Over 4700 proposals were submitted to change the 1999
National Electrical Code. Of these only a few hundred are
critical to most of us in the electrical industry. The
numbering system for the 2002 NEC will change so that it
will to be consistent with other NPFA standards (Section
110-26 will now be 110.26). In an effort to make the NEC
easier to use, many exceptions have been converted into
positive text, new articles added, some article numbers
changed, and some articles have been relocated.
Article 90 - Introduction
Section 90.1(c) Intention of the NEC.
Delete Code Section
Proposal 1-5
Action: Delete the following text “This Code is not
intended as a design specification nor an instruction manual
for untrained persons."
Intent: The propose change to delete this rule was based on
the fact that there are many rules in the Code that that contain
design requirements and that the NEC was never intended to
restrict such rules. In addition, Section 90.1(c) has been
cited many times against rules being adopted, because they
contained design provisions in addition to safety.
Author’s Comment: This rule as added to the 1937 NEC.
Comment: By deleting 90.1(c) the NEC would include design
specification and that untrained persons should be capable
of understanding NEC provisions. Electrical instructors use
the NEC to teach the requirements and many feel that the NEC
is an instruction manual for untrained persons (the
apprentices) and that it is not only a reference manual for
qualified persons. Others feel that there needs to be more
training of individuals before being involved with the Code.
An understanding of fundamental electrical concepts is
necessary to grasp the importance of the requirements of the
Code. There is often resistance from those that are not
qualified to follow the NEC because they do not know why the
requirement exists in the first place.
90.1(c). Relation to International Standards.
New Code Section
Proposal 1-6
Action: Add text to Section 90.1(c) to read, " The requirements
in this Code address the fundamental principles principles
of protection for safety contained in International
Electrotechnical Commission Standard, Electrical
Installations of Buildings, IEC 60364-1, Section 131.
"FPN: IEC 60364-1, Section 131 contains fundamental
principles of protection for safety that encompass
protection against electric shock, protection against
thermal effects, protection against overcurrent, protection
against fault currents, and protection against overvoltage.
All of the above potential hazards are addressed by the
requirements in this Code."
Intent: The National Electrical Code is intended to serve as
an international electrical code (see cover of the 1999
edition) and it has been adopted in several countries around
the world. However, some around the world contended that IEC
60364 is the international standard, and adding this text
should clarify that the NEC address the IEC fundamental
principles of protection for safety in other international
standards.
Comment 1: A Tentative Interim Amendment 99-1 issued by the
Standards Council on January 14, 1999 created Section
90.1(d), which addresses the suitability of using the
National Electrical Code as an international document.
Comment 2:
The NEC is in use in Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Philippines and
Israel; adopted in Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico Panama,
Puerto Rico, and Venezuela; and translated into Spanish,
Korean, and Japanese.
90.2(a) Scope of NEC what is Covered
Revise Code Section
Proposal 1-10
Action: Section 90.2(a) was revised “This Code covers the
installation of electric conductors, electric equipment,
signaling and communications conductors and equipment, and
fiber optic cables and race-ways for the following:
1.
Public and private premises including buildings, structures,
mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and floating buildings.
2.
Yards, lots, parking lots, carnivals, and industrial
substations.
3.
Installations of conductors and equipment that connect to
the supply of electricity
4.
Installations used by the electric utility; such as office
buildings, warehouses, garages, machine shops, and
recreational buildings, that are not an integral part of a
generating plant, substation, or control center." The
existing FPN following this section remains unchanged.
Intent: Editorially revised the language to group similar
types of installations together and to make it easier to
read.
90.2(a) Scope of NEC what is Covered
Revise Code Section
Proposal 1-10
Action: Revise 90.2(b)(5) to read “Installations under the
exclusive control of an electric utility where such
installations consist of wiring for service drops or
laterals or are located in legally established easements,
right-of-ways, or on property owned or leased by the
electric utility for the purpose of communications,
metering, generation, control, transformation, transmission,
or distribution of electric energy.”
Intent: This revised text is intended to clarify that the
NEC does not apply to utility installations used for a
utility's traditional functions in distributing electrical
energy through transmission and distribution systems and
finally through its service drops and laterals to onsite
wiring systems.
