A closer look at Copperweld® CCA Building Wire for

Electrical Inspectors, Combination Inspectors and Building Code Officials

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Safety is our standard

As codes evolve and Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA) adoption continues, AHJs and inspectors are seeking clear, science-based guidance to evaluate CCA consistently and confidently.

Copperweld Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA) Building Wire is built on a long-standing foundation of safety, innovation, and code compliance, ensuring quality and reliability through state-of-the-art manufacturing, continuous research, and extensive third-party testing.

As the global leader in bimetallic conductor technology, Copperweld brings more than a century of metallurgical expertise — delivering building wire solutions designed for consistency, reliability, and confidence in inspection.

Strengthen Your CCA Expertise

Copperweld offers a CCA-focused Continuing Education (CE) training program that equips teams for confident inspections in the field.

Earn ICC CEUs with Copperweld’s CCA training course:

NEC requirements, history, and code recognition

Knowledge that brings installation and inspection clarity

Performance and safety testing across conductor types

The science behind CCA and its metallurgical bond

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A Legacy of Safe, Code-compliant Performance

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Code Compliant
CCA was first referenced by the NEC in 1971 following UL fact-finding studies.
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NRTL Listed
Listed by Underwriter's Laboratories and Intertek
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History of Performance
CCA has more than half a century of proven performance with standard circuit components

CCA Building Wire Quick Facts

  1. Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA) conductors and cables have been referenced by the NEC since the 1971 edition.
  2. CCA is a bimetallic conductor made by metallurgically bonding an 8000-series aluminum alloy core to high-conductivity, oxygen-free copper cladding.
  3. Because CCA is a manufactured material, both the NEC and UL standards regulate its specification, performance, and installation.
  4. By mass, CCA is approximately 27% copper and 73% aluminum.
  5. NEC-listed CCA building wire must comply with UL 1581. Copperweld currently holds the only UL listing for CCA building wire material.
  6. The NEC defines CCA as conductors drawn from a copper-clad aluminum rod with the copper metallurgically bonded to an aluminum core.
  7. Of the three NEC-permitted conductor materials, CCA has the lowest AC impedance when installed per NEC Table 310.16 (upsized relative to copper), resulting in lower voltage drop compared to copper or aluminum conductors.
  8. Unlike aluminum, CCA’s surface oxide layer is highly conductive. Its oxygen-free copper exterior allows it to terminate similarly to copper. CCA has historically been used with Cu-rated connectors and devices, but look for the new "CC" rating for easy identification of connectors and devices that have been certified for use with CCA.
  9. Per the NEC, CCA is permitted in NM cable, Metal-Clad Cable, tray cable, PV cable, UF cable, conduit wiring methods, and other recognized wiring methods.
  10. The 2026 NEC permits 14 AWG CCA conductors for dedicated 10-amp branch circuits in approved wiring methods, subject to applicable installation requirements.

Copperweld Building Wire Products

Standards, Listing and Compliance

NM-B Cable

600V | Premium Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA) Building Wire

Standards:

UL 83, UL 719, UL 1581, UL 2556; ASTM-B-566

Listing:

UL: E538020, E510284, E492024; ETL: 5021266; RoHS Compliant, REACH Compliant

Applications:

Refer to Article 334 of the NEC

Metal-Clad Cable

600V | Copperweld Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA) Building Wire

Standards:

UL 83, UL 1569, UL 1581, UL 2556, NFPA 70 (NEC®), ASTM B566

Listing:

UL: E510284, E523379, E538020; ETL: 5021266; RoHS Compliant; REACH Compliant

Applications:

Refer to Article 330 of the NEC

Metal-Clad PCS Cable

600V | Metal-Clad Cable with Power and Control/Signal Element

Standards:

UL 66, UL 83, UL 1569, UL 1581, UL 2556, ASTM B566

Listing:

UL: E523379, E510284 and E538020; RoHS Compliant; REACH Compliant

Applications:

Refer to Article 330 and 725 of the NEC. For applications suited for cables with LV power with control/signal/lighting conductors. Power and/or lighting circuits, as well as signal and/or control circuits, meet the requirementsof NEC Section 725.

