CODE CHANGE Added Panelboards to list 408.3(A)(2)
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
ARTICLE 555 — MARINAS, BOATYARDS, AND COMMERCIAL AND NONCOMMERCIAL DOCKING FACILITIES 555.24 Signage.
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
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
700.3(F) Temporary Source of Power for Maintenance or Repair of the Alternate Source of Power.
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
ANNEX D EXAMPLE “7” RESIDENTIAL SERVICE TABLE
Below you will find a picture of Annex D example 7 from the 2017 NEC pages 799/800. It was put back in the Code to do away with the confusion that was created when they took the table out of the Code book and made it into a calculation. To many inspectors, plan reviewers, engineers, and architects have been wrongfully applying this section of the Code for a while now. I get numerous calls and emails about having to use 3/0s for a 200a service when in the past we used 2/0s. I only use the 200a service as an example. The Code panelists never meant to make it so difficult to figure out what they wanted, but unfortunately they did. When they made it a calculation they did not change the sizes of the wires in the table they just made it into a calculation, that for some reason we’ve had a tuff time understanding. As long as the load calculation does not exceed 200a the 2/0s are the conductors needed to feed a 200a service. This method works for all services of a100a on up to and including a 400a service So in the 2017 NEC they placed the residential table back in the Code back in Annex D. Probably the most misunderstood part of this Code section is that the conductors being used will have a load calculation that is above the ampacity of the conductor involved. Maybe the Code panel should include this section with the other conductor applications listed in 240.4(G).
If you have any comments or questions about this change please email me at jleccemail@hotmail.com
Can’t see the whole slide just click on it.
Till next time be safe work safe.
Jake
404.22 Electronic Lighting Control Switches.
This section gives us a date to stop making connections to an equipment grounding conductor on January 1, 2020, at switch locations that have electronic dimmers or controllers installed. After that date we need to be using a neutral conductor to make these devices work, no longer allowing the equipment ground to be used for this purpose. Although a neutral is not necessary at all switch points section 404.2 C instructs us when and where a neutral is needed. And with all good Code changes there are exceptions, this does not apply to replacements or retrofits, and has a limit of 5 (five) devices per branch circuit and 25 (twenty five) per feeder connected on the load side in the system or main bonding jumper. A neutral busbar in compliance with 200.2 B has no limits as to the number of electronic devices connected to it.
Can’t see the whole picture just click on it.
Have a question email me at jleccemail@hotmail.com
Till next time be safe work safe.
Jake
250.52(B) Not permitted for use as Grounding Electrodes
New to this section the reinforcing steel that forms a swimming pool shell. A swimming pools’ steel cage is not to be used as part of our grounding electrode system. I have heard stories where the inspector required that the contractor run the pool bond back to the ground rod? This practice a “violation” and could endanger the occupants of the pool with stray currents or ground-fault current introduced on this grounding electrode system.
Can’t see the whole picture then just “Click” on it.
Till next time be safe work safe.
Jake
2017 Code Changes
This week we will start a series of Code Changes found in the 2017 NEC. Every couple of weeks we will explore one of the changes. If you have questions please email me at jleccemail@hotmail.com. REMEMBER THESE ARE NOT IN USE BECAUSE THE FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISION HAS NOT ADOPTED THE 2017 NEC YET!!!!!
The first one we will look at is in Article 110.14(D) Installation (of devices outlets, switches etc., etc..). This new section requires us to torque all connections that require torqueing which would now include switches and receptacle outlets, or any equipment that has a numerical value on the device or in the instructions provided by the manufacturer. A couple of manufacturers have come out with devices that come with a snap in tails which would not require torqueing. See the slides below, if you can not see the entire slide just click on it to make it bigger.
But for those who don’t have the snap in tails , you will need a torqueing screw driver.
Till next time be safe work safe.
Jake
310.15(B)(7) 120/240-Volt, Single-Phase Dwelling Services and Feeders.
I keep getting calls from contractors that tell me that this town or that county no longer allows them to use 2/0 Cu. for a 200a dwelling service or feeder. This section changed in the 2014 Code but the only thing that changed is they took out the Table and made it into a calculation using 83%. This 83% rule has seemed to throw off a lot of people in our trade (plan reviewers, inspectors, and contractors). Just so you know the old table from 2011 Code will still work nothing has changed. It is not just the 2/0s its all the conductor we use to use in the old Table (see the Table below) they all still work for serving the loads that are shown to serve in the old Table. They work for both feeders and services.
EXAMPLE:
A 2/0 conductor in the 75 degree column in 310.15(B)(16) is good for 175 amperes
A 200 ampere service rating multiplied by 83% equals a 166 amperes.
So as you can see a 2/0 will be large enough to serve 166 ampere service rating.
As long as your load calculation does not exceed 200 amperes the “CODE” allows you to exceed the rating of the 2/0 conductors ampacity, by applying the 83% rule in 310.15(B)(7)(1)(2).
See #1 and #2 below to see what the conductors ampacity is based on “SERVICE RATING” and FEEDER RATING”
310.15(B)(7)
(1) For a service rated 100 through 400 A, the service conductors supplying the entire load associated with a one-family dwelling, or the service conductors supplying the entire load associated with an individual dwelling unit in a two-family or multifamily dwelling, shall be permitted to have an ampacity not less than 83 percent of the service rating.
(2) For a feeder rated 100 through 400 A, the feeder conductors supplying the entire load associated with a one-family dwelling, or the feeder conductors supplying the entire load associated with an individual dwelling, unit in a two-family or multifamily dwelling, shall be permitted to have an ampacity not less than 83 percent of the feeder rating.
3/0 is not needed for a dwelling service rated 200 amperes unless it is not feeding the entire load to that dwelling.
Below you will find a dwelling service table from the 2014 Florida Building Code 5th Edition that was taken out in the 6th Edition of the FBC, but it still works and it includes both copper and aluminum conductors plus the size of the required grounding electrode conductor. Use it in good faith that it will give you the right size service and/or feeder to your dwelling unit. .
Till next time be safe work safe
Jake
Do I need and outlet at my service?
Question came up this week in reference to having a service outlet near the service equipment. I referred them to section 210.64 and told them one was required, except at a one-family and two-family dwelling. This would be for service equipment installed both inside or outside of a building. If you install a 480 volt service make sure to put in a small step down transformer in order to comply with this section………..
Till next time be safe work safe
Jake
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