Code Change of the Week

The six service disconnect rule for services is retained in the 2020 edition of the NEC, but is revised with the change that for up to six service disconnects they would require each disconnecting means to be installed in separate enclosures or separate compartments.  We will no longer will be able to have a meter main combo with two 200 amperes mains fed off of a 400 ampere meter if they enclosed in a single enclosure.  See the changed Code section below.  

The mains below in the picture are enclosed in separate enclosures within the piece of switchgear.

230.71(B) Two to Six Service Disconnecting Means.

Two to six service disconnects shall be permitted for each service permitted by 230.2 or for each set of service-entrance conductors permitted by 230.40, Exception No. 1, 3, 4, or 5. The two to six service disconnecting means shall be permitted to consist of a combination of any of the following:

(1) Separate enclosures with a main service disconnecting means in each enclosure

(2) Panelboards with a main service disconnecting means in each panelboard enclosure

(3) Switchboard(s) where there is only one service disconnect in each separate vertical section where there are barriers separating each vertical section

(4) Service disconnects in switchgear or metering centers where each disconnect is located in a separate compartment

Informational Note No. 1:  Metering centers are addressed in UL 67, Standard for Panelboards.

Informational Note No. 2:  Examples of separate enclosures with a main service disconnecting means in each enclosure include but are not limited to motor control centers, fused disconnects, circuit breaker enclosures, and transfer switches that are suitable for use as service equipment.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

New to the 2020 is Surge–Protection for dwelling units services.  This section 230.67 gives us the parameters for the location and type of surge protection to be provided.

A new section was added to service equipment for barriers.

230.62(C)  Barriers.

Barriers shall be placed in service equipment such that no uninsulated, ungrounded service busbar or service terminal is exposed to inadvertent contact by persons or maintenance equipment while servicing load terminations.

If disconnecting or de-energizing the service conductors supplying a service panelboard, switchboard, or switchgear is not feasible, it might be necessary for a qualified person to work on that equipment with the load terminals de-energized but with the service bus still energized. Barriers provide physical separation (adequate distance or an obstacle) between load terminals and the service busbars and terminals. This provides some measure of safety against inadvertent contact with line-energized parts during maintenance and installation of new feeders or branch circuits.

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

Till next time be safe work safe.

Jake

Text taken from the enhanced Code Book 2020 NFPA 70.

New to the 2020 NEC is a section on “line side splices or taps”.  Devices used to make splices or taps on the line side of the service disconnect shall now be listed for use on the line side of the main (service side).  Section call for effective date of 1/1/23, but will not actually go into effect until 12/31/23 when adopted by the Florida Building Code.

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

Till next time be safe work safe.

Jake

New in the 2020 Code book is an adjusted  “General Lighting Load Table “ for most types of occupancies except for dwelling units.  The lighting loads have been changed to new “VALUES” based on how much lower the wattage is for new LED lighting being installed.  The table shown below is just a sample of the table and not the complete one.  The values are drastically reduced and include the 125% for continuous load factors.  Just as the Table states it covers all occupancies except dwelling units, dwelling units will be covered in section 220.14(J),  which is also new to the Code book.  You will find the the general lighting loads are a lot smaller now for non-dwelling load calculations which will reduce the size of the lighting loads to large buildings, which will lend help with other new loads that we are seeing such as car chargers.  There are several notes that go with the table to explain which lighting loads go with which type of occupancy.  In the table the far righthand column is the VA per square foot number that we will use figure the general lighting load.

Note: The 125 percent multiplier for a continuous load as specified in 210.20(A) is included when using the unit loads in this table for calculating the minimum lighting load for a specified occupancy.

^a Armories and auditoriums are considered gymnasium-type occupancies.

^b Lodge rooms are similar to hotels and motels.

^c Industrial commercial loft buildings are considered manufacturing-type occupancies.

^d Banks are office-type occupancies.

^e Garages — commercial (storage) are considered parking garage occupancies.

^f Clubs are considered restaurant occupancies.

^g Barber shops and beauty parlors are considered retail occupancies.

^h Stores are considered retail occupancies.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

This is a new exception to this required outlet in garages.  If you are wiring an apartment building that has separate garages for some of the units it is not required to have an outlet in that space.

Till next time, Be safe work safe

Jake

New for the 2020 Code is a big change to Islands and peninsulas and work surfaces.  You will have to calculate the square footage of the surface and figure out how many receptacle outlets are needed.  The first 9 sq. ft or less gets one and then and additional one for every 18 sq. ft or faction thereof.  Then looking at part (b) at least one outlet shall be located within 2 ft. of the outer end of a peninsular or work surface, and the rest being located per the installer, designer, or building owner.

We would like to wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  

Till Next Year be safe, party safe, and work safe.

Jake

New to section 210.12 for Arc Fault circuits are added locations.  Patient Sleeping Rooms in Nursing Homes and Limited-Care Facilities are protected areas new to this section.

210.12 (C) Guest Rooms, Guest Suites, and Patient Sleeping Rooms in Nursing Homes and Limited-Care Facilities.

All 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets and devices installed in guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels and patient sleeping rooms in nursing homes and limited-care facilities shall be protected by any of the means described in 210.12(A)(1) through (6).

Each new Code cycle we get a little more Arc Fault protection.  Some day it will all be Arc Fault protected.  Which isn’t a bad thing.

Well that’s all for this week, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Jake

New to 2020 NEC is more areas in commercial and industrial areas that GFCI protection is needed.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

A new part was added to residential GFCI protection for the 2020 Code,  indoor damp and wet locations.  This could be the breeze way leading in from your pool or a mud room leading in from the back door.

Till next time be safe work safe.

Jake