Codebook or handbook?

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joebell said:
I'm still waiting for my handbook. I recently took an exam to get an expired license renewed in NH and they allowed handbooks.

John are the McPartlands still involved in writing the McGraw-Hill book?


Joe
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My father-in-law spoke to Brian McPartland about a week or so ago and he said that he was very busy working on the 2008 changes.
 
Krim said:
I for one believe that the code books should be supplied free to those licensed in the individuals area at the cost of the local AHJ's. When you are licensed in any particular area, you are required to conform to that regions code stipulations therefore you need to have the book in order to perform electrical work within their jurisdiction or they will pull your license. The NFPA is getting as bad as the magazine publishers as far as putting advertisements for their other products in the code book. Since they do this and the only persons that I've ever known to purchase a handbook are the same ones in the business that almost always have the standard code book as well, they should have a pull out discount card for say at least 20% off,redeemable at the time of purchase or order towards a copy of the handbook. It's the least they can do. My final thought is that the 10% discount for NFPA members' is a joke considering the cost for an annual membership fee. :mad:
Well I feel better getting that off my chest :grin:

Carl :)
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We don't get our books any cheaper than anyone else. We do buy the NEC thourgh the IAEI though because we get my members discount. The NFPA does put on seminars for the local buiding depts where they hand out a copy free, but it's usually a year or so after we've already bought them.

Or are you saying we should supply them? Our department spent close to $20,000 on code books this year just for us and the PM inspector and myself don't have full sets and we didn't buy all of the reference material yet and you think that we should hand them out? My job is to simply verify that you installed it to code, it's your job to know the code.

Thanks Pierre for answering that question for me.
 
cowboyjwc said:
We don't get our books any cheaper than anyone else. We do buy the NEC thourgh the IAEI though because we get my members discount. The NFPA does put on seminars for the local buiding depts where they hand out a copy free, but it's usually a year or so after we've already bought them.

Or are you saying we should supply them? Our department spent close to $20,000 on code books this year just for us and the PM inspector and myself don't have full sets and we didn't buy all of the reference material yet and you think that we should hand them out? My job is to simply verify that you installed it to code, it's your job to know the code.
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cowboyjwc,
I did not state specifically that the electrical inspectors should supply them,
I stated that the local authorities having jurisdiction, meaning the counties individual governments. If the county or states' governing laws, stipulates that the NEC code MUST BE followed in it's entirety in order for one to retain their license than yes. They (in my opinion) should be the ones supplying those licensed in their county with the most recent code book at their expense. The additional related materials that an individual may wish to purchase for their own benefit, such as the handbook or a code changes book, would naturally fall under the category of continuing education therefore should be paid for by the individual.
 
That Mcgraw book is not to my liking.. NFPA handbook is much better in my opinion. If anyone has a burning desire to check out the Mcgraw book I have a a brand spanking new 2005 one I'll send to you $45 shipped.
 
Carl,

How is the Town, County, or state going to pay for these books? I know where I live it is getting to be a battle just to have full time inspectors because the municipality believes it is cheaper to have part time inspectors. Maybe a savings in benifits or whatever I do not see how they can purchase books for each licensed individual. Nice idea though.


Joe
 
Pierre & Trevor

Thanks I was not sure. The last time I purchased that was back in the 90's and I was getting update books that supplemented the code book.

Joe
 
Thank you that will be $70 for the permit and here is your free ($100) code book that you get with your purchase.

We are state licensed here and even if it were possible, how would you know that the guy hadn't gotten 20 free code books from the different agencies he was working with and selling them on ebay?
 
I say buy all your code books,etc., from Mike Holt Enterprises, Inc.

Why ? Because, for a lot of us, We spend hours on this site and learn all

kinds of good stuff and all at 'No Charge' to shop out prices for products

available at MHE inc. is not the way to say Thank You in my opinion.
 
joebell said:
Carl,

How is the Town, County, or state going to pay for these books? I know where I live it is getting to be a battle just to have full time inspectors because the municipality believes it is cheaper to have part time inspectors. Maybe a savings in benifits or whatever I do not see how they can purchase books for each licensed individual. Nice idea though.

Joe
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joe,
Doesn't the federal gov't. still give allowances in state budgets' for educational purposes ? The state,county or town could add the amount needed into their proposed annual budgets,than we could get a little of what we pay in on federal taxes back each year in a round-a-bout way.
I'd like to know why a collegiate dictionary is thicker than the code book and yet cost about a fourth as much,the NFPA must be printing the code books on expensive paper and using high dollar inks. How can they justify such high prices ? I say we should protest and get the books at cost or pay no more than 5% over cost at least.
 
cowboyjwc said:
Thank you that will be $70 for the permit and here is your free ($100) code book that you get with your purchase.

