According to NFPA 70 guidelines, how must direct buried cables be arranged?

• A. Arranged so as to prevent damage when the ground settles
• B. Arranged to maximize current carrying
• C. Arranged near water lines
• D. Arranged in a grid pattern

Answer: (A)

Direct buried cables must be arranged to withstand soil movement. Over time the ground can settle, shift, or frost-heave, which can stress or crush buried conductors if they’re laid in a way that concentrates those forces. The key idea is to plan the route and layout so that potential settlement doesn’t create sharp bends, tight points, or crush zones, and to provide appropriate protection such as adequate burial depth or conduit where movement is likely. This reduces the chance of insulation damage or conductor failure and keeps the installation durable and safe.

Other options miss the protection angle: maximizing current carrying is about electrical performance, not how the cable handles ground movement; placing cables near water lines introduces moisture and hazard concerns; and a grid pattern has no NEC requirement for protecting buried lines from settlement.