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 Safely Installing, Maintaining and Inspecting Cable Trays

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Safely Installing, Maintaining and Inspecting Cable

Trays

Safety and Health Information Bulletin

SHIB 01-16-2008

This Safety and Health Information Bulletin is not a standard or regulation, and it creates no new
legal obligations. The Bulletin is advisory in nature, informational in content, and is intended to assist
employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace. Pursuant to the Occupational Safety and
Health Act, employers must comply with hazard-specific safety and health standards and regulations
promulgated by OSHA or by a state with an OSHA-approved state plan. In addition, pursuant to
Section 5(a)(1), the General Duty Clause of the Act, employers must provide their employees with a
workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm.

Purpose
The purpose of this Safety and Health Information Bulletin is to:

 Review the proper methods for safely installing, maintaining and inspecting electrical cable trays;
 Provide information regarding the hazards of overloaded cable trays;
 Identify specific Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulatory requirements
and National Electrical Code® (NEC) guidance that address the proper installation and
maintenance of cable trays;
 Recognize electrical cable tray misuse that can lead to electric shock and arc-flash/blast events
and fires caused by overheating.

OSHA Regulations and Industry Consensus Standards that Apply to Cable

Trays
The use and installation of cable trays is covered by legally enforceable OSHA regulations in 29
CFR 1910.305(a)(3), or comparable standards promulgated by States operating OSHA-approved
State plans. In addition, this document contains several references to provisions of the National
Electric Code (NEC), which is published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The
2005 edition of NEC is listed as a reference in Appendix A - "Reference Documents" of OSHA
Subpart S, Electrical (1910.301 through 1910.399). While these references provide nonmandatory
information that can be helpful in understanding and complying with Subpart S, compliance with the
referenced provisions of the NEC is not required and is not a substitute for compliance with any
applicable OSHA standards.

Although the recently promulgated electrical standards for general industry at 29 CFR 1910 Subpart
S (72 FR 7136-7221, February 14, 2007) are based on the 2002 edition of the NEC, OSHA has not
conducted rulemaking to adopt all of the requirements of the NEC (or subsequent revisions) and,
therefore, cannot enforce those requirements. However, industry consensus standards such as the
NEC and others referenced throughout this Bulletin can be used by employers as guidance for
conducting hazard analyses and selecting effective control measures.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) also publishes three consensus
standards that apply to the proper manufacture and installation of cable trays: ANSI/NEMA-VE 1-
1998, Metal Cable Tray Systems; NEMA-VE 2-1996, Metal Cable Tray Installation Guidelines; and
NEMA-FG- 1998, Nonmetallic Cable Tray Systems.

Cable Trays
 Figure 1. Ladder cable tray, ventilated cable tray, solid-trough cable tray.

According to OSHA 1910.399, a cable tray system is "[a] unit or assembly of units or sections and
associated fittings forming a rigid structural system used to securely fasten or support cables and
raceways. Cable tray systems include ladders, troughs, channels, solid bottom trays, and other
similar structures." Cable trays are not raceways, but they are treated as a structural component of a
facility's electrical system. Cable trays are a part of a planned cable management system to support,
route, protect and provide a pathway for cable systems. Cable trays support cables across open
spans in the same way that roadway bridges support traffic.

Cable trays can provide a safe component of a power, low voltage control, data or
telecommunications wiring distribution system. Cables in trays can be easy to mark, find, and
remove. Their flexibility makes cable trays a good choice for installation situations that require
upgrading, reconfiguring, or relocation.

Cable trays are available in a number of different configurations, including ladder, ventilated trough,
ventilated channel, solid bottom, wire mesh, single rail and other configurations. They come in a
wide variety of shapes and sizes, with a host of hanging options that are able to meet almost any
installation need. Cable trays are manufactured of steel, stainless steel, aluminum and fiber
reinforced plastic (FRP). They also are available with special finishes including polyvinylchloride
(PVC) coated and galvanized finish. A significant portion of cable trays used in industry today are
aluminum. Aluminum, steel and coated-steel cable trays, all being metallic, may be used as
equipment grounding conductors in accordance with OSHA 1910.305(a)(3)(iii). This requirement is
mirrored by the guidance provided by NEC Section 392.3(C). Depending on the need, covers and
ventilated louvers or slats are available for all trays. Covers physically protect the cables as well as
shielding the cable jackets from the sun's ultraviolet radiation when used outdoors. Suitable guards
or covers must be installed to a minimum height of 2.5m (8 ft.) above grade such as where cable
trays are exposed to physical damage from vehicular traffic. Ventilated louvers also protect the
cables and facilitate cooling by allowing natural convection (heat dissipation) to occur.