We are state licensed here and even if it were possible, how would you know that the guy hadn't gotten 20 free code books from the different agencies he was working with and selling them on ebay?
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They could do the same for the various trades licenses as they currently do with drivers' licenses each one issued goes into the national database and when you've received your code book,it's recorded in the database that you've received your 1 free copy. If you wanted additional copies it would be at your expense. I bet the feds would find a way than to get & keep the NFPA's prices in check. Do you believe lawyers' buy their own law books or the senators, legislators, etcetera ?
 
benaround said:
I say buy all your code books,etc., from Mike Holt Enterprises, Inc.

Why ? Because, for a lot of us, We spend hours on this site and learn all

kinds of good stuff and all at 'No Charge' to shop out prices for products

available at MHE inc. is not the way to say Thank You in my opinion.
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Good point Frank

Joe
 
Carl,

I don,t need to give the Feds another reason to raise my taxes for a book that comes out every 3 years. I'll take the hit up front and claim it as a deduction on my tax return.

Joe
 
Chris for my money I know the NFPA exist, I do not need to be reminded I wish they would quit wasting money, paper and other resources on the endless stream of catalogs.
 
brian john said:
Chris for my money I know the NFPA exist, I do not need to be reminded I wish they would quit wasting money, paper and other resources on the endless stream of catalogs.
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I agree with Brian. I had a membership and I gave it up, but you sure wouldn't know it by the amount of mail I get from these guys.

The IAEI used to give members a new code book every three years (if you had been a member for at least three years). I never asked, but I assume that the reason they gave it up was that the cost was too high. I could probably take a hit in my dues where they could basically charge you over a three year period for your code book and then just automatically send you one. Here though we'd still have to buy a copy of the California Electrical Code.

Carl, We can hardly find the funds to buy our books much less your books.
 
:D
cowboyjwc said:
I agree with Brian. I had a membership and I gave it up, but you sure wouldn't know it by the amount of mail I get from these guys.

The IAEI used to give members a new code book every three years (if you had been a member for at least three years). I never asked, but I assume that the reason they gave it up was that the cost was too high. I could probably take a hit in my dues where they could basically charge you over a three year period for your code book and then just automatically send you one. Here though we'd still have to buy a copy of the California Electrical Code.

Carl, We can hardly find the funds to buy our books much less your books.
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OK guys', so no one, even the government, can really afford such an expense for the code books. I do like the idea mentioned above about paying for the newer editions over a 3 year period, you think you can arrange that with the NFPA through IAEI ? If the inspectors could work something out like that idea with the NFPA, maybe we could purchase the code books through the EI's at a discounted price. The EI's would know whether or not the individual purchasing the books worked in the electrical trade. I believe that the NFPA would go for lowering the cost if they could be assured (by the EI's) that the lower price was only to the qualified individuals.
By the way cowboyjwc, I'm greatfull that I don't have to buy 2 seperate code books every 3 years like you do in California. Is the CA code that different from the NEC code that it necessitates the need for it's own seperate book ? I suppose you also have to buy additional books as well, similar to the NEC significant changes ? That would add up to some serious buckaroos .

Carl
 
cowboyjwc said:
The IAEI used to give members a new code book every three years (if you had been a member for at least three years). I never asked, but I assume that the reason they gave it up was that the cost was too high.
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John,

I got a 2008 from IAEI this year. I just had to send them $8.00 (I think) for shipping.

Bill
 
Spending money on the books is simply part of the process. I always get both as well as many others for my office so that if i am called on to consult i have various views along with my own ( in regards to the handbooks view)....i probably spend $500 -$1,000 each cycle ....just always have and love my library of books....i write them all off...:)
 
Krim said:
:D

OK guys', so no one, even the government, can really afford such an expense for the code books. I do like the idea mentioned above about paying for the newer editions over a 3 year period, you think you can arrange that with the NFPA through IAEI ? If the inspectors could work something out like that idea with the NFPA, maybe we could purchase the code books through the EI's at a discounted price. The EI's would know whether or not the individual purchasing the books worked in the electrical trade. I believe that the NFPA would go for lowering the cost if they could be assured (by the EI's) that the lower price was only to the qualified individuals.
By the way cowboyjwc, I'm greatfull that I don't have to buy 2 seperate code books every 3 years like you do in California. Is the CA code that different from the NEC code that it necessitates the need for it's own seperate book ? I suppose you also have to buy additional books as well, similar to the NEC significant changes ? That would add up to some serious buckaroos .

Carl
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It's not really that different for me. Used to be a lot of ADA requirements for outlet and switch heights, but they moved most of that to the building code.

Here we don't do mobile home parks, hospitals, elevators, and a few other things, but the agencies that do adopt the NEC also and there are many amendments that are theirs alone.

I don't really have to buy two books, but it takes the state so long to adopt it, that I would never be ready to train my guys if I waited until that copy came out, so I get a new one as soon as it is availible.
 
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