Code Change of the Week

In the 2011 NEC article 110.24 has a few changes that need to be be addressed.  Under 110.24(A) Field Marking, service equipment in other than a dwelling unit shall be field marked with the maximum available fault current.  This is something you will have to get with the utility or the engineer for the project to be able to calculate.  The field markings will have to be able to with stand the elements when a attached to a disconnect or panelboard out in the field.   Section 110.24(B) Modifications will make you as the installer responsible to attach newly calculated fault current information to the equipment based on modification made to the circuits.  All information provided will have to with stand the elements in which they are installed so a Sharpie or Magic Marker is not going to meet the requirements of this new change because they don’t last out in the weather.   Till next time work safe…

For the 2011 edition of the NEC on page 275 of the softbound Code book, they have added the requirement for field identification of all switchboards and panelboards, to indicate where the power to that equipment originates.  It will be easier to mark these panel and switch boards when they are installed.  Trying to find the source 5 or 10 years down the road has always been a time consuming project that only takes minutes when first installed.  A great addition to the code, will make life as an electrician easier in the future.  Till next time work safe and be safe.

Jake

The yellow highlighted material below is a new Code change for 2011.  GFCI protection has been expanded to cover other areas that have been shown to have problems.

Till next time work safe and be safe.

Jake

With the impending adoption of the 2011 NEC I will try to pick out a few changes that will affect the way we wire houses.  The first is minor change but it could have your job fail inspection.  210.52 (A)(4) again is a minor change but could end  you fail an inspection.

As you can see in the picture the outlet on the counter was used to cover the 2’ wall space next to the sliding door.  Under the 2011 NEC you will no longer be able to use the counter outlet to cover the wall space

With all the new electronic dimmers there seems to be a need for neutral conductors at switch locations.  This new code section in the 2011 NEC requires that if you cannot access a switch box after the installation then a neutral conductors is required to be installed in the box.  If you can access the box after the installation then the neutral will not be required until it is needed.

This is a 2011 code change and will not affect installation being done now but when it is adopted this will be something all the inspectors will be looking for.

Until next week

Be safe, always check to see if it is hot.

When sharing the Neutral of a multi-wire branch circuit, the circuit breaker has to be common trip.

Single phase, Three phase circuits now require a 2 pole or three pole circuit breaker.