NEC CODE CORNER

NEC CODE CORNER This month we will examine the 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code. The National Electrical Code has specific language concerning many types of installations. Remember to consult the code book for additional information. The Outline and Language of the code is included below. Practice using the Codeology Method to answer all your code challenges. CHAPTER, ARTICLE, PART and SECTION! 2020 National Electrical Code The NEC Code Making Process Every three years, the National Electrical Code (NEC) is revised and often expanded. The 2020 NEC development cycle was completed on June 20, 2019 in San Antonio Texas. The NFPA received 3,730 public inputs (proposals) recommending Code changes, resulting in 1,400 first revisions (FR, code changes). The NFPA also received 1,930 public comments on the 1400 FRs, producing 634 second revisions (code changes). 73 correlating FRs (code changes) created by the 18 code panels and four new articles were added to the 2020 NEC. So what does this mean? Many of the changes and new rules address new technologies, such as expanded use of energy storage systems and equipment, microgrid installations, and large-scale photovoltaic system installations. The following is a rundown of the new articles in the 2020 NEC. Article 242—Overvoltage Protection Articles 280 and 285 from the 2017 NEC have been combined into Article 242, “Overvoltage Protection.” Article 311—Medium Voltage Conductors and Cables Article 328 from the 2017 NEC was deleted, and its contents were relocated to a new Article 311, “Medium Voltage Conductors and Cables.” This article incorporates requirements for medium voltage cables and conductors rated over 2,000 volts, which were previously located in Article 310. Article 337—Type P Cable A new Article 337, “Type P Cable,” has been added to NEC Chapter 3. This article addresses the use and installation of Type P cable (marine shipboard cable). Type P cable has been commonly used in land-based oil and gas rigs for over four decades, but the NEC has never addressed its permitted use. Type P cable is limited to industrial installations and hazardous locations. Article 800—General Requirements for Communications Systems Article 805—Communications Circuits Article 800 has been revised to combine all the common general requirements from the existing 5 articles of chapter eight communications articles into a single article. The remaining specific rules in former Article 800 have been included in a new Article 805, “Communications Circuits.” This nications systems and removes a considerable amount of redundancy. A significant change has affected Article 100 and Chapter 5, Special Occupancies, specifically Articles 500 through 516. NEC Article 100 covers definitions of terms that appear in more than two articles. Article 100’s scope has been revised to indicate definitions are also provided in the .2 section of some articles. The scope’s second paragraph has been expanded to include a new Part III that includes definitions specifically applicable to Hazardous (Classified) Locations. Moving all the definitions from the Chapter Five Hazardous Locations Articles to Chapter 1, Article 100, Part III, brings chapter five into compliance with the NEC Style Manual and enhances usability. Remember, when looking for definitions previously found in Articles 500 – 516, they have been relocated to Article 100, Part III, Hazardous (Classified) Locations. Presently, New York State is still enforcing the 2014 NEC. It is anyone’s guess when the State will change to the 2017 or 2020 edition of the NEC. As new as the 2020 NEC is, the 2023 edition of the NEC is already in progress as the code making process continues. Here are some significant dates in the process – September 10, 2020 - Public Input Closing Date. Submit a proposal for 2023 at NFPA.org/70. July 2, 2021 – Post First Draft Report for public comment. Review what is proposed for 2023. August 19, 2021 – Public Comment Closing Date. Further review of proposals for 2023. March 21, 2022 – Post Second Draft Report. Review the code panel work as the 2023 process continues. June 6, 2022 – Association Meeting for the NEC. The final I’s dotted, and T’s crossed for adoption of the 2023 NEC. The 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code certainly meets the purpose of the code – the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity. CODE KNOWLEDGE = CODE CONFIDENCE Tom Dunne MONTHLY CODE CHALLENGE Find the correct Chapter, Article, Part and Section and win a prize! Use the 2017 National Electrical Code Book The first edition of the National Electrical Code was published in what year? The 2017 edition of the National electrical Code is the edition and supersedes all other previous editions, supplements, and printing. Send in your answer with the correct Chapter, the correct Article, the correct Part and the correct Section, including the correct 1st, 2nd and 3rd level subdivision to: ckelly@lijatc. org and win a prize.