Code Change of the Week

This weeks change is an easy one to understand.  They included photovoltaic powered signs to also be listed for use as a sign’s electrical system.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

A new section has been added to article 555 requiring signs to be placed so as to “WARN” people of the protentional hazards that could exist in the water. If you are working on a marina or dock you will be required to post “permanent signs” to warn potential swimmers of the hazard that could be there.

Till the next time be safe work safe.

Jake

This section has changed the GFCI protection for marinas and docks from a 100 mA down to 30 mA.  When a marina’s or dock’s electrical system is installed, it must be installed under the adopted code at time of installation.  So an existing dock will not be required to updated unless a major upgrade or expansion to the dock is made.  You may still run into the AHJ that will require you to change the feeder or branch circuit device on an existing dock, but that was not the intent of this “new change”.  This covers both residential and commercial marinas and docks.

On another note we have set the dates for our first in class CEU courses.  December 7th and 8th will be our first 7 hours of continuing education for the new cycle.  Hope to see you there.

Till next time be safe work safe.

Jake

This weeks change has been one that was long over due.  They finally added residential docks and marinas to the code for us to follow and enforce.  As an inspector I used to argue with contractors over residential docking facilities about what does and doesn’t apply.  Well the argument is over.  Residential docks and marinas are now listed in the scope of Article 555.  So for this weeks change that’s where we will stop.  We now have Codes that will protect people who are using residential docking facilities, where in the past it was always an argument and the use of 90.4 to enforce something that should have been in the Code book years ago.  Article 555 now includes residential docks!

In the next newsletter we will look into the sections of 555 and try and clear up some of the new requirements.

For those of you wondering if we are ever going to do continuing education again, we are planning to do a two-night seminar in December.  Watch for our email.

Till the next time work safe be safe

Jake

This weeks change is an easy one.  If you run conduit on a roof and use compression fittings you will be required to pull an equipment grounding conductor.

Till next time be safe work safe.

Jake

This weeks Code change is really just a clarification of voltages requiring GFCI protection, 250V or less and 60 amperes or less on single and three phase systems.  It also clarifies what type of GFCI protection can be provided upstream from the equipment in (B).

Also included this week is another great picture from out there somewhere.

Don’t have a knockout set just cut the bottom out and run a bonding jumper.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

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

Nothing to complicated here just clarifies what we all knew anyways.  Appliances need to be listed.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

This weeks change is on “Tamper resistant receptacles”  for the additional areas and types of outlets where they will be required.  In doing plan review I have failed more plans for this than I can count, and that is because its new.  We’ve added additional places and types of outlets that require being this type of protection. After all our Code is a guide to the practical safeguarding of persons and property from the hazards arising from the use of electricity.  Children shouldn’t have to be hurt or die from these hazards for us to make simple corrections for a safer environment.

They’ve added more commercial areas that are to be covered by tamper resistant outlets, and they added 250 volt outlets to the section also.  It only makes sense to include ,ore areas out there that children are exposed to.  When they first put this section in the Code back in the 90’s I wondered “Why did this take so long” because more children were hurt by sticking objects into outlets and being shocked, burned or possibly killed because we didn’t address the problems we had.  The simple solution is that they should all be tamper resistant, but for right now the list grows for areas covered which is a step in the right direction.  The addition of 250 volt outlets in the 2017 Code is also long over due even though most accidents are from regular duplex receptacles that are installed everywhere.

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake

This weeks post is more of a clarification than a change.  In the 2014 Code it was added that a receptacle mounted in a faceup position in a counter top had to be listed.  Well all receptacles have to be listed.  So an assembly that is listed for faceup position also has to be listed for work surfaces and countertop applications

This week I was sent some specs on a new tandem breaker (arc fault). See the link below.

https://www.downloads.siemens.com/download-center/Download.aspx?pos=download&fct=getasset&id1=BTLV_70495

Till next time be safe work safe.

Jake

The change to this section is the fact that they have to be listed and the Class 2 circuitry is integral with the outlet.  There are plenty out there that are not listed so don’t get caught without a listed product.

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

Till next time be safe work safe

Jake