NEC public access

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Srv52761

Srv52761

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Recent court case
https://www.republicreport.org/2023/federal-appeals-court-affirms-the-right-to-publish-the-law/

One issue people have had in the past is having an electrical project that requires a city permit and must adhere to the city code and not being able to easily find the code.

In both my previous town in eastern Iowa and my current location in Des Moines the city code says something to the effect, “The city code of …. shall be the 20XX Revision of the NEC with the following adaptations.”
They list the adaptations, but not the NEC.

Until the last revision the National Fire Protection Association, the authors of the NEC and other building codes, denied free access to the codes. They sold the code books or online acces for $$, a lot of $$. Even now the free access is not copyable (sans screenshots) or searchable.

So, the city would require people to follow the code, but not allow them access to read the code.
Our public library had one copy in the reference section, often in use. Anyone using the NEC infrequently knows with all the cross referencing finding what you need could take a long time. Our library had a sign up sheet for its use.

The court ruled since it is used in city law, the printing of the code is fair use and can not be a basis of copyright infringement.
Will be interesting to see how the NFPA changes their business model.
 
The free access has been around for a long time not just the recent revision. It would be nice if one could copy and paste a section but guess they decided that would encourage pirating.

You can get access to every standard that NFPA puts out by paying $100 yearly. I don't think that is a lot of money for anyone doing electrical work.
 
Since the "free access" is read only it's pretty useless. Certainly a maneuver by the NFPA to combat legal challenges like the one in the OP.
 
jaggedben said:
Seems to me that reading the NEC is it's main use?
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Without copy/paste it's not very useful. As Dennis said you can get access for 100 bucks but you would need an internet connection for it to work. Often when in the field we do not have internet access so a PDF stored on a mobile device is a better option.
 
jaggedben said:
Maybe if you are trying to teach a class or argue on this forum. But to just check if your install is compliant - the primary purpose - I disagree.
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Being able to do searches is more important than copy/paste.

But I agree that the sole reason they are using the free access format they currently use is to try and force people to buy copies of the code instead of using the free access format that is mostly pretty useless.

This came up because the NFPA discourages AHJ from inserting the code as a whole into law and instead wants it done by reference. I think they have successfully managed to do so except in one state where the state courts have ruled that you cannot adopt something as law and than try and charge people to find out what the law is, but more importantly cannot copyright the actual text of the law.
 
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Also it's really not that hard to grab a bit of text these days if you really need to. On a Mac, for example, just screenshot it, open the screenshot in Preview, and select the text. (Don't tell NFPA!) Mac might be easier than any other platform but I'm sure there are ways in Windows, too.
 
jaggedben said:
Also it's really not that hard to grab a bit of text these days if you really need to. On a Mac, for example, just screenshot it, open the screenshot in Preview, and select the text. (Don't tell NFPA!) Mac might be easier than any other platform but I'm sure there are ways in Windows, too.
Click to expand...
Windows uses the PRT SC button for screen shots, for quite a while now. Several versions ago, when printers were more common, you had to enable the screen shot option.
 
jim dungar said:
Windows uses the PRT SC button for screen shots, for quite a while now. Several versions ago, when printers were more common, you had to enable the screen shot option.
Click to expand...
I prefer the windows button shift and "S". This way you can highlight what you want. Just perform the keystrokes and then highlight what you want copied
 
jaggedben said:
Maybe if you are trying to teach a class or argue on this forum. But to just check if your install is compliant - the primary purpose - I disagree.
Click to expand...
I copy and paste code sections about once a week outside of a forum so for me the online read only is useless.
 
For me it's more about reassurance when I make a claim, I'm not much concerned with providing backup, I can take that up if needed.
 
Wonderful, thank u, but those all are "work a rounds", in Mac & Windows.
Does not address the original, valid viewpoint of OP...
Legal requirement to implement law... but no access to... NEC code..
Because of $$$$
Bill
 
The other thing that sucks with the free version is navigation of long articles. If you want to read something in the middle of article 250, you either need to page right a page at a time from 250.1 or page back one at a time from 300.1. Lots of clicking. If it references you to 250.140 and back to 250.32, then it is more back and forth clicking. Ive opened multiple windows to the code when it references other chapters so I dont have to page back to where I was.

It should be easier to use for a mandated code.
 
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