ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Making the NEC free of charge?

Many folks refer to the free NEC at the local library.
I understand that there is an ongoing suit/movemnemt which is attempting to make it available freely to the public since when it is adopted by a particular jurisdiction it must be distributed as part of the "Freedom of information act".

rather unpalataple Ron,

as it implies we are a tightwad shop.

Just ask this board for any code, we'll post it...free!

How many really likes the newer format of the code better? The bigger bound volume?
I myself like the smaller version we use to have. To me, it is easier to use. Maybe I just got use to it. Been using it from back in the seventies, and now I still can't get use to the bigger volume. Maybe I'm just too old and set in my ways

I may be in the minority, but I "love" the NEC, and I hope it is never free. Usually things that are free aren't worth. I just get the feeling that if the code became free, the quality would go down.
For some reason, I always end up getting several copies of the NEC for free through suppliers, and other means, but I always buy the handbook, and if I didn't get other copies for free, I would gladly buy them myself. Depending the position you hold in your company, many times the company will buy code books for their employees. The cover of my 2002 code book has "Distributed by Hughes Supply" on the cover. It was a gift from a salesman that I used to do business with. It's a form of advertisement for them. It's funny the less likely you are to need a code book, the more likely you are to get one free. Would you call that a perk?

Perk up boyz, it'll get better,
Doc

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned article 90.1c yet.

The price of the Chicago Electrical Code Book is $130.00!!!!
http://www.lawbulletin.com/products.cfm?PUID=book7506

Ron,
The "Freedom of information act" does not require that the documents be provided "free of charge", just that you can get access to them. I think the the act provides that copying fees of up to $1 per page can be charged by the governmental unit for copies requested under the FIA. That would be over $700 for a copy of the 2002 NEC.
Don

I can understand the intent SvenNYC, that safety realted material be freely available.

But the NEC, is but one of many safety realted documents in the big pix.

And the big pix includes a heavy buisness influence.

Check out the prices of other popular standards...
http://global.ihs.com/

It could happen..........When





[This message has been edited by txsparky (edited 11-27-2002).]