How to use the NEC-Mike Holt

Feb 1, 2000 Mike Holt, Contributing Editor | CEE News

The National Electrical Code is written for people who understand electrical terms, theory, and trade practices. Such persons include electrical contractors, electrical inspectors, electrical engineers, and qualified electricians. The Code was not written to serve as an instructive or teaching manual for untrained persons [9 !"#c$%. &earning to use the NEC is li'e learning to play the game of chess. (ou first must learn the terms used to identify the game pieces, the concepts of how each piece moves and the layout of how the pieces are placed on the )oard. *nce you have this )asic understanding of the game, you+re ready to start playing it. ,ut all you can do is ma'e crude moves )ecause you really don+t understand what you+re doing. To play the game well, you+ll need to study the rules, understand the su)tle and complicated strategies, and then practice, practice, practice. The same principle applies with the Code. &earning the terms, concepts, and layout of the NEC gives you -ust enough 'nowledge to )e dangerous. .erhaps most difficult is learning the su)tle meanings within the Code rules themselves. Thousands of different applications of electrical installations e/ist, )ut not every application has a specific Code rule. To properly apply the NEC, you must understand the safety!related issue of the rule and then apply common sense. NEC terms and concepts The Code uses many technical terms and e/pressions. 0t+s crucial that all Code users understand the meanings of )asic technical and Code terms such as ampere, )ac'fed, induction, raceway, etc. to understand how to apply the rule itself. 0t is not only the technical words that require close attention in the NEC1 even the simplest words can ma'e a )ig difference. The word 2or2 can imply alternate choices for equipment, wiring methods, and other requirements. Sometimes 2or2 can mean any item in a group. The word 2and2 can )e an additional requirement, or any item in a group. 3inally, it+s critical that the Code user have a good foundation of )asic electrical circuitry, math and the formulas needed to apply many of the rules. Note. Electricians, engineers, and other trade!related professionals have created their own terms and phrases #slang or -argon$. *ne of the pro)lems with the use of slang terms is that the words mean different things to different people, resulting in confusion. 4nderstanding the safety related concepts )ehind NEC rules means understanding how and why things wor' the way they do #electrical theory$. 5ow does a )ird sit on an energi6ed power line without getting toasted7 8hy, when we install a lot of wires close together, are we required to reduce the amount of current that each conductor can carry7 8hy can+t a single current!carrying conductor )e installed within a metal raceway7 8hy does the NEC permit a 9 : circuit )rea'er to protect motor circuit conductors that are only rated ; :7 8hy are )onding -umpers sometimes required for metal raceways containing 9< (=;>>? circuits, )ut not for "; =;9 ? circuits7 0f you understand why or how things wor', you have a )etter chance of understanding the NEC rules. The NEC Style 4nderstanding the NEC structure and writing style is e/tremely important to understand and use the Code effectively. The National Electrical Code is organi6ed into "; components@ ". Chapters #ma-or categories$ ;. :rticles #individual su)-ects$ A. .arts #divisions of an article$ 9. Sections, lists, and ta)les #Code rules$ B. E/ceptions #Code rules$ C. 3ine .rint Notes #e/planatory material, not mandatory Code language$ >. Definitions #Code rules$ <. Superscript &etter E 9. Farginal Notations, Code changes #G$ and deletions " . Ta)le of Contents "". 0nde/ ";. :ppendices ". Chapters. Each of the nine chapters contains articles. The nine chapters fall into four groupings@ Heneral Iules@ Chapters " through 9 Specific Iules #5a6ardous locations, signs, control wiring$@ Chapters B through > Communication Systems #Telephone, Iadio=Television, and Ca)le T? Systems$@ Chapter < Ta)les@ Chapter 9