Cable Tray Use

Cable trays can be used in a variety of settings. Cable trays can be rated for outdoors, indoors,
corrosive and classified hazardous locations, and areas with high electrical noise and vibration. As
with any electrical equipment, cable trays and the wiring contained in the trays must be listed,
labeled or otherwise approved, pursuant to the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.303(a). The National
Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Standard VE 1-2002 provides guidance for metal cable
trays and associated fittings designed for use in accordance with the rules of the NEC. NEMA
Standard VE 2- 2006 addresses shipping, handling, storing, and installing cable tray systems; it also
provides information on cable tray maintenance and system modification. Compliance with these
standards helps to ensure safe loading and the electrical continuity of cable tray systems.

Cable trays may be designed to cross through partitions and walls, as well as go vertically through
platforms and floors.

However, where cable trays (and the conductors and cables they contain) pass through fire-rated
partitions, walls and floors, appropriate fire-stops should be provided in accordance with NEC
Section 300.21 to prevent the spread of a fire or the byproducts of combustion. Typically, specific
building codes should be consulted and the design and oversight should be done by a qualified
engineer.

Use of cable trays is popular in hazardous locations where concentrations of flammable or

combustible gases, vapors and dusts exist. However, the improper use of cable trays in these
environments could result in an explosion. 29 CFR 1910.305(a)(3)(iv) requires that cable trays in
hazardous (classified) locations contain only the cable types permitted in such locations (see
1910.307 for details on hazardous (classified) locations). In addition, the NEC also contains specific
requirements for wiring in hazardous or classified environments. For example, NEC Section 392.3(D)
states that cable trays in hazardous locations should contain only the wiring permitted in specific
sections of Chapter 500 (Sections 501.10, 502.10, 503.10, 504.20 and 505.15).

Figure 2. Outdoor metal clad cable in cable tray.

Proper Loading of Cable Trays

Since cable trays come in a wide variety of sizes, they can be designed to accommodate a wide
range of loading configurations. Because of their flexibility, cable trays are especially subject to
overloading. Safe and permissible loading of cable trays is governed by three criteria: manufacturer-
specified weight restrictions; limitations of cable fill because of crosssectional area limitations; and
conductor spacing requirements. The appropriate size and number of cable trays for an installation
depends on the number and size of conductors included and the allowable fill area specified in the
guidance provided by the NEC. Because cable trays offer flexibility for expansion and changes,
engineers and designers should design and size cable tray systems to anticipate both current and
future needs.
Load and Support Requirements
29 CFR 1910.303(b)(8) requires the appropriate mounting and cooling of electrical equipment.
Additionally, guidance provided in NEC Section 392.6(C) states, in part, that cable trays should be
supported at intervals in accordance with the installation instructions. This straightforward approach
is corroborated in 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2), which states that "listed or labeled equipment shall be
used or installed in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling," and guidance
provided by NEC Section 110.3(B). The type and number of cable trays, and the support required to
handle loads must take into account several factors, including, but not limited to, environmental or
weather factors; the weight of the cable tray; current and future cable needs; electromagnetic forces;
and any accessories installed. Manufacturers of cable tray systems provide a wide range of parts
and typical support methods, as well as detailed installation guides and tables for appropriate
supports and support spacing for cable trays. However, engineering calculations are often required
to determine where to place supports so that the designed cable tray system provides the proper
strength.

Concurrently, NEC 392.6(J) permits cable tray systems to externally support raceways, cables and
boxes, and conduit bodies as covered by Section 314.1, provided that the cable tray is listed and
designed for the application. Support for the equipment also must be in accord with the appropriate
NEC article. This permission does not extend to other non-electrical equipment, such as water pipes,
sprinklers, and gas pipes. In addition, cable tray supports should also take into account dynamic
loads (e.g., loads caused by the motion of the cable tray system and its contents) and lateral
stressors. Cable tray systems need not be absolutely rigid; most systems are designed with about a
1/200 span deflection ratio (i.e., 1.2 inches in a 20-foot span) when fully loaded.

