The National Electrical Code

February 15, 2002

2002

The National Electrical Code

ABOUT THE NEC IMPLEMENTATION & STRUCTURE CHANGES for 2002 CODE-MAKING PANEL 15 The REVISION PROCESS HOW TO GET INVOLVED

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What is the NEC

Purpose: Practical Safeguarding of Persons and Property from hazards arising from the use of electricity. The National Electrical Code is:
 a model code and is purely advisory as far as NFPA and ANSI are concerned.  intended to be suitable for use in mandatory application by governmental bodies exercising legal jurisdiction over electrical installations, i.e., for use in law and for regulatory purposes in the interest of life and property protection.  Developed under a rigorous, open consensus process.

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How the NEC is Implemented . . .

Any deletions, additions, and changes desired by the adopting authority must be noted separately. The law can be different in each and every political subdivision - including city, state (state property), federal (DOD, OSHA, etc.), and county. The CODE is revised every three years. Note: not all municipalities adopt the current edition of the CODE some municipalities may be one year to several cycles behind.

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. . . How the NEC is Implemented

Applicable laws are usually administered by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) a.k.a. your local friendly electrical inspector. The CODE gives the AHJ the responsibility for interpreting the rules. Local building laws usually do not require code updates to buildings unless major changes are made; however, entertainment industry venues and events are often treated as new buildings requiring new permits. Application of an Article may also be governed by the legally specified occupancy of the space.

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Applicability & Adequacy

The CODE contains provisions considered necessary for safety. The CODE is not intended as a design specification nor an instruction manual for untrained persons. The CODE covers Premises Wiring Installations of electric conductors and equipment within or on public and private buildings or other structures. The CODE does not cover ships, watercraft, transportation vehicles other than mobile homes, mining, and electric utilities.

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Enforcement
Formal Interpretation procedures have been established by the NFPA to promote uniformity of interpretation and application. The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for enforcement of the CODE makes interpretations of the rules, gives final approval for equipment and materials. Examination for Safety: For specific items of equipment and materials referred to in the CODE, examinations for safety made under standard conditions (i.e., listed by a qualified electrical testing laboratory) provides a basis for approval. If equipment is Listed, the CODE suggests that the AHJ only look for modifications and for proper installation in accordance with the instructions provided with the equipment.
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NEC Format
Chapter 0"

 Article 80 - Administration & Enforcement New for 2002 Intended to be Informative unless adopted by the local jurisdiction  Article 90 - Introduction    
Chapter 1 - General Chapter 2 - Wiring and Protection Chapter 3 - Wiring Methods and Materials Chapter 4 - Equipment for General Use

Chapters 1 - 4 Apply Generally

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NEC Format
Chapters 5 - 7 Modify or Amend Chapters 1 - 4
 Chapter 5 - Special Occupancies  Chapter 6 - Special Equipment  Chapter 7 - Special Conditions

Chapter 8 - Communication Systems (Independent) Chapter 9 - Tables Annexes A - E

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Article Structure
Part I - General

 .1 - Scope Defines what is covered by the Article If it isnt covered, you cant apply it The Application of an Article can also be governed by the legally specified occupancy of the space.  .2 - Definitions that are specific to the Article and do not appear in more than two other places in the CODE  .3 - Cross-Reference to other Articles

Part II - Installation: .10 - .19 Part III - Construction Specifications: .20 - . . .

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Other Rules
Temporary versus Portable:

 Article 527 - Temporary Wiring (was 305 prior to 2002)  527 Wiring may be of a class less than would be required for a permanent installation.  Wiring in the the Entertainment articles is Portable Wiring of a class equivalent to that of a permanent installation - but no time constraints.

The CODE contains mandatory rules (shall, shall not), permissive rules (shall be permitted, shall not be required), exceptions, and explanatory material (Fine Print Notes - FPNs).

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Chapter 5 - Special Occupancies

Articles of Interest to the Entertainment Industry
Article 518 - Places of Assembly Article 520 - Theaters, Audience Areas of Motion Picture and Television Studios, Performance Areas, & Similar Locations Article 525 - Carnivals, Circuses, Fairs, & Similar Events Article 530 - Motion Picture and Television Studios & Similar Locations Article 540 - Motion Picture Projection Rooms Article 647 (formerly Part G of 530) Sensitive Electronic Equipment

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Article 518 - Places of Assembly

Covers buildings or portions of buildings or structure intended for the assembly of 100 or more persons - if only 50 people are involved, only Chapters 1 - 4 apply. The examples of these types of places are just that, examples - dining facilities, conference rooms, church chapels, dance halls; not necessarily schools. If the space contains a projection booth, stage platform, or area for presentation of theatrical or musical productions, either fixed or portable, then article 520 applies.

