Is NFPA 79 a law ?

[lundell]

With out posting a long drawn out debate with a customer I have this question.
Is NFPA 79 enforceable by law or is it a standard that is used as a benchmark ?
After long searches both here and Google I get varying replies from "It only matters if the company has adopted it as code" to "it is part of NFPA 70 and therefore must be followed as if it were the NEC it's self.
Thanks

 

[don_resqcapt19]

It is not part of NFPA 70, and it is not a "law" unless adopted by some unit of government. It can be binding per contract documents, and would be cited as "national recognized standard" in any type of law suit.

 

[pfalcon]

I would only add that anyone buying industrial machines should "Company Adopt" the NFPA79. Otherwise you have no basis to answer that lawsuit question Don mentioned as in "What standard did you build that machine to?" or "By what standard do you consider it to be safely built and maintained?"

The ANSI Press series B11 also recommends building presses in compliance with NFPA79.