Wiring Fill and Spacing Requirements

Figure 3. Electrical wires in multiple cable trays.

In industrial establishments, where the conditions of maintenance and supervision assure that only
qualified persons will service the installation, OSHA 1910.305(a)(3)(ii) defines the wiring methods
that may be installed in cable trays. Cable tray fill is addressed in NEC Sections 392.8, 392.9,
392.10, and 392.12. The type of cable tray (e.g., solid, ventilated), ampacity (current-carrying limit)
requirements, and the type and voltage rating of cable used determines the allowable fill for each
cable tray. Ventilated cable trays provide for the greatest allowable fill due to increased airflow. A
generic guideline developed by the Cable Tray Institute indicates that cable trays should not be filled
in excess of 40-50% of the inside area of the tray or of the tray's maximum weight based on the
cable tray specifications. However, the NEC provides more detailed requirements for cable tray fill
(e.g., single conductors sized 1/0 through 4/0 used in ladder or ventilated cable trays must be
installed in a single layer and where multi-conductor cable is used 4/0 and larger conductors must be
installed in a single layer and the sum of the diameters of the cables must not exceed the width of
the cable tray). In making cable tray fill determinations, the best strategy is to review and follow the
requirements of the NEC and the manufacturer's installation guides to determine the appropriate fill
when installing cable in cable trays. The ampacity (current-carrying rating) for conductors and cables
in cable trays provided in NEC Sections 392.11 and 392.13 is based on compliance with the NEC
cable tray fill requirements.

Importance of Supports and Allowable Fill

Overfilling cable trays can lead to a number of serious hazards. The weight of the cables inside the
cable tray may pose a hazard. All cable trays and their associated supports are rated for a specific
maximum weight, based partly on the allowable fill area and the spacing of the cable tray supports.
Overloading cable trays can lead to a breakdown of the tray, its connecting points, and/or supports,
causing hazards to persons underneath the cable tray and even leading to possible electric shock
and arc-flash/blast events from component failure that occurs when the cables are suddenly no
longer supported. Paragraph (b)(1) of 29 CFR 1910.303 requires that equipment shall be free from
recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. Some of
the tests for suitability and use are mechanical strength and durability (1910.303(b)(1)(ii)), heating
effects under all conditions of use (1910.303(b)(1)(v)), and arcing effects (1910.303(b)(1)(vi)).

Paragraphs (b)(8)(ii) and (b)(8)(iii) of 29 CFR 1910.303 contain requirements for the cooling of
electrical equipment. Avoiding heat buildup is another important issue. The NEC requirements for
cable tray fill address heat build-up in conductors while current is flowing. When cable trays are
overloaded, excessive heat builds up in and around live conductors, which can cause the insulation
to break down and create potential shock hazards or fires. Fires can occur either in cable trays
(which may provide a fire path) or in combustible materials near cable trays. Furthermore, the
improper use of flexible cord within cable trays could lead to the spread of toxic vapors if a fire were
to occur.

Types of Conductors to Use

Any wiring method used in cable trays must be "acceptable" as defined in OSHA 1910.399. In other
words, the wiring method used must be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL)
as suitable for use in cable trays and in the environment in which it is installed. 29 CFR
1910.305(a)(3)(i) and NEC Table 392.3(A) provide corresponding lists of wiring methods permitted in
cable tray systems. Additionally, 29 CFR 1910.305(a)(3)(i)(b) and NEC Section 392.3(B) allow other
specific conductors in industrial establishments where maintenance and supervision assure that only
qualified persons will service the cable tray systems.

Mixing of cable types and voltages is permitted in cable trays provided that some specific
requirements are met. For example, NEC Section 392.6(F) permits cables rated to carry over 600V
to be installed with cables rated 600V or less, provided that the cable rated over 600V is Type MC,
or if a solid fixed barrier of material compatible with the cable tray is installed to separate the voltage
levels. Installing barriers between power and control cables is a recommended practice, regardless
of the ratings and voltages of the cables in question.

