Fifty years ago, wheels were set in motion that would dramatically improve electrical safety. In 1976, NFPA’s Committee on Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces was created. It would ultimately lead to the development of NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace.

Five decades later, NFPA 70E has become the preeminent standard for electrical safety practices and continues to improve with every revision cycle. The 14th edition will be out in 2027. 

Although it originated as a U.S. consensus standard, it is routinely used as a model for electrical safety programs around the world, which explains my frequent international travels.

In some countries, I am asked why they rely on NFPA 70E if it is considered an American standard. My response is simple: I wasn’t aware that electricity—or electrical hazards—behave differently outside the United States.

I will cover the changes in the 2027 edition in four parts. Each one provides an overview of the more significant changes, with many paraphrased for brevity. Since the standard has not been published as of this writing, readers should always refer to the final approved version once it is available. 

NEC Style Manual

The NEC Style Manual establishes the required editorial style arrangement to make standards as clear, usable and unambiguous as possible. 

A significant number of revisions to the 2027 edition were to comply with the style manual and are considered editorial in nature—aligning with style requirements, restructuring text or refining language. Unless these revisions involve substantive technical changes, additions or deletions, I will not specifically address them in this series. Several common style manual issues were addressed in the 2027 edition.

Parenthetical expressions: The NEC Style Manual defines sentence structure requirements. One requirement is to avoid using parenthetical text within mandatory requirements, since this can create confusion. 

An example: “This section applies to test instruments and cord sets (extension cords).”

“Extension cords” in parentheses was removed from the mandatory requirement and relocated to an informational note: “Cord sets are sometimes referred to as ‘extension cords.’” 

Multiple requirements in one subdivision: Multiple requirements within a single subdivision shall be avoided. Such instances shall be separated into subdivisions or lists to express independent requirements and to improve clarity and enforceability.

An example is 110.7(A), Handling and Storage. Two requirements regarding handling of portable equipment and flexible cords were previously listed together in 110.7(A). They are now located in two separate subdivisions: 110.7(A)(1), Portable Equipment and 110.7(A)(2), Flexible Cords.

Unenforceable terms: Unenforceable or vague terms such as “appropriate,” “infeasible” or “satisfactory” shall not be used. 

Example: “conform to appropriate standards” was revised to “conform to applicable standards.”

These changes do not alter the technical intent, but serve to improve the precision and enforceability of the standard.

Article 90, Introduction 

90.3(A), Workplaces Covered, (A)(3): “Installations used by the communications utility, such as … that are not an integral part of communications equipment associated with the network infrastructure.” This new addition expands the scope of what is covered to include equipment owned by a communication utility but not associated with the network infrastructure.

Article 105, Employer and Employee Responsibilities 

105.1, Scope: This was revised to more accurately reflect the content of the article with the addition of the text “employer and employee responsibilities.”

105.2, Purpose: This section was deleted. 

105.3(A), Employer Responsibility: List item 2 now states: “provide and document,” which adds “document” and correlates with similar documentation requirements in the standard about training. 

105.5, Organization: The word “document” is changed to “standard” to correlate with the same term used in the first sentence. Article 105 covers employer and employee responsibilities, so this text is used to correlate with the other sections of this standard.

Article 110, General Requirements for Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices

110.2, Electrically Safe Work Condition, (B) When Required: New text, “… greater than 50 volts or where an electrical hazard exists … ,” addresses electrical hazards that might exist below 50V.

110.3, Electrical Safety Program, (C) Condition of Maintenance: A new informational note was added that refers to Informative Annex S for guidance on assessing the condition of maintenance. Annex S references NFPA 70B, Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance.

(I)(1) Job Safety Planning: A New Informational Note No. 2 was added to provide guidance regarding information that would typically be included in an emergency response plan, including the planned response to unintentional de-energization. 

(L)(2) Work Practices Audit: The title was changed from “Field Work Audit,” and the three requirements are now located in new list items (a) through (c).

(L)(2)(a): “Employee work practices shall be audited … in the procedures of the employer’s electrical safety program.” 

“Field work practices” was changed to “employee work practices” and the word “employer’s” was added to electrical safety program to clarify the auditing is for employee compliance with the employer’s electrical safety program. 

110.3(L)(3): The lockout/tagout program and procedures in 110.3(L)(3) were separated into two subdivisions: (L)(3) Lockout/Tagout Program Audit and (L)(4) Lockout/Tagout Procedure Audit. This differentiates between program and procedures, and each has a separate audit interval. 