;. :rticles. The NEC contains a)out ";B articles. :n article covers a specific su)-ect as in the following e/amples@ :rticle "" !Heneral Iequirements :rticle ;B !Hrounding :rticle A !8iring Fethods :rticle 9A ! Fotors :rticle B !5a6ardous #classified$ &ocations :rticle C< !Swimming .ools :rticle >;B!Control 8iring :rticle < !Communication 8iring A. .arts. 8hen an :rticle is sufficiently large, the :rticle is su)divided into .arts. 3or e/ample, :rticle ;B contains nine parts, including@ .art :. Heneral .art ,. Circuit and System Hrounding .art C. Hrounding Electrode System 9. Sections, &ists, and Ta)les. Sections. Each actual Code rule is called a section and is identified with num)ers, such as Section ;;B!;C. : Code section may )e )ro'en down into su)sections )y letters in parentheses, and num)ers in parentheses may further )rea' down each su)section. 3or e/ample, the rule that requires all receptacles in a )athroom to )e H3C0 protected is contained in Section ;" !<#a$#"$. Note. Fany in the electrical industry incorrectly use the term 2article2 when referring to a Code section. &ists. The "999 NEC has changed the layout of some Sections that contain lists of items. 0f a list is part of a numeric su)section, such as Section ;" !B;#a$#;$, then the items are listed as a., )., c., etc. 5owever, if a list is part of a section, then the items are identified as #"$, #;$, #A$, #9$, etc. Ta)les. Fany Code requirements are contained within ta)les, which are a systematic list of Code rules in an orderly arrangement. 3or e/ample, Ta)le A !"B lists the )urial depths of ca)les and raceways. B. E/ceptions. E/ceptions are italici6ed and provide an alternative to a specific rule. The two types of e/ceptions are mandatory and permissive. 8hen a rule has several e/ceptions, those e/ceptions with mandatory requirements are listed )efore those written in permissive language. Fandatory E/ception. : mandatory e/ception uses the words 2shall2 or 2shall not.2 The word 2shall2 in an e/ception means that if you are using the e/ception, you are required to do it in a particular way. The term 2shall not2 means that you cannot do something. .ermissive E/ception. : permissive e/ception uses such words as 2shall )e permitted,2 which means that it is accepted to do it in this way. C. 3ine .rint Note, #3.N$, [9 !B%. : 3ine .rint Note contains e/planatory material intended to clarify a rule or give assistance, )ut it is not Code requirement. 3.N+s often use the term 2may,2 )ut never 2shall.2 >. Definitions. Definitions are listed in :rticle " and throughout the NEC. 0n general, the definitions listed in :rticle " apply to more than one Code :rticle, such as 2)ranch circuit,2 which is used in many articles. :rticle! Definitions at the )eginning of a specific article applies only to that article. 3or e/ample, the definition of a 2swimming pool2 is contained in Section C< !9 )ecause this term applies only to the requirements of :rticle C< ! Swimming .ools. .art!Definitions located in a part of an article apply only to that part of the article. 3or e/ample, the definition of 2motor control circuit2 applies only to :rticle 9A , .art 3. Section!Definitions located in a Code section apply only to that Code section. 3or e/ample, the definition of 23estoon &ighting2 located in Section ;;B! C#)$ applies only to the requirements contained in Section ;;B!C. <. Superscript letter E. The superscript letter E indicates that the material was e/tracted from other technical standards pu)lished )y the N3.:. :ppendi/ :, at the )ac' of the Code, identifies the N3.: documents and the section#s$ from which the material was e/tracted. 9. Changes and deletions. Changes and deletions to the NEC are identified in the margins of the "999 NEC in the following manner@ : vertical line #G$ mar's changes and a )ullet identifies deletion of a Code rule. Fany rules in the "999 NEC were relocated. The place from which the Code rule was removed has a )ullet in the margin, and the place where the rule was inserted has a vertical line #G$ in the margin. " . Ta)le of contents. The Ta)le of Contents located in the front of the Code )oo' displays the layout of the chapters, articles, and parts as well as their location in the Code )oo'. "". 0nde/. 8e all 'now the purpose of an inde/, )ut it+s not that easy to use. (ou really need to 'now the correct term. *ften it+s much easier to use the Ta)le of Contents. ";. :ppendices. The four appendices in the "999 NEC are@ o :ppendi/ :!E/tract 0nformation o :ppendi/ ,!:mpacity Engineering Supervision o :ppendi/ C!Conduit and Tu)ing 3ill Ta)les o :ppendi/ D!Electrical Calculation E/amples

5ow to find things in the Code 5ow fast you find things in the NEC depends on your e/perience. E/perienced Code users often use the Ta)le of Contents instead of the inde/. 3or e/ample, what Code rule indicates the ma/imum num)er of disconnects permitted for a service7 :nswer@ (ou need to 'now that :rticle ;A is for Services and that it contains a .art 3. Disconnection Feans. 0f you 'now this, using the Ta)le of Contents, you+ll see that the answer is contained at page CC. .eople frequently use the inde/, which lists su)-ects in alpha)etical order. 0t+s usually the )est place to start for specific information. 4nli'e most )oo's, the NEC inde/ does not list page num)ers1 it lists sections, ta)les, articles, parts, and appendices )y their section num)er. Note. Fany people say the Code ta'es them in circles, and sometimes it does. 5owever, this complaint is often heard from ine/perienced persons who don+t understand electrical theory, electrical terms, and electrical practices. Customi6ing your code )oo' *ne way for you to get comforta)le with your Code )oo' is to customi6e it to meet your needs. (ou can do this )y highlighting, underlining Code rules, and using convenient ta)s. 5ighlighting and 4nderlining. :s you read through this )oo', highlight in the NEC )oo' those Code rules that are important to you such as yellow for general interest, and orange for rules you want to find quic'ly. :s you use the inde/ and the ta)le of contents, highlight terms in those areas as well. 4nderline or circle 'ey words and phrases in the NEC with a red pen #not a lead pencil$ and use a C!in. ruler to 'eep lines straight and neat. ,ecause of the new format of the "999 NEC #<"=; in. / "" in.$, 0 highly recommend that you highlight in green the parts of at least the following :rticles. :rticle ;A !Services :rticle ;B !Hrounding :rticle 9" !3i/tures :rticle 9A !Fotors Ta))ing the NEC. Ta))ing the NEC permits you to quic'ly access Code :rticle, Section, or Ta)les. 5owever, too many ta)s will defeat the purpose. E/perience has shown that the )est way to ta) the Code )oo' is to start )y placing the last ta) first and the first ta) last #start at the )ac' of the )oo' and wor' your way toward the front$. 0nstall the first ta), and then place each following ta) so that they do not overlap the information of the previous ta). The following is a list of :rticles and Sections 0 most commonly refer to. .lace a ta) only on the Sections or :rticles that are important to you