It is important to note that although NEC Table 392.3(A) states that "other factory-assembled,
multiconductor control, signal, or power cables that are specifically approved for installation in cable
trays" may be used in cable trays, flexible cords and cables are not approved for use in cable trays
(29 CFR 1910.305(g) - Flexible cords and cables, and NEC Article 400). There are several reasons
for this. First, both OSHA and the NEC prohibit the use of flexible cord as a replacement for the fixed
wiring of a building. Since wiring in cable trays is considered a fixed or permanent wiring method by
both OSHA and the NEC, flexible cords are prohibited from being used in cable trays (see NEC
Article 400.4 for a list of prohibited flexible cords). Secondly, flexible cord insulation can break down
and become brittle over time which can result in electrical shorts, shock hazards, and fires releasing
toxic smoke.

Additionally, flexible cords and cables might not be rigid enough to span the openings in ladder and
ventilated-type cable trays. Furthermore, the conductor insulation might not withstand the load of
stacked cables.

Securing Cables within Cable Trays

Figure 4. Cable ties.

There are many reasons for securing cables within cable trays. Securing cables will maintain proper
spacing between cables, keep cables in the trays, and confine the cables to specific locations within
trays. Those designing and installing the system must determine the distances between fastenings
in cable trays. While the weight of the cable itself keeps it in the tray in horizontal runs, the
recommended practice is to tie all cables down so that the cables are not knocked out or "whipped"
during abnormal or fault current conditions. When cables are not installed in horizontal runs,
guidance presented by NEC 392.8(B) indicates that said cables should be securely fastened to
transverse (crosswise) members. Smaller diameter cables might need to be lashed or tied to the
cable tray more frequently than the stiff large diameter cables to prevent them from hanging away
from the cable tray. Support is also required where cables are routed from one cable tray to another
or where cables enter raceways or other enclosures (see OSHA 1910.305(a)).
Certain cable installations, such as in higher ambient temperatures, might require the spacing
between adjacent cables to be increased to not less than one cable diameter between cables
pursuant to NEC Section 392.11. Generally, multiconductor cables do not need to be spaced.

Cable ties should be appropriate for the conditions in which they are used. Factors such as moisture
resistance, ultraviolet resistance, extremely high or low temperatures, chemical resistance,
flammability, lowsmoke characteristics, tensile strength, and length are important to consider. In all
cases, persons installing or inspecting cable tray installations should refer to the manufacturer's
instructions and specific NEC articles for the proper wiring support method to be used.

Proper Grounding and Bonding

Grounding and bonding help to prevent electrocutions and arcing by facilitating the operation of over
current devices and preventing exposed non-current-carrying metal parts and enclosures from being
energized. Proper grounding and bonding is done before the cable is installed and must be tested
before the cables are energized.

Grounding and bonding are often associated together, although, in reality, they represent two
different concepts. Bonding is the permanent joining of metallic parts to form an electrically
conductive path. Equipment grounding is the connection of noncurrent-carrying metal parts of
equipment, raceways, and other enclosures to the system's grounded conductor, the grounding
electrode conductor, or both, at the service equipment or at the source of a separately derived
system. Both grounding and bonding are done to ensure electrical continuity and also to assure the
capacity to safely conduct any current likely to be imposed upon those non-currentcarrying metal
parts, like cable trays.

Figure 5. Grounding and bonding hardware.

Metallic cable tray systems used to support electrical conductors must be grounded and electrically
continuous, and effectively bonded as required for conductor enclosures (specified by 29 CFR
1910.304(g)(5), 1910.304(g)(6) and mirrored by the guidance provided by NEC Section 250.96). If
the employer is following NEC guidelines, cable trays may be used as equipment grounding
conductors provided that continuous maintenance and supervision ensure that qualified persons will
service the installed cable tray system and that the provisions of NEC Section 392.7 are met (i.e.,
cable trays are marked for use as equipment grounding conductors and minimum cross-sectional
areas meet, and are marked as meeting, the requirements of Table 392.7(B)). If the cable tray
system does not meet the marking requirements of NEC Section 392.7, it also would not meet
OSHA's suitablilty requirement in 1910.303(b)(1). Therefore it cannot be used as the equipment
grounding conductor for branch or feeder circuits unless a single equipment grounding conductor is
installed in the tray and listed bonding connectors or jumpers are used to effectively bond the cable
tray sections together to ensure electrical continuity. Grounding of cable trays is so important that it
has become the industry practice to use grounding conductors in cable trays for added reliability,
regardless of how the tray is listed and marked. It is also recommended that cable trays be bonded
to building steel or earth every 60 feet in order to reduce noise in the system. Where a cable tray
includes only multiconductor cables, there is generally no need to use the tray as an equipment
grounding conductor because each multiconductor cable should have integral equipment grounding
conductor. Cable trays, however, should be bonded in accordance with NEC Section 250.96(A).
Bonding jumpers on cable trays are important to maintain the electrical continuity and the ability to
safely carry any fault current likely to be imposed (in accordance with NEC Section 250.96). As
cable trays are typically fastened using direct bolted connections, which provide bonding, bonding
jumpers are only required at adjustable splice plates, expansion plates and non-continuous sections
of trays. However, as with the use of equipment grounding conductors, industry practice is to use
bonding jumpers at all splice points to ensure continuity.

