Jim Dollard has an extensive background in codes and standards. Send questions about the National Electrical Code (NEC) to Jim at codefaqs@gmail.com. Answers are based on the 2020 NEC. Closet LED fixtures Are surface-mounted...
If you had to pick which electrical branch circuits or feeders to supply power to during a utility company power outage, what would you choose, and would that make you popular or not in your household? If you are the...
I have been monitoring several NEC panel meetings virtually, and the members are becoming old pros at meeting online. The 18 NEC Code-Making Panels (CMPs) are currently considering public comments on the actions they...
Last month, I provided a basic outline and history of Critical Operations Power Systems (COPS) located in Article 708 of the National Electrical Code. This article features details about Article 708 and the differences...
I have been looking closely into RV wiring and am amazed at the upgrades some people are installing. They are good examples of how buildings could be wired and are another opportunity for electrical contractors to expand...
Developing processes to accomplish work is an art form. Most successful processes evolve over time. It’s necessary to include stakeholders that represent all the disciplines affected by the new process. It is possible...
When a hurricane is approaching, your attention immediately goes to the Weather Channel, cellphones or computers for updates, if you’re in an affected area. When traveling, we can find out the approximate temperature...
Jim Dollard has an extensive background in codes and standards. Send questions about the National Electrical Code (NEC) to Jim at codefaqs@gmail.com. Answers are based on the 2020 NEC. Type UF cable Our area was hit very hard...
Per a change in the 2020 National Electrical Code effective Jan. 1, 2022, 0–10V (Class 2) dimming wire insulation colors have changed to eliminate use of any reserved colors, notably gray. The National Electrical...
With everything that has happened with the pandemic and the “hunker at home” cultural change it has caused, many people are investing in their homes by remodeling, adding a room or garage, expanding their basements into...
A decade ago, electric vehicles (EVs) started gaining traction on the U.S. East and West Coasts and in Texas, but movement away from petroleum-fueled vehicles seemed to stall in the Midwest. Even so, as early as 2010, the...
There is some confusion in the electrical industry with respect to the application of arc flash equipment labeling as seen in NFPA 70E Section 130.5(H). The question is this: when is arc flash equipment labeling an...
Jim Dollard has an extensive background in codes and standards. Send questions about the National Electrical Code (NEC) to Jim at codefaqs@gmail.com. Answers are based on the 2020 NEC. Circus tent wiring—portable or temporary...
I became the secretary of the National Electrical Code in the summer of 1989. Work on the 1990 Code had just been completed, and the closing date for the 1993 Code cycle would not be until Nov. 9, 1990. I had a great mentor...
When an area containing flammable or combustible material is properly classified and the electrical installation is appropriately designed and installed, these areas are no more dangerous than any other location. The key to...
Ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection for outdoor outlets has been a requirement in the National Electrical Code since 1971, but it was limited to 15A and 20A, 120V receptacles. With the acceptance of the 2020...
At a grounding class, someone asked how to determine if a standby generator is required to be grounded as a separately derived system. The key to determining this is to verify the type of transfer equipment installed...
Jim Dollard has an extensive background in codes and standards. Send questions about the National Electrical Code (NEC) to Jim at codefaqs@gmail.com. Answers are based on the 2020 NEC. RVs as dwelling units Do the new rules...
The Great Chicago Fire started on Oct. 8, 1871. One of the most significant fires of its time, it left around 300 dead and 100,000 people homeless. The fire occurred in a mostly residential area, destroying over 17,000...
A chief electrical inspector friend wanted to know about the construction of an oxygen-generating facility in the Raleigh/Durham, N.C. area. His question was whether the construction should be based on the hazardous...
