 145.1 37 104.0 61 81.0 91 66.3
*350 000 ... 12 170.8 19 135.7 37 97.3 61 75.7 91 62.0
*300 000
*250 000
*211 600
...
...
0000
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12
12
7
158.1
144.3
173.9
19
19
7
125.7
114.7
173.9
37
37
19
90.0
82.2
105.5
61
61
37
70.1
64.0
75.6
91
91
61
57.4
52.4
58.9
*167 800
*133 100
*105 600
000
00
0
7
7
7
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154.8
137.9
122.8
7
7
7
154.8
137.9
122.8
19
19
19
94.0
83.7
74.5
37
37
37
67.3
60.0
53.4
61
61
61
52.4
46.7
41.6
*83 690 1 3B 167.0 7 109.3 19 66.4 37 47.6 61 37.0
*66 360 2 3B 148.7 7 97.4 7 97.4 19 59.1 37 42.4
*52 620 3 3B ASTM B8-99
132.5 7 86.7 7 86.7 19 52.6 37 37.7
*41 740 4 3B 118.0 7 77.2 7 77.2 19 46.9 37 33.6
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*33 090 5 ... ... ... ... 7 68.8 19 41.7 37 29.9
*26 240 6 ... ... ... ... 7 61.2 19 37.2 37 26.6
*20 820 7 ... ... ... ... 7 54.5 19 33.1 37 23.7
*16 510 8 ... ... ... ... 7 48.6 19 29.5 37 21.1
*13 090 9 ... ... ... ... 7 43.2 19 26.2 37 18.8
*10 380 10 ... ... ... ... 7 38.5 19 23.4 37 16.7
*6 530 12 ... ... ... ... 7 30.5 19 18.5 37 13.3
*4 110 14 ... ... ... ... 7 24.2 19 14.7 37 10.5
*2 580 16 ... ... ... ... 7 19.2 19 11.7 ... ...
*1 620 18 ... ... ... ... 7 15.2 19 9.2 ... ...
*1 020 20 ... ... ... ... 7 12.1 19 7.3 ... ...
*640 22 ... ... ... ... 7 9.6 19 5.8 ... ...
*404 24 ... ... ... ... 7 7.6 19 4.6 ... ...
* The sizes of conductors that have been marked with an asterisk provide for one or more schedules of preferred series, and are commonly used in the industry. The
sizes not marked are given simply as a matter of reference and it is suggested that their use be discouraged.
A
For unidirectional/unilay constructions the number of wires shown are minimum requirements.
B
Although Class AA conductors having three strands do not conform to the construction requirements of 1.1, they are listed in this table for convenience.

3.2 In addition, Supplementary Requirements shall apply composing hard-drawn or medium-harddrawn Class AA con-
only when specified by the purchaser in the inquiry, contract, or ductors of seven wires or less. In other conductors, welds and
purchase order for direct procurement by agencies of the U. S. brazes may be made in the finished individual wires composing
Government (S1, S2, and S3). the conductor, but shall not be closer together than prescribed
in Table 2.
4. Joints
4.1 Welds and brazes may be made in rods or in wires prior
to final drawing. Joints may not be made in the finished wires

2
 B 8 – 99
TABLE 2 Minimum Distance Between Joints in the Completed Conductor
Number of Wires in Hard or Medium-Hard Soft
Conductor Class AA Class A Class B Class C Class D All Classes
3 none permitted ... ... ... ... 1 ft
7 none permitted 50 ft 50 ft ... ... 1 ft
12 50 ft 50 ft ... ... ... 1 ft
19 50 ft 50 ft 50 ft 50 ft ... 1 ft
20 to 36 50 ft 50 ft 50 ft 50 ft ... 1 ft in a layerA
37 to 60 25 ft 25 ft 25 ft 25 ft 1 ft in a layerA
61 and over ... 5 ft 5 ft 5 ft 5 ft 1 ft in a layerA
A
Except as indicated, the limitations apply to closeness of joints throughout the completed conductor.