Required continuity applies to all enclosures and utilization equipment and to cable dropouts from
the tray system to enclosures. If channel dropouts or conduit-to-cable tray adapters listed for
grounding are not used, grounding and bonding must be provided by grounding conductors in the
cable or by bonding jumpers.

Recognizing Overloaded Trays

Recognizing overloaded cable trays is not difficult. If visual observation of the cable tray reveals that
the cable tray is nearly full or overflowing with cables, then the installation does not meet the
guidance provided by the NEC. Cable tray fill is addressed in the 2005 edition of NEC Sections
392.8, 392.9, 392.10, and 392.12. The number of single conductors or multiconductor cables that
are permitted in a cable tray as indicated by the NEC range from a single layer to a fill value that
might represent 50% of the cross-sectional area of the interior space within the cable tray. This is an
extreme limit and the cable tray will appear to be over half full due to voids between the cables or
conductors. Another consideration for cable tray fill is not to overload the cable tray or its support
system beyond their ratings.

In any case, the best strategy is to review and follow the rules set out in the NEC and the
manufacturer's installation guides when installing cables in cable trays.

Solutions for Overloaded Cable Trays

If cable trays are overloaded because of poor design and/or installation, the solution is to add
additional able trays in accordance with guidance provided by the NEC. Another effective strategy
for preventing overfill is to review and follow the manufacturer's installation guides when installing
cables in cable trays. However, one of the major causes of overloaded cable trays is abandoned
conductors and cables for circuits no longer in use, which often are not removed from the cable tray
when replacement or additional cables are added. The solution in this instance is to remove
abandoned cable when they are no longer necessary.

In fact, Section 590.3(D) and various sections in Chapter 8 of the NEC specifically indicate that
abandoned communication cable and temporary wiring installed within cable trays should be
removed upon the completion of projects.
 Figure 6. Overloaded Cable Tray.

Preventing Damage to Cables and Conductors

The cables and conductors approved for use in cable trays are required to be insulated. However,
while the insulation of the conductors does provide some protection, it is important to use measures
to prevent damage to the insulation when working around energized conductors or cables so as not
to damage the insulation. If the work the employee is performing, such as adding boxes or other
approved electrical equipment using screws or bolts, drilling into the cable tray, and pulling or
dragging cables or conductors across each other, could damage the insulation, then the wiring must
be de-energized when attaching boxes or other approved electrical equipment to cable trays. In
general, 29 CFR 1910.333(a)(1) requires that live parts to which an employee may be exposed shall
be deenergized before an employee works on or near them.

Conclusion
Cable trays can provide a safe component of a wiring distribution system. However, if not designed
and installed properly, wiring inside cable trays may pose hazards such as fire, electric shock and
arc-flash blast events. During the maintenance, installation and inspection of cable trays, the
following concerns should be taken into consideration.