Metal-Clad HCF Cable

600V | Metal-Clad Cable for Healthcare Facilities

Standards:

UL 83, UL 1569, UL 1581, UL 2556, ASTM B566, ASTM B800

Listing:

UL: E510284, E523379, E538020; RoHS Compliant; REACH Compliant

Applications:

Refer to Article 330 and 517 of the NEC. Suitable for use in “Patient Care” areas of hospitals and health care facilities.

Metal-Clad HCPCS Cable

600V | Metal-Clad Cable for Healthcare Facilities with Power and Control/Signal Element

Standards:

UL 66, UL 83, UL 1569, UL 1581, UL 2556, ASTM B566, ASTM B800

Listing:

UL: E510284, E523379, and E538020; RoHS Compliant; REACH Compliant

Applications:

Refer to Article 330 and 517 of the NEC. Suitable for use in “Patient Care” areas of hospitals and health care facilities. Power and/or lighting circuits, as well as signal and/or control circuits, meet the requirements of NEC Section 725.136.

Metal-Clad AGP Cable

600V | Metal-Clad Cable with Armor as a Component of the Ground Path

Standards:

UL 83, UL 1569, UL 1581, UL 2556, ASTM B566, ASTM B800

Listing:

UL: E510284, E523379, and E538020; RoHS Compliant; REACH Compliant

Applications:

Refer to Article 250.118 of the NEC for installations where armor is allowed as a component of the ground path.

THHN/THWN-2

600V | Copperweld Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA) Building Wire

Standards:

UL-83, UL-1581, ASTM B566

Listing:

UL: E510284 and E538020; ETL: 5021266; RoHS Compliant, REACH Compliant

Applications:

Refer to Article 310 of the NEC.

XHHW-2 Cable

600V / 1000V | Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA) Building Wire

Standards:

UL 44, UL 1581, ASTM B566

Listing:

UL: E483554, E538020

Applications:

Refer to Article 310 of the NEC.

UF-B Cable

600V | Copperweld Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA) Building Wire

Standards:

UL-83, UL-493, UL-1581, UL-2556, ASTM-B-566

Listing:

UL: E539738, E538020, E510284; ETL: 5021266; RoHS Compliant; REACH Compliant

Applications:

Refer to Article 340 of the NEC.

Thermostat & HVAC Cable

600V | Copperweld Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA) Building Wire

Standards:

UL-13, ASTM-B-566

Listing:

ETL: 5021266; RoHS Compliant; REACH Compliant

Applications:

Refer to Article 340 of the NEC.

Bell Wire

600V | Copperweld Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA) Building Wire

Standards:

UL-13, ASTM-B-566

Listing:

ETL: 5021266; RoHS Compliant; REACH Compliant

Applications:

Refer to Article 340 of the NEC.

Twist-on Splice Connectors

600V | Pressure Type for Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA)

Standards:

Certified in UL 486C; Conforms to CSA STD C22.2# 188

Listing:

UL: E546947 (CWLD13, CWLD99); ETL: 5027144 (CWLD12, CWLD13, CWLD17)

Applications:

Listed for use as a pressure-type wire connector on the following solid and/or stranded: Copper (CU) to Copper (CU) or Copper-Clad Aluminum (CC) to Copper-Clad Aluminum (CC) or Copper (CU) to Copper-Clad Aluminum (CC).

Push-in Splice Connectors

600V | Spring-action Clamp Type for Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA)

Standards:

Listed to UL STD 486C; Certified by UL to CSA STD C22.2 #188 for Cu to Cu

Listing:

UL: E546947

Applications:

Listed for use as a spring-action clamp type wire connector on the following solid and/or stranded: Copper (CU) to Copper (CU) or Copper-Clad Aluminum (CC) to Copper-Clad Aluminum (CC) or Copper (CU) to Copper-Clad Aluminum (CC).

Building Wire Resources

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