Re: Cable Terminals, Cable Terminal Boxes or Housings or Electric Meter Sockets, or Cable Terminal or Junction Blocks

Transcription

1 Re: Cable Terminals, Cable Terminal Boxes or Housings or Electric Meter Sockets, or Cable Terminal or Junction Blocks Staff Contact: William F. Mascaro Telephone (703) Proponent: Commodity Classification Standards Board Present Classification Provisions Item Description Class ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT GROUP: subject to item Cable Terminals, NOI, see Notes, items and 61263; Cable Terminal Boxes or Housings or Electric Meter Sockets, steel or aluminum, with or without interior fittings or with or without clamps; or Cable Terminal or Junction Blocks, NOI; in boxes or Packages 1241 or NOTE Also applies on cable terminals and lead covered or armored lead covered copper cable combined when shipped on reels NOTE Also applies on terminals joined by a web of metal forming continuous strips to permit automatic machine assembly NOTE Applies only on articles named when without electrical equipment such as switches or receptacles * Switch Boxes or Electrical Enclosures, NOI, with or without covers, with or without cable terminals or fuse blocks or other fittings, but without fuses; Conduit Outlet Boxes or Junction Boxes or Cabinets, with or without fittings, see Note, item 62682; or Outlet Box Covers, other than outlet box plates; see Note, item 63162, in boxes, see Note, item 63161, subject to Items 170 and 171 and having a density in pounds per cubic foot of: Sub 1 Less than Sub 2 1 but less than Sub 3 2 but less than Sub 4 4 but less than Sub 5 6 but less than Sub 6 8 but less than Sub 7 10 but less than Sub 8 12 but less than Sub 9 15 but less than Sub but less than Sub or greater NOTE Aluminum railway switch or junction boxes exceeding 140 pounds may be shipped on skids. *Published in Supplement 2 to NMF 100-AL, issued on June 21, 2012 with an effective date of July 21, National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. Subject 6, Page 1 of 8

2 Present Classification Provisions Concluded Item Description Class NOTE Provisions do not apply on plastic underground utility service boxes or enclosures such as pedestal housings, sectionalizing cabinets or substation covers intended for outdoor use. For provisions applicable on these commodities, see item 50808, Boxes or Enclosures, underground utility service, plastic. Proposed Classification Provisions Item Description Class ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT GROUP: subject to item Cable Terminals, NOI, see Notes, items and 61263; Cable Terminal Boxes or Housings or Electric Meter Sockets, steel or aluminum, with or without interior fittings or with or without clamps; or Cable Terminal or Junction Blocks, NOI; etc... Cancel; see item NOTE Cancel; no further application NOTE Cancel; see item NEW NOTE No Change Switch Boxes, Electrical Enclosures or Electrical Wiring Equipment, viz.: Electric Meter Sockets; Electrical Enclosures, NOI; Junction Boxes or Cabinets; Outlet Box Covers, other than outlet box plates; Outlet Boxes; Switch Boxes, NOI; Terminal Boxes or Housings; Terminal or Junction Blocks; Terminals, electrical cable or wiring, NOI, including Connectors or Butt Splices, see Note, item NEW; With or without fittings, see Note, item 63162, in boxes, see Note, item 63161, subject to Items 170 and 171 and having a density in pounds per cubic foot of: Sub 1 Less than Sub 2 1 but less than Sub 3 2 but less than Sub 4 4 but less than Sub 5 6 but less than Sub 6 8 but less than Sub 7 10 but less than Sub 8 12 but less than Sub 9 15 but less than Sub but less than Sub or greater Subject 6, Page 2 of National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.

3 Proposed Classification Provisions Concluded Item Description Class NOTE The following departures from packing requirements are permitted: 1. Terminals, terminal boxes or housings, electric meter sockets, or terminal or junction blocks may be shipped in Packages 1241 or Aluminum railway switch or junction boxes exceeding 140 pounds may be shipped on skids NOTE No Change. NEW NOTE Also applies on terminals joined by a web of metal forming continuous strips to permit automatic machine assembly. Analysis Research Project 1132 This proposal is based on information developed through Research Project 1132, which was initiated in July, 2011 to investigate the transportation characteristics of electrical cable or wire terminals, butt splices or connectors, as classified in item Additionally, given that item also applies on cable terminal boxes or housings, electric meter sockets, and cable terminal or junction blocks, these articles have been included in this proposal. As part of the research, 299 potential shippers and 20 trade associations were contacted in September, 2011, and for those that did not respond, again in December, 2011, inviting them to participate. From this sampling, 25 of the shipper surveys were returned as undeliverable, 20 companies responded that they did not ship the involved articles, and 16 companies provided at least some information. Not all of the information was usable, however. With respect to the associations, one survey was returned as undeliverable, two associations responded that they did not represent shippers of the involved articles, and one association refused delivery of the survey. One association did respond, and they indicated that they would forward the survey to their membership. History of Provisions The basic provisions of item for cable terminals or cable terminal boxes were adopted from the rail classification in The reference to cable terminal or junction blocks was added as a result of action taken on Docket 53, Subject 50 (January 1952) and first appeared in Supplement 4 to NMFC A-1, effective October 1, The reference to electric meter sockets was added as a result of action taken on Docket 69, Subject 75 (June 1955) and first appeared in Supplement 14 to NMFC A-2, effective October 18, There have been no additional substantive changes to item since that time National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. Subject 6, Page 3 of 8