Comment: If the electric utility desires to provide site and
public lighting, then the installation must comply with the
NEC’s requirement. Revisions in both the 1996 and 1999 NEC
to this section were made to clarify what installations the
NEC applies to and which the NESC (for Utilities) applies
to. With continued deregulation of electric utilities, they
can be in competition with traditional electrical
contractors, so understanding which rules apply is
essential.
90.3 Code Arrangement.
Revise Code Section
Proposal No. 1-91
Action: Revised the text to read “Chapter 8 covers
communications systems and is not subject to the
requirements of Chapters 1-7 except where the requirements
are specifically referenced in Chapter 8.”
Intent: The Panel's accepted the change to leave Chapter 8
as an independent chapter without using the term
“independent”.
Comment 1: The 1999 NEC stated, “Chapter 8 covers
communications systems and is “independent of the other
chapters” except where they are specifically referenced
therein.” *
Comment 2: Chapter 8 should have a provision referencing
Section 90.3.
90.3 Code Arrangement.
Revise Code Section
Proposal No. 1-91
Action: Add a graphic to Section 90.3 to clearly show the
arrangement of the Code.
Comment The Code arrangement is often overlooked and with
the growth in the Information Technology wiring, it’s
essential that Code users understand how Chapter 8 relates
to Chapter 1 through 7.
90.3 Code Arrangement.
Revise Code Section
Proposal No. 1-91
Action: Add new paragraph “Annexes are not part of the
requirements of this Code, but are included for
informational purposes only.” The revised text changes the
name of the appendixes (Appendices) to Annexes.
Intent: This changes harmonizes the NEC with other NFPA
Standards and Codes and clearly states that annexes are for
informational purposes only and are not requirements of the
Code. The purpose of each annex will be stated in the annex
itself.
Comment: Annex A contains a list of product safety
standards, Annex B is for ampacity calculations under
engineer supervision, Annex C is used for conduit and tubing
fill tables, and Annex D contains calculation examples.
90.4 Enforcement.
Revise Code Section
Proposal 1-93
Action: The wording "by special permission" was
added to the second paragraph of Section 90.4. The new
wording reads "By special permission the authority
having jurisdiction may waive specific requirements in
this Code or permit alternate methods where it is assured
that equivalent objectives can be achieved by establishing
and maintaining effective safety."
Author’s Comment: According to Article 100, Special
Permission is the written consent of the authority having
jurisdiction.
Intent: This change ensures accountability by the AHJ and
provides documentation to the one requesting to waive a
specific requirement or request an alternate method. The
authority having jurisdiction must give written consent in
writing whenever a Code rule is waived or alternate method
is permitted.
90.9 Units of Measurement.
Revise Code Section
Proposal No. 1-96
Action: Completely revised this section to require the
metric system be used as the preferred unit of measurement.
The new text includes the following:
(a) Measurement System of Preference. Metric units of
measurement are in accordance with the international System
of Units (SI*).
(b) Dual System of Units. The metric units to appear first,
and the inch-pound units shall immediately follow in
parenthesis. The conversion from the inch-pound units to
metric units shall be based on hard conversion except as
provided in (C).
(c) Soft Conversions.
(1) Trade Sizes. Where the actual measured size of a product
is not the same as the nominal size, trade size designators
shall be used rather than dimensions. Example:
Inch
Metric
½”
16
¾”
21
1”
27
1¼”
35
1½”
41
2”
53
(4) Hard conversions shall be used except where safety would
have a negative impact.
Example: ??
(d) Compliance. The conversion from inch-pound units to SI
units shall be permitted to be an approximate conversion.
Compliance with the numbers shown in either the SI system or
the inch-pound system shall constitute compliance with this
Code.
Example:??
FPN No. 1: "Hard" conversion is considered a
change in dimensions or properties of an item into new sizes
that might or might not be interchangeable with the sizes
used in the original measurement.
Example: ??
"Soft" conversion is considered a direct
mathematical conversion and involves a change in the
description of an existing measurement but not in the actual
dimension.
Example: ??
Intent: This change to the metric system will be painful for
many, but this will bring the NEC into compliance with
international practice and it will permit the NFPA to market
the NEC as an international standard.
*SI is an abbreviation for The International System of
Units, literally Systeme International (French). This is
what we commonly refer to as the metric system.
Thank you,
Mike Holt
1-888-NEC-CODE
Special
thanks to Mike Holt, renowned author and educator, for
allowing us to share this information with you. You can learn more on
this and other subjects through his excellent educational materials and
seminars.
