Code Change of the Week

A notation was added to this definition to allow a key to be used to gain access to electrical equipment.  Whether if it is a room or a enclosure, the equipment is still considered a readily accessible if you need a key.  We used to fight over the definition all the time and I always had a scenario that would help in understanding this definition.  My scenario was that when you left for work this morning did you lock the doors in your house, if so according to some, your circuit breakers in your panel are not readily accessible.  So the use of a key to gain access to a room, a generator, or some other type of electrical equipment or enclosure is ok.

I’ve seen generators like the one pictured below with a disconnect next to it because the breaker inside was not readily accessible.

Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible). Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to take actions such as to use tools (other than keys), to climb over or under, to remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

I was asked to start doing my Code changes again since we are not having any continuing education classes this year.  We will start at the beginning of the Code and work our way through the book.  If you see something I’ve missed please let me know and I will add it to my list of changes.

The first one we will look at is 110.3(C) which talks about product listings and who can perform these listings.   Below you will see the list of testing labs that I know of, and I’m sure that there may be some that I’ve missed,  if you know of any please let me know. 

So based on this section the letter from your Engineer will not be be acceptable.

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

Have any question please email me at jleccemail@hotmail.com

Till the next time be safe work safe

Jake

700.19 Multiwire Branch Circuits The branch circuit serving emergency lighting and power circuits shall not be part of a multiwire branch circuit.

This is a Code change from the “2014” NEC that came up this week at work.  Multiwire branch circuits are no longer allowed for “Emergency Circuits”.  Reason behind this change follows what was done in the 2011 Code for Hospital circuits in sections 517.18(A) and 517.19(A).  This allows for a ground fault, short circuit, or an overload to occur without tripping a two pole or three pole circuit breaker which would take out other essential loads.  Only individual branch circuits will be allowed. 

For example reliability is certainly decreased when a short in a 277 volt lighting ballast takes out the other two poles of a three pole circuit breaker, knocking out the remaining 2/3 of the lighting.  With this requirement only the 1/3 of the lighting on the affected pole is out, leaving 2/3 of the lighting in operation when using individual branch circuits.  Makes sense!

Till next time be safe wear your mask.

Jake

PS Nice picture of box fill. Yeah we need to add dimmers!!!

A Code change that makes what we have been doing for a long time legal.  The Code changed the maximum length of the cord we put on a dishwasher from 4’ to 6.5’. I think from the 70s to today most have used a 6’ cord if not longer to hook up the dishwasher.

A new change also restricts the location of the receptacle outlet to a space adjacent to the dishwasher, no longer allowing it to be placed behind the unit.  Although I never put an outlet behind the dishwasher it was allowed.

As always if you don’t see the whole picture just click on it.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

This section has been expanded to more commercial areas and mobile homes in the 2017 Code.  This section 406.12 now covers more commercial areas where these types of receptacles are needed. They figured out that children not only get hurt in the home, they can get hurt at the airport, in the doctors office, and in mobile homes. 

This is a 2017 CODE change and it will not go into use until January of 2021.

Till next time be safe work safe.

Jake

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

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

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