4 About Cable Terminals, Cable Terminal Boxes or Housings, Electric Meter Sockets, or Cable Terminal or Junction Blocks Item applies on several different, but related, articles including cable terminals, cable terminal boxes or housings, electric meter sockets, and cable terminal or junction blocks. While the articles named in item are related and will generally serve as a device for terminating one end of a cable or wire while allowing connection to another cable or wire or electrical device, they are manufactured in a multitude of different shapes and configurations to address specific needs. They are also made from different materials including brass, copper, steel, aluminum and plastic, or any combination of materials, again, to address a specific need or application. (The provisions for cable terminal boxes or housings or electric meter sockets in item are restricted to steel or aluminum construction.) Articles moving under item are also similar to other types of electrical wiring equipment, such as switch boxes and junction boxes, as named in item Item applies on Switch Boxes or Electrical Enclosures, NOI, with or without covers, with or without cable terminals or fuse blocks or other fittings, but without fuses; Conduit Outlet Boxes or Junction Boxes or Cabinets, with or without fittings; or Outlet Box Covers, other than outlet box plates. As noted in item 63160, the reference to switch boxes or electrical enclosures allows for the inclusion of cable terminals or other fittings. This may result in interpretive difficulties with item and the reference to cable terminal boxes or housings. The following pictures depict examples of the involved articles. Cable Terminals Subject 6, Page 4 of National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.

5 Cable Terminal Boxes or Housings Cable Terminal or Junction Blocks Electric Meter Sockets 2012 National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. Subject 6, Page 5 of 8

6 % of Figures in Interval CCSB DOCKET Transportation Characteristics Density The information of record encompasses 16,057 density observations from a variety of sources, including shipper- and carrier-supplied data, CCSB dock surveys, and the CCSB s Density Study 1. The densities range from 2.31 to pcf, with a simple average density of pcf. A frequency distribution of the overall density range is provided below. Frequency Distribution 20% 15% 12% 15% 17% 15% 14% 14% 10% 5% 0% 0% 4% 5% 5% 0% Density Intervals (pcf) As shown in the distribution, the density figures are distributed throughout the range, and approximately 13% of the figures exceed 20 pcf. Handling The information of record indicates that the involved articles are generally tendered for shipment in fiberboard boxes of a regular size and shape that may be palletized. No unusual or significant negative handling considerations have been identified. Stowability As with handling, no unusual or significant negative stowability considerations are noted. The packages will generally provide a flat load-bearing surface for other freight and should not present any difficulties when structuring the load. Liability There is no indication of any unusual or significant liability considerations. None of the responding shippers provided any information on the value of these articles; however, there is also no evidence of a claims problem. 1 The Density Study is part of an ongoing effort by the CCSB to collect information on actual shipments; it is not tied to any particular research project, nor does it target any particular product category. Carriers that choose to participate in the study periodically submit shipment data captured through their respective freight auditing programs. The data is identified by NMFC item, and only verifiable data points, which include the weight and the dimensions and/or cube of the shipping unit involved, are used. Subject 6, Page 6 of National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.

7 Relationship to CCSB Policies and Guidelines CCSB policy calls for provisions to reflect a commodity s known transportation characteristics. Information of record indicates that cable terminals and other articles moving under the provisions of item range in density from 2.31 to pcf, with a simple average density of pcf, and no unusual or significant negative handling, stowability or liability considerations. CCSB guidelines for the currently applicable class 77.5 call for a minimum average density of 13.5 pcf. CCSB policy further provides that commodities exhibiting a wide density range not accurately reflected by a single overall average density may be assigned density-based classes; especially where there are no unusual or significant stowability, handling or liability characteristics and where there is no other feasible means of effectively narrowing the range. And where densities are distributed throughout the range, commodities may be assigned classes predicated on a full density scale. In this regard, CCSB policy provides that when a substantial percentage of the densities involved exceed 20 pounds per cubic foot, the density scale should incorporate the alternative standard progression of 11 subprovisions. CCSB policy also calls for provisions to be as clear as possible to help mitigate the potential for interpretation disputes. As detailed in this proposal, the current provisions for cable terminals, cable terminal boxes or housings, electric meter sockets, and cable terminal or junction blocks are also the source, or potential source, of interpretation disputes. Such disputes may arise from the fact that articles moving under item are similar to other types of electrical wiring equipment, such as switch boxes and junction boxes, which are named in item As noted previously, the reference to switch boxes or electrical enclosures in item allows for the inclusion of cable terminals or other fittings. This may result in interpretive difficulties with item and the reference to cable terminal boxes or housings. Cancelling the provisions of item with reference to item 63160, which provides the CCSB s standard 11-subprovision density scale 2, is consistent with the aforementioned policies. It is also consistent with precedent established by the Surface Transportation Board, which has stated that density is usually the most important transportation characteristic, and that densitybased classes are desirable for products which pose no significant stowability or handling problems and where there are wide variations in density. There is also considerable CCSB precedent in support of this proposal. A recent example may be found in Docket , Subject 4 (January 2012), which was a proposal to cancel various individual items for sinks or lavatories with reference to item for Plumbers Goods, which provides the standard 11-subprovision density progression, while concurrently amending item to name sinks and lavatories. In this regard, CCSB policy further calls for providing uniformity in provisions addressing the same or similar circumstances. In keeping with this policy, and to promote clarification, this proposal would amend the description of item to provide a viz. format, thereby listing the various articles named within the item in an easy-to-read manner. Note, item would be amended to maintain the currently applicable packaging specifications, while Note, item 2 The CCSB s standard 11-subprovision density scale includes reference to Item (Rule) 170, the inadvertence clause, and Item (Rule) 171, the bumping privilege National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. Subject 6, Page 7 of 8

8 61262 would be canceled as having no further application, and Note, item would be canceled and concurrently reestablished. Based on the information of record, this proposal, as docketed, is in keeping with CCSB policy and precedent. Subject 6, Page 8 of National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.