5. Lay stranded conductor consisting of 7 wires or more may be

5.1 For Class AA conductors composed of less than seven slightly compressed, thereby reducing the outside diameter of
wires, the preferred lay is 11 times the outside diameter of the the conductor to the nominal values shown in Table 3, provided
completed conductor, but shall be not less than 8 nor more than that the area of cross section after stranding is in accordance
14 times this diameter. with Section 11.
5.2 For Class AA conductors composed of seven wires or
more the preferred lay of a layer of wires is 13.5 times the 7. Physical and Electrical Tests of Conductors Stranded
outside diameter of that layer, but shall be not less than 10 nor of Soft Wires
more than 16 times this diameter. 7.1 Tests for the electrical properties of wires composing
5.3 For all other classes the lay of a layer of wires shall be conductors made from soft or annealed copper wire, bare or
not less than 8 nor more than 16 times the outside diameter of coated, shall be made before stranding.
that layer, except that for conductors composed of 37 wires or 7.2 Tests for the physical properties of soft or annealed
more, this requirement shall apply only to the two outer layers. copper wire, bare or coated, may be made upon the wires
iTeh Standards
The lay of the layers other than the two outer layers shall be at
the option of the manufacturer, unless otherwise agreed upon.
before stranding or upon wires removed from the complete
stranded conductor, but need not be made upon both. Care shall

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5.3.1 For conductors to be used in covered or insulated
wires or cables, the lay length shall be not less than 8 nor more
be taken to avoid mechanical injury to wire removed from the
conductor for the purpose of testing.
7.3 The physical properties of wire when tested before
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than 16 times the outer diameter of the finished conductor. For
conductors of 37 wires or more, this requirement shall apply to stranding shall conform to the applicable requirements of 13.2.
the wires in the outer two layers. The lay of the layers other 7.4 The physical properties of wires removed from the
than the two outer layers shall be at the option of the completed stranded conductor shall be permitted to vary from
manufacturer, unless otherwise agreed upon. ASTM B8-99
the applicable requirements of 13.2 by the following amounts
5.4 Other lays for special purposes shall be furnished by (Explanatory Note 2):
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7.4.1 Average of Results Obtained on All Wires Tested—The
special agreement between the manufacturer and the purchaser
(Explanatory Note 1). minimum elongation required shall be reduced in numerical
5.5 The direction of lay of the outer layer shall be left-hand, value 5 (for example, from 30 to 25 %) from the numerical
and for conductors having a nominal cross-sectional area larger requirements for the wire before stranding.
than No. 8 AWG, shall be reversed in successive layers, unless 7.4.2 Results Obtained on Individual Wires—The elonga-
otherwise specified by the purchaser. tion of individual wires shall be reduced in numerical value 15
5.5.1 For conductors to be used in covered or insulated from the minimum requirements before stranding (that is, 10 in
wires or cables, the direction of lay of the outer layer shall be addition to the 5 allowed in 7.4.1), but in no case shall the
left hand and may be reversed or unidirectional/unilay in elongation of any individual wire be less than 5 %.
successive layers, unless otherwise agreed upon. 7.5 In the event that the requirements prescribed in 7.4.2 are
met but those prescribed in 7.4.1 are not met, a retest shall be
6. Construction permitted wherein all wires of the conductor shall be tested for
6.1 The areas of cross section, numbers, and diameters of the purpose of final determination of conformance to 7.4.
wires in the various classes of concentric-lay-stranded conduc- 7.6 Elongation tests to determine compliance shall not be
tors shall conform to the requirements prescribed in Table 1 made on the conductor as a unit.
(Explanatory Note 2). 7.7 If a tinning, lead-coating, or lead-alloy-coating test is
6.2 The diameters of the wires listed in Table 1 are nominal. required, it shall be made on the wires prior to stranding.
Where “combination strand” is required in order to insulate the
conductor properly (strands in the outer layer having a larger 8. Physical and Electrical Tests of Conductors Stranded
diameter than those in the inner layers) the diameters shall be of Hard-Drawn or Medium-Hard-Drawn Wires
subject to a tolerance of 65 %, provided that the area of cross 8.1 Tests for the physical and electrical properties of wires
section after stranding is in accordance with Section 11. composing conductors made from hard-drawn or medium-
6.3 Where compressed stranding is required in order to hard-drawn wires, uncoated or coated, shall be made before but
insulate the conductor properly, one or more layers of any not after stranding.

