NEC handbook
- Thread starter jon176
- Start date
Elect117
Senior Member
- Location
- California
- Occupation
- Engineer E.E. P.E.
The only issue with NFPA link is the TIA and revision numbers. I use link for 99% of things but will reference CEC (California Electric Code) if I see a "TIA" mark.
When a state adopts the code they adopt a book version revision number. For the states that adopt 3 years behind (like California) you usually end up with a more or less cleaned up version. But there are outliers where there are TIAs in the online version that are not in your state's adopted version.
It can be fairly confusing when you get into the weeds of it.
An example of this is 210.8(F) exception 2. Your printed copy will most likely not have an exception 2. Exception 2 was not adopted by the 2022 CEC. And so the question becomes, can you use that exception? That will require guidance from your AHJ. There has been detailed talks with inspectors that handle accident investigations and this issue of TIAs looking like they are code in NFPAlink but they are not in adopted and printed copies of code.
I typically buy a handbook copy and have NFPA link.
When a state adopts the code they adopt a book version revision number. For the states that adopt 3 years behind (like California) you usually end up with a more or less cleaned up version. But there are outliers where there are TIAs in the online version that are not in your state's adopted version.
It can be fairly confusing when you get into the weeds of it.
An example of this is 210.8(F) exception 2. Your printed copy will most likely not have an exception 2. Exception 2 was not adopted by the 2022 CEC. And so the question becomes, can you use that exception? That will require guidance from your AHJ. There has been detailed talks with inspectors that handle accident investigations and this issue of TIAs looking like they are code in NFPAlink but they are not in adopted and printed copies of code.
I typically buy a handbook copy and have NFPA link.
I would recommend that you spend the extra money on a Illustrated version of the NEC for the first purchase. Have a few if them and the hundreds of illustrations and explanations are price less. The older I get the more I appreciate installing color tabs on my code books. Read several times the knockoff NEC books that Amazon sell are incomplete.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Since TIAs are not legally enforceable unless adopted by the unit of government that adopted the code using the same procedure that was used to adopt the code, LinK shows you the date that the TIA was issued by the standards council and, using a click, the previous text.
The date becomes important as any TIAs that were issued prior to the date of the local code adoption are part of the code.
So there are a lot of things that enter into the legal enforcement of a TIA. Where the TIA provides for relief from a code section as is the case with 210.8(F), many AHJs will permit the use of the TIA even where it has not been officially adopted.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
Keep in mind none of that content is considered an official interpretation by NFPA of the content it refers to. I know the printed handbook has comment somewhere near front of book that states this, I would imagine the online content has a disclaimer somewhere as well. It is nothing more than the opinion of the author(s) that wrote that commentary. Similar to say any of Mike Holt's publications - they are nothing more than his opinion or possibly anyone he authorizes to help write said content in his name if that happens to be how some of it works. An AHJ has no automatic authority to accept what is in said commentary. It does give them information by other so called experts to take into consideration though, but then so does Mike Holt publications, IAEI publications and other similar publications those are just the most popular ones nationwide.
Elect117
Senior Member
- Location
- California
- Occupation
- Engineer E.E. P.E.
When I look at link, there is nothing to indicate this was a TIA. (NEC 2020, on NFPA link). It shows it as a "N" section.
I have seen, before, a "T", as to indicate TIA, but I can't find one again.
It is definitely an issue for most code enforcers and, I guess, with installers. You would have to read the Orgins tab (which does not appear on the left hand side) and memorize the list of TIAs.
There are simpler ways for them to denote when a section in NFPA link has been modified by a TIA. For example the "T" next to the section or just put a subscript at the bottom of the section with a TIA number.
Once it has been adopted in the newest version, than they can mark it with a delta or "N".
Jaybone812
Senior Member
- Location
- Massachusetts-2023 NEC
- Occupation
- Commercial & Residential Electrician
I’m well aware the commentary is just that . I’m just saying the descriptions and illustrations put have helped reinforce my explanation of a code to an apprentice
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
210.8(F) was new in the 2020 code with a single exception for lighting.
Exception #2 was added as a result of a TIA that was issued in August of 2022. Not sure why that is not showing a "T" for TIA, but maybe that was before they started doing that. When LinK first came out, they were not doing anything to indicate a change after the original publication.
They are using the "T" ins the 2023 version of LinK...see 314.29(A).
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I agree that the explanatory material and photos can help to explain often complex code language. I have about 18 NECH books dating back to 1935.
Jaybone812
Senior Member
- Location
- Massachusetts-2023 NEC
- Occupation
- Commercial & Residential Electrician
That’s quite quite the collection !!