Originally Posted by Wikipedia
Named cable types
Common types of general-purpose cables used by electricians are defined by national or international regulations or codes. Commonly-used types of power cables are often known by a "shorthand" name. For example, NEC type NM-B (Non-Metallic, variant B), often referred to as RomexTM (named by the Rome Wire Company, now a trademark of Southwire Company [1]), is a cable with a nonmetallic jacket. UF (underground feeder) is also nonmetallic but uses a moisture- and sunlight-resistant construction suitable for direct burial in the earth or where exposed to sunlight, or in wet, dry, or corrosive locations. Type AC is a fabricated assembly of insulated conductors in a flexible metallic armor, made by twisting an interlocking metal strip around the conductors. BX, an early genericized trademark of the General Electric company was used before and during World War II, designating a particular design of armored cable.
In Canada, type TECK cable, with a flexible aluminum or steel armor and overall flame-retardant PVC jacket, is used in industry for wet or dry locations, run in trays or attached to building structure, above grade or buried in earth. A similar type of cable is designated type MC in the United States.
Electrical power cables are often installed in raceways including electrical conduit, and cable trays, which may contain one or more conductors.
Mineral-insulated copper-clad cable (type MI) is a fire-resistant cable using magnesium oxide as an insulator. It is used in demanding applications such as fire alarms and oil refineries.
