bure961
Senior Member
- Location
- Farmingham, MA
When 2015 nfpa 70e comes out soon will it replace 2012 automatically or is it like nec that has to be adopted by each state ? Any other method ? Thanks.
NFPA CODE BOOKS
- Thread starter bure961
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I would guess that it would be adopted by local jurisdictions. Where I work we've never adopted any version of 70E.
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
Contrary to popular belief, the NFPA70e (the "arc flash" code as it is popularized) is not an enforceable code anywhere, at least not yet that I have heard of. It is a guide to safe electrical work practices, highly recommended by OSHA, but not mandated.
The way it works is that OSHA requires that every company provide a safe work environment, including processes and procedures that protect workers from exposure to hazards in the performance of their duties. In the case of electrical workers (us), those hazards include the exposure to dangerous levels of arc flash energy (among many other things). But there are no NFPA 70e police, AHJs are not yet tasked with enforcement and OSHA is not an inspection agency; they act as judge, jury and executioner, but only AFTER the crime has been committed. So when there is an accident and OSHA gets involved, the first questions they will ask will be regarding the details on the electrical safety program, processes and certifications they require that you maintain. If the answer is "Program? What program? We don't got no stinken program!", then the rest of the subsequent conversations are going to be very unpleasant, many of which will involve lawyers. And by the way, OSHA has been known (and has the power) to hold INDIVIDUAL MANAGERS criminally responsible if there is nothing in place. If the answer is "Our program is based on the NFPA 70e procedures and recommendations", the rest of the conversations will be less hostile and likely focused more on what actually went wrong and whether or not the program was acted upon. If you have a program but it is NOT based on NFPA 70e, that's technically OK, but it will invite more scrutiny on the adequacy of the program itself, not just the execution of it. If OSHA shuts the doors while they scrutinize it, that generally results in financial ruination.
So what you find is that COMPANIES, MUNICIPALITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS will require adherence to NFPA 70e, usually because their "loss prevention" managers see the potential risk of NOT adopting it.
The way it works is that OSHA requires that every company provide a safe work environment, including processes and procedures that protect workers from exposure to hazards in the performance of their duties. In the case of electrical workers (us), those hazards include the exposure to dangerous levels of arc flash energy (among many other things). But there are no NFPA 70e police, AHJs are not yet tasked with enforcement and OSHA is not an inspection agency; they act as judge, jury and executioner, but only AFTER the crime has been committed. So when there is an accident and OSHA gets involved, the first questions they will ask will be regarding the details on the electrical safety program, processes and certifications they require that you maintain. If the answer is "Program? What program? We don't got no stinken program!", then the rest of the subsequent conversations are going to be very unpleasant, many of which will involve lawyers. And by the way, OSHA has been known (and has the power) to hold INDIVIDUAL MANAGERS criminally responsible if there is nothing in place. If the answer is "Our program is based on the NFPA 70e procedures and recommendations", the rest of the conversations will be less hostile and likely focused more on what actually went wrong and whether or not the program was acted upon. If you have a program but it is NOT based on NFPA 70e, that's technically OK, but it will invite more scrutiny on the adequacy of the program itself, not just the execution of it. If OSHA shuts the doors while they scrutinize it, that generally results in financial ruination.
So what you find is that COMPANIES, MUNICIPALITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS will require adherence to NFPA 70e, usually because their "loss prevention" managers see the potential risk of NOT adopting it.
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fmtjfw
Senior Member
- Location
- Fairmont, WV, USA
NFPA70E is adopted by reference in WV as part of the state Fire and/or Building code. It is just as enforceable as NFPA 70.
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
Well, there's the start of it then. So who inspects for it? The local building dept. AHJs or the Fire Marshals?
mayanees
Senior Member
- Location
- Westminster, MD
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer and Master Electrician
The issuance of an NFPA document supersedes all previous editions, as detailed in the paragraph that precedes the foreword in the 2012 70E, where it states that the 2012 edition has an effective date of August 31, 2011.
The 70E 2015 edition will be available 10/10/14 according to the NFPA website.
I've always understood this to be a consensus safety standard, and as such, it comes into effect when issued.
But as jraef wrote, it's not enforced unless there's an incident. And then when OSHA visits, you better be meeting 70E criteria, or be able to defend the program you're following.
From what I've seen, there are significant improvements to the document, directed at more sensible management of electrical systems.
The 70E 2015 edition will be available 10/10/14 according to the NFPA website.
I've always understood this to be a consensus safety standard, and as such, it comes into effect when issued.
But as jraef wrote, it's not enforced unless there's an incident. And then when OSHA visits, you better be meeting 70E criteria, or be able to defend the program you're following.
From what I've seen, there are significant improvements to the document, directed at more sensible management of electrical systems.
gadfly56
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
As a point of information, I've been told that the federal government automatically adopts the latest version of any national standard when issued. So if you get a visit from the OSHA goblins, they'll be looking at NEC 2014 to see if you're compliant, even if your jurisdiction is on 2005. Enjoy!:thumbsdown:
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