The manufacturers, and the NFPA, claim to have evidence to support their claims. This evidence is NOT available to the public. It derives entirely from some "test" houses, with created flaws, sponsored from the NFPA. Or, at least, that's what they tell me.

I really don't want this thread to become just another re-hash of the AFCI issue. I am hoping to wake some folks up, and prevent the AFCI fracas from becoming the "beginning of the end" for the NFPA. They, IMO, have simply missed too many opportunities, and need to act now - or risk becoming irrelevant.

Until now, the code was changed in the following manner:
1) Old code issued;
2) Period in which anyone can submit proposals for the next edition;
3) Committees examine proposals, and make their decisions. These are published;
4) Period in which anyone can comment on the committee decisions;
5) Committees consider these comments, and prepare their recommendations. In effect, compile the new code;
6} Present the new code at a convention, where it is voted on by NFPA members present.

For the next edition of the NEC (2008), the NFPA has added an additional step just prior to the convention. I am not sure of the details, but I believe it a requirement for prior notice of any motions that might be made.

Can this system be abused, or manipulated? Absolutely. The most recent requirement - membership for at least six months before a convention in order to vote - was the direct result of the spanking the NFPA got from the US Supreme Court, after the Steel Tube Institute packed a convention.

Another area in which the NFPA may be missing an opportunity relates to the "Veeck decision." In short, it looks as if the NFPA has lost it's legal monopoly on publishing the NEC. For an organization whose primary income is from selling copies of the NEC, this can be a serious blow.
The NFPA has had "the way" shown to them. At least three extremely profitable publishers base their businesses on publishing works that are "in the public domain." What they sell, what IS copyright protected, are the indexes, commentary, and other supplemental material that comes along with the public text.

How many fumbles remain, before the NFPA is out of the game?