 Cable trays, and the conductors and cable they contain, must be listed or labeled by a NRTL as
suitable in the environment in which they are installed.
 Where cable trays pass through fire-rated partitions, walls and floors, appropriate fire stops
should be provided in accordance with guidance provided by NEC Section 300.21 to prevent the
spread of a fire or the by-products of combustion.
 Cable trays in hazardous locations must only contain the wiring permitted in such locations.
 Cable trays must be properly supported in accordance with the installation instructions.
Overloading cable trays can lead to a breakdown of the tray, its connecting points and/or
supports, causing hazards to persons underneath the cable tray and even leading to possible
electric shock and arc-flash/blast events from component failure when the cables are suddenly
no longer supported.
 When cable trays are overfilled, excessive heat build-up in and around live conductors can
cause the insulation to break down, leading to potential shock hazards or fires.
 The fill values for cable trays specified in the 2005 NEC range from a single layer to roughly a
50% fill of the cross-sectional area of the cable tray.
 When cable trays are overfilled beyond the fill criteria established by the NEC, add another cable
tray system above, below, or next to the overfilled tray. Allow enough working space around the
added cable tray.
 Grounding of cable tray systems is essential for personal safety and protection against arcing
that can occur anywhere in the wiring system. Proper grounding must be done before cables are
installed and tested before cables are energized.
 Abandoned cables within cable trays should be removed.
 Work on cable tray installations may expose employees to live parts. According to 29 CFR
1910.333(a)(1) deenergization of live parts to which an employee may be exposed is required
before employees begin work on or near them.

Wireways Information
Show all Wireways Manufacturers

Wireways are designed to protect cables from environmental contaminants such as dust, dirt, oil, and
moisture. Wireways—sometimes known as "troughs" or "gutters" within the electrical contracting field—
are commonly used to control wiring in environments where contaminants may cause problems.
Depending on the product type, they can be mounted to walls or ceilings, secured under flooring, or laid
out in a hybrid design in unique cable management systems.
A wireway is typically produced as a metallic or non-metallic trough with hinged or removable covers, so
that the cables contained are well-protected but still accessible. The high cost of manufacturing and
installing wireways limits their use to small sections of cable management systems, while most systems
primarily consist of cable trays, conduit, and other types of raceway. When connected, wireways must be
reinforced using special fittings and gaskets between sections.
The layout of a cable management system, consisting of various connected wireway shapes, is shown
below.
Types

Wireways are produced in three different forms, as shown in the table below.

Type Description Image

One side of trough opens via hinges; wires may be laid in

Lay-in
instead of pulled through.

Pull- Wires or cables must be strung through trough; may still

through have a hinged lid to allow cable access.

Cable
Simple trough with no cover.
trough

Standards and Applications

Because they are frequently used in hazardous environments, the use of wireways is governed by
several important standards and approval ratings. These ratings help determine a wireway's
appropriateness for a specific application or environment.

UL 870

The Underwriters Laboratories UL 870 standard includes guidelines for safe use of wireways, including
recommended maximum conductor sizes and number of conductors for particular wireway sizes. The
table below is based on UL 870 Table 7.1 and describes the maximum allowable cable size for some
common wireway sizes.
Note that the UL 870 table specifies cable diameter in both American wire gauge (AWG) and circular mil
(kcmil). Smaller AWG values indicate larger cables and vice versa, while circular mil is typically used for
cables larger than AWG 4/0.

Wireway Size (inches) Maximum Cable Size

2.5 x 2.5 AWG 2

3x3 AWG 1

4x4 AWG 4/0

4x6 AWG 4/0

6x6 500 kcmil

12 x 6 500 kcmil

8x8 900 kcmil

10 x 10 1250 kcmil

12 x 12 2000 kcmil

NEMA

Many covered wireways, as well as most enclosures, are often provided with a NEMA type, which is
standardized by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association NEMA ICS 6 standard. NEMA types
are numerical values (sometimes qualified by a letter) which describe an enclosure's ability to protect
contents against various types of environmental hazard. The table below shows common NEMA types
along with the hazards they are designed to withstand. (The 'N' in the 'Chemicals' column indicates that
NEMA 5 and 12 enclosures are only effective against noncorrosive chemicals.)

Rati Indo Outdo Rain/Wa Du Ic Di Submers Chemic

ng or or ter st e rt ion als

1 x x

2 x x x

3 x x x x

4X x x x x x x

5 x x x N

6 x x x x x

12 x x x N

13 x x x x

Additional Standards

Additional standards pertaining to wireways are listed below.

NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code (2013)
CSA C22.2 No. 26 - Construction and test of wireways, auxiliary gutters, and associated fittings

References
Cooper Industries - Wireway Selection (pdf)
NEMA Website
Steven Engineering / Square D - Wireways (pdf; includes sections from 1993 NEC for reference)

Image credits:

Hoffman | Legrand | Hoffman | Enduro | Hoffman | HP