logic string of the NEC

[copper123]

I was hoping that somebody could set me strait about the logic string of the NEC.

I was just reading the post about the panel board in the bathroom under the subject DIY.

I was pretty sure I have read on here that a panel board is legal if it?s in a commercial bathroom and all the working clearances are met.
I wanted to check it out, so I went to 408 in the 02 NEC to see what I could find. Couldn?t find it, so I did a search on the forum and found the topic.

The legality of putting a panelboard in a commercial bathroom is under over current protection in article 240.
I guess I am just a bit confused about the logic string. My way of thinking is that we are 100% talking about a panel board installation. Yes, it has over current protection, but the main bite of the question is the panel proper.
If we look at chapter three, all materials, romex, MC cable, ect. are clearly laid out on what we can and cannot do for installation, it just seems like equipment, IE panel boards are not so clearly defined. Anyway, any thoughts or other ways to look at it would be great. It seems like sometimes I dig around a lot to find something that in my way of thinking should be in other chapters. I know the NEC is not an instruction book, it just seems like it some areas it can be a lot more helpful.

Thanks!

 

[inspector23]

The way I was taught has helped me a great deal through the years.

It is not 100% accurate, but it is a great guide.

Whether you are helping a buddy wire his garage or you are contracted to provide the electrical system for a 40 story Casino, the process is basically the same. First you plan your needs, then you build the infrastructure, then you provide the items that require consumption of the electricity.

Chapter 2 - Plan
Calculations, what materials to use, and where to place materials are found in this chapter. First you have to PLAN your work, so this is where you begin. The correct location for various materials can generally be found in this chapter, as this is where you would PLAN where they are to be installed.


Chapter 3 - Build

This is where the infrastructure is built. If your question concerns generally the infrastructure of the electrical system, this is where you will likely find the answer as this chapter contains a lot of articles pertaining to the BUILD of the system.


Chapter 4 - USE

Basically, if your questions concerns something which CONSUMES electricity, then it will be found in the USE chapter, chapter 4.

Obviously it goes much deeper than this, but here is a good outline to begin your quest.

 

[George Stolz]

Re: logic string of the NEC

My way of thinking is that we are 100% talking about a panel board installation. Yes, it has over current protection, but the main bite of the question is the panel proper.

The problem with that train of thought is that it would affect panelboards with no OCPD's in them. If an old panel was in a bathroom, and we upgraded to move the panel, we would likely use the old panel as a junction box.

Since the arcing of OCPDs as they open is what the writers are concerned about, it's actually a little bit better to deal with that issue directly. It uses fewer words and is more adaptive to future changes in the code, IMO.

Originally, I agreed with you, I thought it was a bad piece of writing too. But the more I thought about it, the more I liked the arrangement.

I would be in favor of a FPN to 408.2, directing us to 240.24. I think that would be helpful and wouldn't detract from the code too much.

Are there other examples you can think of to elaborate on your main point, about the structure of the NEC?