(L)(3) Lockout/Tagout Program Audit: “Audit intervals for the LOTO program shall not exceed 3 years.” This was previously 1 year when grouped with LOTO procedures audit. 

(L)(4) Lockout/Tagout Procedure Audit: “Audit intervals for the LOTO procedures shall not exceed 1 year.” 

110.4, Training Requirements, (A)(1) Qualified Person (b): “A person shall be permitted to be considered qualified with respect to certain equipment and tasks but unqualified for others.” 

This revised language clarifies and restores the concept from the 2021 and earlier editions that a person might be qualified for some tasks but not others.

110.6, Test Instruments and Equipment, (D) Visual Inspection and Repair: “Portable test instruments and portable test equipment shall be inspected and repairs as follows: 

“(1) Portable test instruments and portable equipment shall be visually inspected for defects and damage.

“(2) If there is a defect or damage that might expose an employee to injury, remove from service until repairs and tests render equipment safe.”

This revision clarifies equipment is “portable” and moves the requirements to a list separating visual inspection requirements and repair requirements.

110.7, Portable Cord-and-Plug-­Connected Electric Equipment, (D) Conductive or Wet Work Locations: The text “cord sets” was added to clarify that 110.7(D) also applies to cord sets. The GFCI requirements were relocated to 110.8, Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter (GFCI) Protection to consolidate it with other GFCI requirements. 

Article 120, Establishing an Electrically Safe Work Condition

Many of the revisions to Article 120 addressed multiple requirements in one subdivision. Only major technical changes are included here.

120.2 Lockout/Tagout Program, (A) General: “Each employer shall establish, document, and implement a lockout/tagout program that complies with the following.” 

The text “complies with the following” was added and the requirements were moved to new separate subdivisions (1) and (2).

120.3, Lockout/Tagout Principles, (C) Control of Energy: “All sources of electrical energy shall be controlled in such a way as to eliminate or minimize employee exposure to electrical hazards.” 

The word “eliminate” was added to align with the requirements of establishing an electrically safe work condition.

(E) Control Devices: This was divided into two subdivisions, with new (E) Circuit Disconnecting Means and (F) Control Devices. 

120.4(D), Tagout Device:Item (D)(3) was revised so each requirement is a separate list item. 

New list item (D)(3)(b) text “and equal to an all-environmental tolerant nylon cable tie” was deleted, as specifying nylon is too restrictive. 

New item (D)(3)(c) was added, which requires the tagout device be suitable for the environment where used. 

120.5, Lockout/Tagout, (B) Elements of Control: A new list item (6) and an informational note were added to (B)(6) Testing. 

“(6) Additional methods of testing if the testing for absence of voltage alone does not indicate that electrical conductors and equipment are de-energized.”

Informational Note to (6): “An example of an additional method includes testing for the absence of current in current-­driven circuits.”

These new additions acknowledge that some circuits such as the secondary of current transformers and airfield lighting may have very low voltage but can still have hazardous currents. 

120.5,(B)(7) Temporary Protective Grounding Requirements: The title was changed from “Grounding,” which is considered ambiguous. 

120.6, Process for Establishing and Verifying an Electrically Safe Work Condition, Exception No. 2 to 7: New text was added: “Electrical systems over 1,000 volts noncontact capacitive test instruments rated for the application and test for absence of detectable voltage.”

Informational Note No. 3 was added stating a minimum voltage is required to operate the test instrument, so it is not suitable to test for absence of voltage. This note explains the new text, “absence of detectable voltage.”

Exception No. 3 to 7: A new exception states that “if absence of voltage testing alone does not indicate that electrical conductors and equipment are de-energized, then additional methods of testing shall be required. [Similar to 120.5(B)(6)].”

A new informational note to Exception No. 3 provides an example of additional testing such as for absence of current. Some circuits may not have a significant voltage but still have hazardous current, such as current transformer secondaries and airport field lighting.

Coming Up

Look for parts 2–4 of this series in upcoming editions of my Arc Flash Safety column. Part 2, in the July issue, will cover changes to Article 130, Work Involving Electrical Hazards. Parts 3 and 4, in September and November, will address Article 100, Definitions, Chapter 2, Chapter 3 and the annexes.  

Note: This article is based on the author’s opinion and does not reflect any official position of the NFPA.

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