Jake – Page 10 – Jake Leahy's Electrical Code Connection

This weeks 2017 Code change is not a change but a clarification to a Code section. It is based on 201.8 GFCI protection and how we measure the distances from a receptacle.

“For the purposes of this section, when determining distance from receptacles the distance shall be measured as the shortest path the cord of an appliance connected to the receptacle would follow without piercing a floor, wall, ceiling, or fixed barrier, or passing through a door, doorway, or window.”

So from the edged of the sink to the receptacle for the disposal you pass through a doorway (most of the time). Some will say that because the dishwasher is on GFCI it also includes the disposal, that is not the case the dishwasher placement on a GFCI protected circuit was based on a request from the manufacturers to place the dishwasher on a GFCI protected circuit. Maybe some day it will be required to be on a GFCI circuit but not in the 2017 Code.

My last post for the lug guards was also a 2017 NEC Code change.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

CODE CHANGE Added Panelboards to list 408.3(A)(2)

Post author:Jake
Post published:August 24, 2019
Post category:Code Change of the Week
Post comments:0 Comments

We now have to put guards on lugs in panelboards, see the pictures below. These particular ones snap on to the lugs in the panel and on the circuit breaker.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

Whole new meaning to “Going Green”

Post author:Jake
Post published:July 14, 2019
Post category:News
Post comments:0 Comments

This picture was given to me by Robin an inspector with WPB (he fills in when someone is off). The picture is of two back fed breakers from a Photovoltaic System. This is taking the Going Green systems a little to far.

Till the next time be safe work safe.

Jake

Grandfathering of Registered contractors into State Certified contractors.

Post author:Jake
Post published:June 30, 2019
Post category:News
Post comments:0 Comments

This is just a note to all county licensed contractors (ER) that the State is going to open up the grandfathering of locally licensed contractors into State certified contractors.

This State program will start on July 1st 2019 and end on November 1st 2021. See statement below.

***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Certification of Registered Contractors

House Bill 763, which passed during the 2019 legislative session, was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis on June 7, 2019. This bill will re-open the time period for electrical and alarm contractors to request that their registered license be grandfathered to a statewide certified license. Grandfathering begins July 1, 2019 and ends November 1, 2021. All applications for grandfathering must be postmarked no later than November 1, 2021 to be considered for grandfathering.

*************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

You will need to have had your license for Five Years with no major licensing problems.

This is your chance to become State Certified throughout the State of Florida.

Jake

ARTICLE 555 — MARINAS, BOATYARDS, AND COMMERCIAL AND NONCOMMERCIAL DOCKING FACILITIES 555.24 Signage.

Post author:Jake
Post published:June 30, 2019
Post category:Code Change of the Week
Post comments:0 Comments

This weeks 2017 Code change is a requirement for signage at all docks at marinas and boatyards both commercial and residential. Just warning of the potential for a shock hazard that could be present in the water and that swimming is not recommended.

In one of my past postings I mistakenly stated that the 2017 Code would be adopted around January 2020 but it should have been January of 2021.

Till next time

Have a safe Forth of July

Jake

555.3 Ground fault protection

Post author:Jake
Post published:June 16, 2019
Post category:Code Change of the Week
Post comments:0 Comments

First of all Happy Fathers days to all our fathers out there. Without you we would not be here.

We have been getting calls about our Continuing Education Classes, and we are going to run classes this fall in November instead of the summer this year, we had a lot of customers wanting to know when classes where going to be held so they could plan their vacation. So we decided to hold them in November. This is an off year because your license does not expire until 8/31/2020. You may have been notified by the County that your license needs to be renewed, if so you will be required to set up an account and download your certificate into your account. Send them your certificate from last years Continuing Education if you have one. If your a first timer you will not have a certificate to send them, and they will understand.

Back to the Code changes, Under the new Ground Fault protection requirements from 555.3 the feeder that feeds the Marina or Dock will now have to be Ground Fault protected with a 30mA device. Two changes occurred in this section one the protection went from 100mA down to 30mA for Ground Fault protection, and the other is it now included residential docks which not covered before by this section. It took a long time for the Code panels to realize that the residential boat docks were only covered by Article 210.8 in the Code. This Ground Fault protection is for the feeder only and you will still have to provide GFCI protection for boat lifts under 210.8(C), outlet protection under 210.8(A)(3) and 555.19(B)(1).

If you have questions send them to me at jleccemail@hotmail.com.

That’s all I have for today, Happy fathers day.

Jake

555 Marinas, Boatyards, and Commercial and Noncommercial Docking Facilities

Post author:Jake
Post published:June 1, 2019
Post category:News
Post comments:0 Comments

New to 2017 Code is the inclusion of residential docking facilities. This was something that should have been done long ago. There is just as much danger at a residential dock as a commercial dock. Water and electrical hazards are present at both. Todays column is just the introduction to this new inclusion in the Code, and over the new couple of columns we will look into the Codes that affect these dock wiring systems.

Just click on the pictures above to see them in a larger view.

As always work safe be safe

Jake

700.3(F) Temporary Source of Power for Maintenance or Repair of the Alternate Source of Power.

Post author:Jake
Post published:May 19, 2019
Post category:Code Change of the Week
Post comments:0 Comments

A new section was added to 700 section 700.3(F). If you have a required emergency generator system, and you have to take it out of service for repairs or maintenance you have to have temporary or portable means to maintain the emergency backup system. There are many ways to achieve this backup to the backup system, a Kirk key systems and Cam locks systems are some of the means to achieve this backup, but that will be up to the design professional. In the 2017 when designing a system you will be required to meet the Code requirements from 700.3(F) for the emergency backup system..

700.3(F) Temporary Source of Power for Maintenance or Repair of the Alternate Source of Power.

If the emergency system relies on a single alternate source of power, which will be disabled for maintenance or repair, the emergency system shall include permanent switching means to connect a portable or temporary alternate source of power, which shall be available for the duration of the maintenance or repair. The permanent switching means to connect a portable or temporary alternate source of power shall comply with the following:

(1)Connection to the portable or temporary alternate source of power shall not require modification of the permanent system wiring.

(2)Transfer of power between the normal power source and the emergency power source shall be in accordance with 700.12.

(3)The connection point for the portable or temporary alternate source shall be marked with the phase rotation and system bonding requirements.

(4)Mechanical or electrical interlocking shall prevent inadvertent interconnection of power sources.

(5)The switching means shall include a contact point that shall annunciate at a location remote from the generator or at another facility monitoring system to indicate that the permanent emergency source is disconnected from the emergency system.

It shall be permissible to utilize manual switching to switch from the permanent source of power to the portable or temporary alternate source of power and to utilize the switching means for connection of a load bank.

Informational Note: There are many possible methods to achieve the requirements of 700.3(F). See Figure 700.3(F) for one example.

Exception: The permanent switching means to connect a portable or temporary alternate source of power, for the duration of the maintenance or repair, shall not be required where any of the following conditions exists:

(1) All processes that rely on the emergency system source are capable of being disabled during maintenance or repair of the emergency source of power.

(2) The building or structure is unoccupied and fire suppression systems are fully functional and do not require an alternate power source.

(3) Other temporary means can be substituted for the emergency system.

(4) A permanent alternate emergency source, such as, but not limited to, a second on-site standby generator or separate electric utility service connection, capable of supporting the emergency system, exists.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake