Codes & Standards

 

Essential to the work of the electrical contractor is knowledge of the National Electrical Code, the National Electrical Installation Standards and additional standards and codes administered by the National Fire Protection Association, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and others. Here is a list of all our articles on codes and standards listed chronologically by issue date. 

If you have a problem related to the National Electrical Code (NEC), are experiencing difficulty in understanding a Code requirement, or are wondering why or if such a requirement exists, ask Charlie, and he will let the Code decide. Questions can be sent to codefaqs@earthlink.net.

A lot has happened since 2002 when IEEE 1584–IEEE Guide for Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations was first published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

In the 2011 and previous editions of the National Electrical Code (NEC), installing low-voltage lighting in close proximity to the edge of a swimming pool was a Code violation, yet almost every backyard swimming pool with a landscaped yard has low-voltage lighting too close to the pool’s edge.

The overcurrent device rating is a key factor when determining the correct size conductor. Article 240 in the National Electrical Code (NEC) provides general requirements for overcurrent protection and overcurrent protective devices.

More on Codes & Standards

 
Classification of a Hazardous Location

The hazardous locations covered by Chapter 5 of the National Electrical Code (NEC) are classified in accordance with the properties of flammable liquids, gases, vapors, combustible dust, or ignitable fibers or flyings that may be present in the area where electrical equipment may be installed.

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Why Does the NEC Prohibit Overcurrent Device Installation in Clothes Closets?

February’s “Code Question of the Month” column addressed overcurrent device installation in clothes closets. The questions were: (1) May service equipment (overcurrent devices in a panelboard) be installed in a walk-in clothes closet?

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Motor Control Circuits: To Ground or Not to Ground?

Should motor control circuits be grounded? Here are some guidelines: If a motor control circuit is tapped from the motor circuit and does not leave the controller enclosure (the push buttons are in the cover), then it need not be grounded. [90-7 ¶ 2, 300-1(b), 450-1 Exc.No.2]

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Taming the Fire-Breathing Dragon

If you thought industry standards had pretty much solved the problem of electrical injuries and fatalities in the workplace, then you should know that is not the case.

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Installing Outlet Boxes with Lighting Fixtures

Call me old-fashioned, but I have long held the opinion that, in a dwelling unit, an outlet box must be installed wherever a lighting fixture is to be installed.

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