3
 B 8 – 99
TABLE 3 Diameters, Areas, and Mass of Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper Conductors (Explanatory Note 8)

Nominal Conductor Diameter, in.A DC Resistance at

Mass
Concentric Strand 20°CB

Reverse
Unilay
Size of Conductor, cmil or AWG numbers Concentric Area, in.2
Com-
Compressed
Class AA Class A Class B pressedC lbs/1000 ft kg/km V/1000 ft V/km
Class B
Diameter,
Diameter,
in.
in.
*5 000 000 cmil ... 2.580 2.581 ... ... 3.927 15 890 23 649 0.00218 0.00715
4 500 000 cmil ... 2.448 2.448 ... ... 3.534 14 300 21 283 0.00242 0.00794
4 000 000 cmil ... 2.307 2.309 ... ... 3.142 12 590 18 738 0.00270 0.00886
3 500 000 cmil ... 2.158 2.159 ... ... 2.749 11 020 16 401 0.00308 0.0101
*3 000 000 cmil ... 1.998 1.998 ... ... 2.356 9 353 13 920 0.00356 0.0117
*2 500 000 cmil ... 1.823 1.824 ... ... 1.963 7 794 11 600 0.00428 0.0140
*2 000 000 cmil ... 1.630 1.632 1.583 1.533 1.571 6 175 9 190 0.00529 0.0174
1 900 000 cmil ... 1.590 1.590 1.542 1.494 1.492 5 866 8 730 0.00557 0.0183
1 800 000 cmil ... 1.547 1.548 1.502 1.454 1.414 5 558 8 272 0.00588 0.0193
*1 750 000 cmil ... 1.526 1.526 1.480 1.434 1.374 5 403 8 041 0.00604 0.0198
1 700 000 cmil ... 1.504 1.504 1.459 1.413 1.335 5 249 7 812 0.00622 0.0204
1 600 000 cmil ... 1.459 1.459 1.415 1.371 1.257 4 940 7 352 0.00661 0.0217
*1 500 000 cmil ... 1.411 1.412 1.370 1.327 1.178 4 631 6 892 0.00705 0.0231
1 400 000 cmil ... 1.364 1.364 1.323 1.282 1.100 4 323 6 435 0.00756 0.0248
1 300 000 cmil ... 1.314 1.315 1.275 1.236 1.021 4 014 5 974 0.00814 0.0267
*1 250 000 cmil ... 1.288 1.289 1.250 1.212 0.9817 3 859 5 743 0.00847 0.0278
1 200 000 cmil ... 1.263 1.263 1.225 1.187 0.9425 3 705 5 514 0.00882 0.0289
1 100 000 cmil ... 1.209 1.209 1.173 1.137 0.8639 3 396 5 054 0.00962 0.0316
*1 000 000 cmil 1.151 1.152 1.152 1.117 1.084 0.7854 3 088 4 596 0.0106 0.0348
900 000 cmil 1.092 1.094 1.094 1.060 1.028 0.7069 2 779 4 136 0.0118 0.0387
*800 000 cmil 1.029 1.031 1.031 1.000 0.969 0.6283 2 470 3 676 0.0132 0.0433
*750 000 cmil
*700 000 cmil
650 000 cmil
iTeh Standards
0.997
0.963
0.928
0.998
0.964
0.929
0.998
0.964
0.929
0.968
0.935
0.901
0.939
0.907
0.874
0.5890
0.5498
0.5105
2 316
2 161
2 007
3 447
3 216
2 987
0.0141
0.0151
0.0163
0.0462
0.0495
0.0535
*600 000 cmil
550 000 cmil
*500 000 cmil
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0.891
0.853
0.811
0.891
0.853
0.813
0.893
0.855
0.813
0.866
0.829
0.789
0.840
0.804
0.766
0.4712
0.4320
0.3927
1 883
1 698
1 544
2 758
2 527
2 298
0.0177
0.0192
0.0212
0.0581
0.0630
0.0695

