ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues retro code

lets say a guy wanted to know what year a code changed. Where could he find the answer?
tried google but without luck.
Now I know some will say it doesn't matter because the code always changes for the better
But I would like to know specifically the code year, here is why.
A local electrician did a home inspection and really nailed the homeowner with lots of violations...now the safty ones I do agree with mind you, but some of these violations would've been prior to enactment of law since the house was built in the early 70's. Again I know safty is our job..... just would like to know for the benifet of knowing. IE two small appliance, bath circuit, outside gfi ect... it would be cool if one could read the first year nec adopted specific codes.
Any ideas where to find online(dont say ebay and buy every codebook since 1891...although I am thinking of collecting something )

Thanks
H20

Mike Holt probably has a lot of this on his page. I know there is a chart about GFCIs

H2O, I think this is an excellent question. I've often wondered the same thing. Home inspectors to tend to get a bit overly-zealous when making their reports because they really don't know what they are talking about.

In the sale of my last home, I got busted for having a #14 wire on each pole of a 15/15 piggyback breaker. What was wrong with that, you ask?

His explanation was that 15 + 15 = 30 amps, so the wires must be #10. D'oh! How did I miss that? These guys do get carried away with their lack of knowledge. In doing so, they can kill potential sales due to their erroneous information.

I would have explained to him that since wire size numbers are in reverse, a pair of #14 together makes the equivalent of #7 which can handle about 45+ amps at 60C, interpolating from table 310.16. Of course that is COMPLETELY WRONG, but would the home inspector really understand that?

One bright side of the housing market downfall is these guys won't be getting as much business.