ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Code Cycle

One off the top of my head; 250-81 (1990 version) only allowed exothermic welding as a means to extend the GEC and only in industrial or commercial locations. I believe it was '93 that allowed irreversible compression-type-connectors and dropped the industrial and commercial location only requirement.(correct me if I am wrong. My '93 and '96 code books have grown legs.)
The 2002 code has relaxed the three story limit on NM cable.
If I think of more I'll post them later.
Nick

in the county of south carolina where i live they just accepted the '99' code this past july. they only began enforcing the (electrical & building) code since 1999. i'm surprised more houses haven't fallen or burned. at this rate the "02" code won't be adopted till.....maybe 2006 or so. to give you an example, i recently wired a 5000 sq. ft. concrete and steel house and when the inspector came to do the rough in (elect,hvac,plumbing & structure) he was there a total of 45 min. it's almost like prior 1999. ken m.

Let me check if I've got the trans-Atlantic terminology correct here:
GEC = Grounding Electrode Conductor = the main ground lead from panel busbar to rod, yes? (What we call the main earthing conductor.)

Our "code" requires this to be one unbroken conductor - No splices or joints.

You have got it! But the grounding electrode conductor conects to the grounding electrod which can be many other thigs in addition to a rod.

A buried mesh electrode perhaps? Or are you implying that you can still use a water pipe as a main ground, as was common here up to the 1950s?