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Changes in Article 518

518.2 General Classifications - Examples
 Watch for 2005

518.4(c) Spaces with Finish Ratings

 [ENMT & Rigid ENMC] shall be permitted to be installed in club rooms, college and university classrooms, conference and meeting rooms in hotels or motels, courtrooms, drinking establishments, dining facilities, restaurants, mortuary chapels, museums, passenger stations and terminals of air, surface, underground, and marine public transportation facilities, libraries, and places of religious worship where the following [conditions] apply:

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Article 520 - Theaters, Audience Areas of MP & TV Studios, Performance Areas, & Similar Locations
Covers buildings or that part of a building or structure, indoor or outdoor, designed for used for presentation, dramatic, musical, motion picture projection, or similar purposes. It also covers specific audience seating areas within motion picture or television studios. Theatres contain workers and the general public; studios contain only workers. In general, theatre requirements are more stringent than studio requirements.

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Changes in Article 520

Title & 520.1 Performance Areas and indoor or outdoor has been added to the title and scope in 2002 (Woodstock was a structure used for a musical event). 520.5(A) Wiring Methods 520.53(H)(5) Supply Conductors Not Reduced in Size
 Clarification of language allowing supply conductors to pass through openings specifically designed for the purpose if certain provisions are met  Now allows use of T-Slot receptacles in Fan-Outs

 AC Cable with an insulated grounding conductor has been added as an acceptable wiring method

520.67 Multipole Branch-Circuit Cable Connectors

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Article 525 - Carnivals, Circuses, Fairs and Similar Events

Covers installation of portable wiring and equipment for carnivals, circuses, exhibitions, fairs, traveling attractions and similar events. Includes wiring in or on structures.

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Changes in Article 525

Totally rearranged for 2002 Added Grounding Conductor Continuity Assurance verification is required each time portable electrical equipment is connected

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Article 530 - Motion Picture and Television Studios and Similar Locations
Applies to television studios and motion picture studios using either film or electronic cameras. Except as provided for in Article 520 (Audience areas). Also applies to exchanges, factories, laboratories, stages (not theatre type) or a portion of the building in which film or tape more than 7/8" in width (professional, not amateur) is exposed, developed, printed, cut, edited, rewound, repaired or stored.

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Changes in Article 530

530.11 Permanent Wiring

 AC Cable with an insulated grounding conductor has been added as an acceptable wiring method

530.52 Motors and Other Equipment in Cellulose Nitrate Film Storage Vaults

 Added that Electric motors shall be permitted under certain specific conditions

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Changes in Article 530

Part G - Separately Derived Systems with 60 Volts to Ground [Tech Power]

 Now its own article 647: Sensitive Electronic Equipment (and no longer under the purview of Panel 15)  Some restructuring  Added Luminaires as long as they are Listed, permanently installed, and the disconnecting means (switch) shall be 2-pole and within sight of the luminaire

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Other Changes in the NEC

Article 80 Administration & Enforcement Metrification Luminaires not Lighting Fixtures 200.6 Means of Identifying Grounded [Neutral] Conductors (A) Sizes 6 AWG of Smaller
 . . . shall be identified by a continuous white or natural gray outer finish . . .

Qualified Personnel

 1999 NEC one familiar with the construction and operation of the equipment and the hazard involved.  2002 NEC one who has skills and knowledge related to the construction and operation of the equipment and has received safety training on the hazards involved.
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Other Changes in the NEC

Important Rearrangement of Articles in the 2002 NEC
 Temporary Installations - Article 305 becomes 527  Outlet, Device, Pull and Junction Boxes (Box capacities) -Article 370 becomes 314  Cabinets, Cutout Boxes (Wire bending requirements) Article 373 becomes 312  Switches - Article 380 becomes 404  Switchboards and Panelboards (Electrical spacings) Article 384 becomes 408  Receptacles, Cord Connectors - Article 410 Part L becomes 406  Sensitive Electronic Equipment - Article 530 Part G becomes 647  All Wiring Methods were more logically reorganized in Chapter 3

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Other Changes in the NEC

Grounding as found in the 2002 NEC
 (1) Electrical System Grounding. Electrical systems that are grounded shall be connected to earth in a manner that will limit the voltage imposed by lightning, line surges or unintentional contact with higher-voltage lines and that will stabilize the voltage to earth during normal operation.  (2) Bonding of Electrical Equipment. Non-current-carrying conductive materials enclosing electrical conductors or equipment, or forming part of such equipment, shall be connected together and to the electrical supply source in a manner that establishes an effective ground-fault current path.