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450 000 cmil 0.770 0.772 0.772 0.749 0.727 0.3534 1 389 2 067 0.0235 0.0771
*400 000 cmil 0.726 0.726 0.728 0.706 0.685 0.3142 1 235 1 838 0.0264 0.0866
*350 000 cmil 0.710 0.679 0.681 0.661 0.641 0.2749 1 081 1 609 0.0302 0.0991
*300 000 cmil 0.657 0.629 0.630 0.611 0.594 0.2356 926.3 1 378.6 0.0353 0.116
*250 000 cmil 0.600 0.574 0.575 0.558 0.542 0.1963 771.9 1 148.8 0.0423 0.139
* No. 0000
* No. 000
0.522
0.464
ASTM B8-99
0.522
0.464
0.528
0.470
0.512
0.456
0.498
0.443
0.1662
0.1318
653.1
518.1
972.0
771.1
0.0500
0.0630
0.164
0.207
* No. 00https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/939cbc40-3dd3-4680-b635-b11b2902858a/astm-b8-99
0.414 0.414 0.419 0.405 0.395 0.1045 410.9 611.5 0.795 0.261
* No. 0 0.368 0.368 0.373 0.362 0.352 0.08289 325.8 484.9 0.100 0.328
* No. 1, 3 wire 0.360 ... ... ... ... 0.06573 255.9 380.9 0.127 0.417
* No. 1 ... 0.328 0.332 0.322 0.313 0.06573 258.4 384.6 0.127 0.522
* No. 2, 3 wire 0.320 ... ... ... ... 0.05213 202.9 301.9 0.159 0.522
* No. 2 ... 0.292 0.292 0.283 ... 0.05213 204.9 304.9 0.159 0.659
* No. 3, 3 wire 0.285 ... ... ... ... 0.04134 160.9 239.5 0.201 0.659
* No. 3 ... 0.260 0.260 0.252 ... 0.04134 162.5 241.9 0.201 0.830
* No. 4, 3 wire 0.254 ... ... ... ... 0.03278 127.6 189.9 0.253 0.830
* No. 4 ... 0.232 0.232 0.225 ... 0.03278 128.9 191.8 0.253 1.05
* No. 5 ... ... 0.206 0.200 ... 0.02600 102.2 152.1 0.319 1.05
* No. 6 ... ... 0.184 0.178 ... 0.02062 81.05 120.63 0.403 1.32
* No. 7 ... ... 0.164 0.159 ... 0.01635 64.28 95.67 0.509 1.67
* No. 8 ... ... 0.146 0.142 ... 0.01297 50.97 75.86 0.640 2.10
* No. 9 ... ... 0.130 0.126 ... 0.01028 40.42 60.16 0.809 2.65
* No. 10 ... ... 0.116 0.113 ... 0.008155 32.06 47.72 1.02 3.35
* No. 12 ... ... 0.0915 0.089 ... 0.005129 20.16 30.00 1.63 5.35
* No. 14 ... ... 0.0726 0.071 ... 0.003225 12.68 18.87 2.58 8.46
* No. 16 ... ... 0.0576 ... ... 0.002028 7.974 11.868 4.10 13.4
* No. 18 ... ... 0.0456 ... ... 0.001276 5.015 7.464 6.54 21.4
* No. 20 ... ... 0.0363 ... ... 0.0008023 3.154 4.694 10.3 33.8
* No. 22 ... ... 0.0288 ... ... 0.0005067 1.992 2.965 16.4 53.8
* No. 24 ... ... 0.0228 ... ... 0.0003176 1.249 1.859 26.1 85.6
* The sizes of conductors which have been marked with a single asterisk provide for one or more schedules of preferred series, and are commonly used in the
industry. The sizes not marked are given simply as a matter of reference, and it is suggested that their use be discouraged.
A
To calculate the nominal diameters of Class C or Class D conductors or of any concentric-lay-stranded conductors made from round wires of uniform diameters,
multiply the diameter of an individual wire (as given in Table 1) by that one of the following factors which applies:
B
DC resistances apply to Class B, C, and D stranding. For other classes of stranding, refer to Test Method B 193.
C
For conductors manufactured for subsequent covering or insulating.
Number of Wires in Conductor Factor to Calculate Conductor Di-
ameter