fmtjfw
Senior Member
- Location
- Fairmont, WV, USA
Section/Paragraph: 215.12
Revised Text
215.12 Identification for Feeders.
(A) Grounded Conductor.
The grounded conductor of a feeder shall be identified in accordance with 200.6.
(B) Equipment Grounding Conductor.
The equipment grounding conductor shall be identified in accordance with 250.119.
(C) Identification of Ungrounded Conductors.
Ungrounded conductors shall be identified in accordance with 215.12(C)(1) or (C)(2), as applicable.
(1) Feeders Supplied from More Than One Nominal Voltage System.
Where the premises wiring system has feeders supplied from more than one nominal voltage system, each ungrounded conductor of a feeder shall be identified by phase or line and system at all termination, connection, and splice points in compliance with 215.12(C)(1)(a) and (b).
(a) Means of Identification.
The means of identification shall be permitted to be by separate color coding, marking tape, tagging, or other approved means.
(b) Posting of Identification Means.
The method utilized for conductors originating within each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment shall be documented in a manner that is readily available or shall be permanently posted at each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment.
(2) Feeders Supplied from Direct-Current Systems.
Where a feeder is supplied from a dc system operating at more than 50 volts, each ungrounded conductor of 4 AWG or larger shall be identified by polarity at all termination, connection, and splice points by marking tape, tagging, or other approved means; each ungrounded conductor of 6 AWG or smaller shall be identified by polarity at all termination, connection, and splice points in compliance with 215.12(C)(2)(a) and (b). The identification methods utilized for conductors originating within each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment shall be documented in a manner that is readily availableor shall be permanently posted at each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment.
(a) Positive Polarity, Sizes 6 AWG or Smaller.
Where the positive polarity of a dc system does not serve as the connection for the grounded conductor, each positive ungrounded conductor shall be identified by one of the following means:
(1) A continuous red outer finish
(2) A continuous red stripe durably marked along the conductor?s entire length on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or black
(3) Imprinted plus signs (+) or the word POSITIVE or POS durably marked on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or black, and repeated at intervals not exceeding 610 mm (24 in.) in accordance with 310.120(B)
(b) Negative Polarity, Sizes 6 AWG or Smaller.
Where the negative polarity of a dc system does not serve as the connection for the grounded conductor, each negative ungrounded conductor shall be identified by one of the following means:
(1) A continuous black outer finish
(2) A continuous black stripe durably marked along the conductor?s entire length on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or red
(3) Imprinted minus signs (?) or the word NEGATIVE or NEG durably marked on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or red, and repeated at intervals not exceeding 610 mm (24 in.) in accordance with 310.120(B)
Feeder conductors shall be identified in accordance with 210.5.
Substantiation:
A feeder is defined as a type of circuit, so the references to "circuit" in the revised 210.5 can refer to both "branch circuits" and to "feeders".
The sections 210.5 and 215.12 are nearly identical. They differ by the use of "branch circuit" and "feeder". Internal references differ, but have the same meaning. They also have to begin to diverge by the addition of "point" in 210.5(C)(2) in connection with grounded conductors. There is a dictum from computer science that states "if you put the same information in two places, eventually it will change in one and not the other, so don't do it".
I see no particular need to repeat nearly a whole column with the same meaning in the feeder article when it already appears in the branch-circuit article. The practice of referring to other sections for conductor colors and markings is supported by that method being used in 210.5(A) and (B) and 215.12(A) and (B).
Approval of this change should be co-ordinated with the approval of my change to 210.5.
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Revised Text
215.12 Identification for Feeders.
(A) Grounded Conductor.
The grounded conductor of a feeder shall be identified in accordance with 200.6.
(B) Equipment Grounding Conductor.
The equipment grounding conductor shall be identified in accordance with 250.119.
(C) Identification of Ungrounded Conductors.
Ungrounded conductors shall be identified in accordance with 215.12(C)(1) or (C)(2), as applicable.
(1) Feeders Supplied from More Than One Nominal Voltage System.
Where the premises wiring system has feeders supplied from more than one nominal voltage system, each ungrounded conductor of a feeder shall be identified by phase or line and system at all termination, connection, and splice points in compliance with 215.12(C)(1)(a) and (b).
(a) Means of Identification.
The means of identification shall be permitted to be by separate color coding, marking tape, tagging, or other approved means.
(b) Posting of Identification Means.
The method utilized for conductors originating within each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment shall be documented in a manner that is readily available or shall be permanently posted at each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment.
(2) Feeders Supplied from Direct-Current Systems.
Where a feeder is supplied from a dc system operating at more than 50 volts, each ungrounded conductor of 4 AWG or larger shall be identified by polarity at all termination, connection, and splice points by marking tape, tagging, or other approved means; each ungrounded conductor of 6 AWG or smaller shall be identified by polarity at all termination, connection, and splice points in compliance with 215.12(C)(2)(a) and (b). The identification methods utilized for conductors originating within each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment shall be documented in a manner that is readily availableor shall be permanently posted at each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment.
(a) Positive Polarity, Sizes 6 AWG or Smaller.
Where the positive polarity of a dc system does not serve as the connection for the grounded conductor, each positive ungrounded conductor shall be identified by one of the following means:
(1) A continuous red outer finish
(2) A continuous red stripe durably marked along the conductor?s entire length on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or black
(3) Imprinted plus signs (+) or the word POSITIVE or POS durably marked on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or black, and repeated at intervals not exceeding 610 mm (24 in.) in accordance with 310.120(B)
(b) Negative Polarity, Sizes 6 AWG or Smaller.
Where the negative polarity of a dc system does not serve as the connection for the grounded conductor, each negative ungrounded conductor shall be identified by one of the following means:
(1) A continuous black outer finish
(2) A continuous black stripe durably marked along the conductor?s entire length on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or red
(3) Imprinted minus signs (?) or the word NEGATIVE or NEG durably marked on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or red, and repeated at intervals not exceeding 610 mm (24 in.) in accordance with 310.120(B)
Feeder conductors shall be identified in accordance with 210.5.
Substantiation:
A feeder is defined as a type of circuit, so the references to "circuit" in the revised 210.5 can refer to both "branch circuits" and to "feeders".
The sections 210.5 and 215.12 are nearly identical. They differ by the use of "branch circuit" and "feeder". Internal references differ, but have the same meaning. They also have to begin to diverge by the addition of "point" in 210.5(C)(2) in connection with grounded conductors. There is a dictum from computer science that states "if you put the same information in two places, eventually it will change in one and not the other, so don't do it".
I see no particular need to repeat nearly a whole column with the same meaning in the feeder article when it already appears in the branch-circuit article. The practice of referring to other sections for conductor colors and markings is supported by that method being used in 210.5(A) and (B) and 215.12(A) and (B).
Approval of this change should be co-ordinated with the approval of my change to 210.5.
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