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Other Changes in the NEC

Grounding as found in the 2002 NEC
 (3) Effective Ground-Fault Current Path. Electrical equipment and wiring and other electrically conductive materials likely to become energized shall be installed in a manner that creates a permanent, low-impedance circuit capable of safely carrying the maximum ground-fault current likely to be imposed on it from any point on the wiring system where ground fault may occur to the electrical supply source. The earth shall not be used as the sole equipment grounding conductor or effective groundfault current path.

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Other Changes in the NEC

Definition - Ground Fault.
 An unintentional, electrically conducting connection between an ungrounded conductor of an electrical circuit and the normally non-current-carrying conductors, metallic enclosures, metallic raceways, metallic equipment, or earth.

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Other Changes in the NEC

Effective Ground-Fault Current Path

Ground-Fault

Bonding Grounding

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Code-Making Panel 15 Covers:

445 Generators - moves to new Panel 13 for 2005 480 Storage Batteries - moves to new Panel 13 for 2005

517 Health Care Facilities - from disbanded Panel 17 for 2005 518 Places of Assembly 520 Theatres, Audience Areas of Motion Picture . . . 525 Carnivals, Circuses, Fairs, and Similar Events 530 Motion Picture and Television Studios . . . 540 Motion Picture Projection Rooms
695 Fire Pumps - moves to new Panel 13 for 2005 700 Emergency Systems - moves to new Panel 13 for 2005 701 Legally Required Standby Systems - moves to new Panel 13 for 2005 702 Optional Standby Systems - moves to new Panel 13 for 2005 705 Interconnected Electric Power Production Sources - moves to new Panel 13 for 2005
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Code-Making Panel 15 Entertainment Industry Representation

USITT
 Ken Vannice - Leviton/NSI/Colortran & Steve Terry - ETC  Michael Klein - Environmental Systems Design & Mitch Hefter - ET  Eddie Kramer - Radio City Music Hall  Michael Lanni - Universal Studios & Michael Skinner - CBS  George Howard - George Thomas Howard & Associates  Jack Kalbfeld - Kalico Technology

IESNA IATSE

MPAA

Independent Consultants

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The Revision Process

The NFPA is an ANSI accredited standards organization. One of the unique things about NFPA's code and standards making process is that it is truly an open, consensus-based process. Anyone can participate.

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The Revision Process - Phase 1

Call goes out to the public for Proposals to amend the current edition of the CODE. The 20 Panels of the NEC Committee meet to act on proposals and to develop their own proposals. Panels vote on proposals by letter ballot. The Technical Correlating Committee makes sure actions by different panels do not cause conflicts. Report Report on Proposals (ROP) is published for public review & comment.

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The Revision Process - Phase 2

Call goes out to the public for Comments on the Report on Proposals (no new material may be submitted). The 20 Panels of the NEC Committee meet to act on each public comment received. Panels vote on comments by letter ballot, followed again by Technical Correlating Committee review. Report on Comments (ROC) is published.

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The Revision Process - Phase 3

NFPA membership meets (Annual Meeting) and acts on committee report (ROC). Committee votes on any amendments to report approved at NFPA Annual Meeting. Standards Council issues new edition of the CODE and takes other actions, including any appeals filed within 20 days of the NFPA Annual Meeting.

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How to Get Involved

USITT NEC 2005 Committee

 Pick Up Application & USITT Proposal Forms Here  Get These from the USITT Web Site (or contact the USITT Office: 800-93USITT) www.usitt.org click on Commissions, Click On Engineering, find the NEC 2005 Link  Form or join a Local Committee  Get a proposal form from NFPA (www.nfpa.org) or the back of the 2002 Code

Submit on your own (deadline is November 1, 2002)

Get others involved

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?? Questions ??

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The National Electrical Code END

February 15, 2002

2002

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