A Word from Jake

This weeks selection is for a new addition to 314.16(A) for dividers that we put inside boxes to separate high voltage from low voltage.  They have come up with an assigned cubic inch capacity for metal and plastic dividers, one half cubic inch for a metal divider and one cubic inch for a plastic divider unless it is marked.  So even if all the wires are the same size but you have a divider installed you will be required to do the calculation for box fill.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

Can’t see the whole picture just click on it!

New to 2017 Code is the introduction of the use of 120/208 volt services into the residential service adjustment factors section.  It has always been just for 120/240 volt services and they now allow us to use this adjustment for 120/208 services also.  Only difference with the inclusion of the 120/208 services is that you can not down size the neutral conductor. it is definitely a welcome change to the Code.

Till next time be safe work safe, wear a mask.

Jake

First just want to say I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  It was a quiet one for us this year.

This section has been changed and some of the requirements have been deleted.  We only have to worry about raceways on roofs when they are installed less than 7/8” above the roof other wise no adjustments required.  This was a concern for years about having raceways installed above roofs and the derating of the conductors in the raceway.  We will only need to adjust the ampacity of a conductor when it is installed less than 7/8” above the roof.  Looking at the photo below none of these conduit runs would need ampacity adjustments.

Can’t see the whole picture just click on it.

Till next time be safe work safe and don’t forget your masks your customers will appreciate it.

Jake

This weeks post is about a practice that I’ve seen done out in the field and even required by inspectors.  Running a bond wire from your pool’s steel cage to the ground rod is not an acceptable practice which when I found it in the field the contractor told me that they were required to do it by an inspector in another municipality.  So if your inspector requires you to bond your pool to the ground rod at your service you can now show them where in the Code book it states it is not allowed.  That “Bond” from your pool’s steel cage goes to the pool motor bond lug on the outside of the motor not to the ground rod.  The pool steel is the new part of this section the Aluminum, and the gas piping have been here for a while.

250.52 Grounding Electrodes. (B) Not Permitted for Use as Grounding Electrodes.

(3)  The following systems and materials shall not be used as grounding electrodes:

(1) Metal underground gas piping systems

(2) Aluminum

(3) The structures and structural reinforcing steel described in 680.26(B)(1) and (B)(2)

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

This change will make it easier to understand what can be considered a grounding electrode when it comes to structural steel.  A metal in-ground support structure(s) that is in direct contact with the earth vertically for 3.0 m (10 ft) or more, with or without concrete encasement shall be used as a grounding electrode.  This can be a steel column or rebar as long as it is in contact with the earth for 10’ vertically with or without concrete encasement.  As stated in 250.50 each electrode that is present shall be bonded together to form the Grounding Electrode system.  So if you have this present in your building then it is required to used.

Also got this great picture from Hector from Royal Palm Beach.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

This weeks selection has to do with peninsular countertop outlet spacing and its change from the past Code.  It now requires one outlet measure from the connecting wall and not the connecting countertop.  Unless there is a sink or stove in the countertop there is only “one” receptacle outlet required (see 210.52(c)(4). 

210.52(C)(3) Peninsular Countertop Spaces. At least one receptacle outlet shall be installed at each peninsular countertop long dimension space with a long dimension of 600 mm (24 in.) or greater and a short dimension of 300 mm (12 in.) or greater. A peninsular countertop is measured from the connected perpendicular wall.

Can’t se the whole picture just click on it.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

This section added the words “WORK SURFACE” to the places that count as counter spaces.  Kitchens, pantries, dining rooms, and the catch all “similar areas” are now where these outlets will be required to be installed in work surfaces.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

New to this section is the addition of AFCI’s in guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels.  Just as we did with tamper resistant outlets we have added this protection to guest rooms and and guests suites of hotels and motels.  No much to add, this is a pretty straight forward addition to the expansion of the AFCI’s.

Also this week I was sent a picture of a new in the wall splitter for wiring fixtures in Bathrooms.  Enjoy!

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

This is a new section added a mandate that we install a dedicated 20a circuit in the garage for receptacle outlets, when the garage has power installed.  So the outlets installed in the garage can be on this circuit, and it goes on to say in the section that it shall have no other outlets. So it can not feed outlets in other rooms only outlets in the garage.  They added an exception to allow outdoor receptacle outlets that are readily accessible to be installed on this circuit.  In 210.52(G)(1) it requires that an outlet be installed for each vehicle bay, which would allow them to be installed on this circuit.

Can’t see the whole picture just click on it.

Till next time be safe work safe.

Jake

A couple of new additions to GFCI protection come to us in the 2017 NEC. In the residential portion of this section in 210.8(A)(5) they added unfinished portions or areas of a basement not intended as habitable space.  So your man cave in the basement would not be required to be protected by GFCI protection.  Also in the commercial/industrial portion of 210.8(B)(9), and (10) they included the same areas for basements and added crawl spaces to the protected areas.  Then in 210.8(E) in all occupancies they added the 120 volt lighting in crawl spaces to the areas that need GFCI protection.   So a few new addition to the list of GFCI protection for the protection of personnel.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake