Proposed NEC Reorganization

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don_resqcapt19

don_resqcapt19

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The following reorganization for the NEC will be discussed at the Correlating Committee Meeting on March 14 &15. (posted in two parts)

NEW ArticleCURRENT articletitle
9090Introduction
Chapter 1: Definitions and General Requirements
100100Definitions
110110Requirements for Electrical Installations
120220Load Calculations
130750Energy Management Systems
140590Temporary Installations
Chapter 2: Wiring and Protection for Systems 1000 VAC, 1500 VDC and Below
200300General Requirements
205310Conductors and Cables
206200Use and Identification of Grounded Conductors
210210Branch Circuits
215215Feeders
225225Outside Branch Circuits and Feeders
230230Services
240240Overcurrent Protection
242242Overvoltage Protection
250250Grounding and Bonding
Chapter 3: Wiring and Protection for Systems Over 1000 VAC, 1500 VDC
300305General Requirements
305315Conductors and Cables
306Use and Identification of Grounded Conductors
330235Branch, Feeder and Services
335395Outdoor Overhead Conductors
340245Overcurrent Protection
342242Overvoltage Protection
350250Grounding and Bonding
Chapter 4: Wiring and Protection for Limited Energy Systems
400Wiring Requirements and Materials
405722Conductors and Cables
406Use and Identification of Conductors
430Interior Cabling Systems
435Exterior Cabling Systems
440724, 725, 726Overcurrent Protection
442Chapter 8Overvoltage Protection
450Grounding and Bonding
Chapter 5: Enclosures
520312Cabinets, Cutout Boxes, and Meter Socket Enclosures
522314Outlet, Device, Pull, and Junction Boxes; Fittings; and Hand hole Enclosures
Chapter 6: Wire and Cable
620320Armored Cable: Type AC
622322Flat Cable Assemblies: Type FC
624324Flat Conductor Cable: Type FCC
626326Intergrated Gas Spacer Cable: Type IGS
628330Metal-Clad Cable: Type MC
630332Mineral-Insulated, Metal-Sheathed Cable: Type MI
632334Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable: Types NM and MNC
634770Optical Fiber Cables
636727Instrumentation Tray Cable: Type ITC
638336Power and Control Tray Cable: Type TC
640337Type P Cable
642338Service-Entrance Cable: Types SE and USE
644340Underground Feeder and Branch-Circuit Cable: Type UF
646400Flexible Cords and Flexible Cables
648402Fixture Wires
Chapter 7: Conduit and Tubing
720342Intermediate Metal Conduit: Type IMC
722344Rigid Metal Conduit: Type RMC
724348Flexible Metal Conduit: Type FMC
726350Liquidtight Flexible Metal Conduit: Type LMFC
728352Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride Conduit: Type PVC
730353High Density Polyethylene Conduit: Type HPDE Conduit
732354Nonmetallic Underground Conduit with Conductors: Type NUCC
734354Reinforced Thermosetting Resin Conduit: Type RTRC
736356Liquidtight Flexible Nonmetallic Conduit: Type LFNC
738358Electrical Metallic Tubing: Type EMT
740360Flexible Metallic Tubing: Type FMT
742362Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing: Type ENT
Chapter 8: Raceways
820366Auxiliary Gutters
822372Cellular Concrete Floor Raceways
824374Cellular Metal Floor Raceways
826376Metal Wireways
828378Nonmetallic Wireways
830382Nonmetallic Extensions
832384Strut-Type Channel Raceway
834386Surface Metal Raceways
836388Surface Nonmetallic Raceways
838390Underfloor Raceways
840392Cable Trays
842770,800, 805,810,820,830,840Raceways for Limited Energy Systems (Communication Raceways)
 
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Chapter 9: Power and Lighting Systems
920368Busways
922370Cablebus
924369Insulated Bus Pipe (IBP) and Tubular Covered Conductors (TCC)
926371Flexible Bus System
928380Multioutlet Assembly
930393Low-Voltage Suspended Ceiling Power Distribution Systems
932604Manufactured Wiring Systems
934605Office Furnishings
Chapter 10: Open Wiring
1020394Concealed Knob-and-Tube Wiring
1022396Messenger-Supported Wiring
1024398Open Wiring on Insulators
Chapter 11: Devices
1104404Switches
1106406Receptacles
1108408Switchboards, Switchgear and Panelboards
1110409Industrial Control Panels
1120450Transformers and Transformer Vaults
1130455Phase Converters
1140460Capacitors
1150470Capacitors
Chapter 12: Utilization Equipment
1220410Luminaires, Lampholders and Lamps
1222411Low-Voltage Lighting
1224600Electric Signs and Outline Lighting
1226430Motors, Motor Circuits, and Controller
1228610Cranes and Hoists
1230620Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators, Moving Walks, Platform Lifts,
and Stairway Chairlifts
1232675Electrically Driven or Controlled Irrigation Machines
1240422Appliances
1250424Fixed Electric Space Heating Equipment
1252425Fixed Resistance and Electrode Industrial Process Heating Equipment
1254426Fixed Outdoor Electric Deicing and Snow-Melting Equipment
1256427Fixed Electric Heating Equipment for Pipelines and Vessels
1258440Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment
1260665Induction and Dielectric Heating Equipment
1270630Electric Welders
1272650Pipe Organs
1274645Information Technology Equipment
1276647Sensitive Electronic Equipment
1278660X-Ray Equipment
Chapter 13: Systems
1320625Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System
1322626Electrified Truck Parking Spaces
1324640Audio Signal Processing, Amplification, and Reproduction Equipment
1326646Modular Data Centers
1328668Electrolytic Cells
1330669Electroplating
1332670Industrial Machinery
1334685Integrated Electrical Systems
Chapter 14: Equipment Over 1000 VAC, 1500 VDC
1420490General
1424404Switches
1428490Switchgear and Industrial Control Assemblies
1430490Mobile and Portable Equipment
1432490Boilers
1434430Motors, Motor Circuits, and Controllers
1436460Capacitors
1438470Resistors and Reactors
Chapter 15: Hazardous Locations
1500500Hazardous (Classified) Locations, Classes I, II, and III, Divisions 1 and 2
1501501Class I Locations
1502502Class II Locations
1503503Class III Locations
1504504Intrinsically Safe Systems
1505505Zone 0, 1, and 2 Locations
1506506Zone 20, 21, and 22 Locations for Combustible Dusts or Ignitible Fibers/Flyings
1510511Commercial Garages, Repair and Storage
1512513Aircraft Hangars
1514514Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities
1516515Bulk Storage Plants
1518516Spray Application, Dipping, Coating, and Printing Processes Using Flammable or Combustible Materials
Chapter 16: Occupancies
1610517Health Care Facilities
1612518Assembly Occupancies
1614520Theaters, Audience Areas of Motion Picture and Television Studios, Performance Areas, and Similar Locations
1616522Control Systems for Permanent Amusement Attractions
1618525Carnivals, Circuses, Fairs, and Similar Events
1620530Motion Picture and Television Studios and Similar Locations
1622540Motion Picture Projection Rooms
1624545Manufactured Buildings and Relocatable Structures
1626547Agricultural Buildings
1628550Mobile Homes, Manufactured Homes, and Mobile Home Parks
1630551Recreational Vehicles and Recreational Vehicle Parks
1632552Park Trailers
Chapter 17: Installations Associated with Bodies of Water
1710680Swimming Pools, Fountains, and Similar Installations
1712682Swimming Pools, Fountains, and Similar Installations
1714555Marinas, Boatyards, Floating Buildings, and Commercial and Noncommercial Docking Facilities
Chapter 18: Energy Systems
1810455Generators
1812480Stationary Standby Batteries
1814690Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
1816691Large-Scale Photovoltaic (PV) Electric Supply Stations
1818692Fuel Cell Systems
1820694Wind Electric Systems
1822706Energy Storage Systems
1824702Portable Standby Systems
Chapter 19: Interconnected Energy Sources
1910710Sand Alone Systems
1912705Interconnected Electric Power Production Sources
Chapter 20: Life Safety and Emergency Systems
2010700Emergency Systems
2012701Legally Required Standby Systems
 
EeeeVeee said:
Is there a good reason for this or is it just to cause massive confusion?
Click to expand...
There are some good reasons. You can go to nfpa.org/70, then to "next edition", then to "first draft committee information" and then to "Pre-First Draft Meeting Agendas" to view or download the document. Below is a summary of the reasons. I have no idea if this will happen for the 2026 or a later edition of the code.


 Communication systems in Chapter 8 are no longer installed or maintained by communication
utilities.
 Electrical Systems over 1000V AC / 1500V DC (Medium Voltage) has expanded well beyond
utility ownership.
 Limited energy systems in Chapter 7 and 8 are commonplace (no longer “special”) and are
morphing into systems that mimic Chapter 3 wiring methods.
 Distributed Energy Resource technologies are challenging the status of single‐direction power
flow and connection to a premises or to the utility.
 DC circuits and advanced electrical storage technologies are increasing in use.
 Energy monitoring, control and automation are accelerating energy resilience, such as
microgrids, energy efficiency, and alternate power sources.
 Enforcement of the NEC is conducted by many disciplines that can include electrical inspectors,
consulting engineers, building officials and fire officials.
 
The current organization of the NEC is horrible but it's been that way for a century. While this makes sense it is really necessary to get people who have been using the code for decades to re-think the entire content of the NEC?
 
I probably not going to say it right.

I thought that in all cases a direct cause and effect for each Article change had to be presented and sustained with a
complete argument for an edit to occur any Article ?

I also think it's refreshing, I wish they'd clean up the fire alarm code...
 
infinity said:
The current organization of the NEC is horrible but it's been that way for a century. While this makes sense it is really necessary to get people who have been using the code for decades to re-think the entire content of the NEC?
Click to expand...
It took me 25 years to memorize as many articles as I know, and now I have to do it all over again.

Think about how confusing it will be for two people to have a discussion about code when they’re from different areas on different code cycles.

But what does the NFPA/CMP/etc. care? I’m just the guy who actually uses the code. I think they like to mess with us, like children burning ants with a magnifying glass. Now I know what the ant feels like.
 
It will certainly be a gift to those doing code-update classes :LOL: .

Are they just planning to renumber and split certain single articles into multiple ones? There would have to be a large inside-article renumbering unless they simply leave a lot of holes.
 
Just. Don't.

I don't see how any of the reasons you stated are sufficient reasons to dump a century of tradition and people's entire careers of code knowledge in the trash all at once.

If people lack the skills to find relevant code sections this is going to do virtually nothing to help them. They need better skills. Any benefit is miniscule compared to the confusion this will cause.

Be more incremental.
 
1. It will hard for me after 45 years I pretty much know where everything is
2. It will be good for code instructors
3. Mike Holt will have to edit all his material
I do see the logic in making the change. A good cross reference is a must
 
I did notice an error. Where it states article 240 - overcurrent protection under the current article it says 250
 
jaggedben said:
Just. Don't.

I don't see how any of the reasons you stated are sufficient reasons to dump a century of tradition and people's entire careers of code knowledge in the trash all at once.

If people lack the skills to find relevant code sections this is going to do virtually nothing to help them. They need better skills. Any benefit is miniscule compared to the confusion this will cause.

Be more incremental.
Click to expand...
To be clear, I just copied the reasons from the NFPA document.
 
There have been Article changes in the past but nothing like this. Receptacles were in Article 410, Panelboards were in Article 384, outlet boxes in 370, Wireways in 362, and others. Of course that was not as extensive as this proposal.
 
I like it. A lot.

The current organization of the NEC is random and illogical.

Yes, it will be a learning curve to get acquainted with the new organization, but we have to constantly learn new things anyway.

As I’m a GC and an EC, I have to keep up on California building, residential, and electrical codes, ADA/CalDAG codes, and an at least peripheral knowledge of plumbing, mechanical, historic, existing building, and “green” building codes.

A reorganization of the NEC would not be an insurmountable obstacle for me personally.
 
tom baker said:
1. It will hard for me after 45 years I pretty much know where everything is
2. It will be good for code instructors
3. Mike Holt will have to edit all his material
I do see the logic in making the change. A good cross reference is a must
Click to expand...
Article 250 was reorganized in the 1999 code with many section number changes. They did provide a cross reference in the 99 code between the 96 and 99 Article 250 code sections.
I doubt they would provide a cross reference to the section level with this proposed change, but expect there would be on for the chapters and articles if this becomes code.
 
Hmm. Where would I find the information in 800.47 for instance? It's understood that Chapter 8 is not subject to the requirements of Chapter 3 unless there is a reference to a Chapter 3 article. How will that be handled?

-Hal
 
hbiss said:
Hmm. Where would I find the information in 800.47 for instance? It's understood that Chapter 8 is not subject to the requirements of Chapter 3 unless there is a reference to a Chapter 3 article. How will that be handled?

-Hal
Click to expand...
I expect that the 800 stuff not being subject to the rest of the code will go away....that almost happened for the 2023 code.
There are no details on how this will work yet...this is just an agenda item for the correlating committee meeting.
If they do go ahead with this, I don't see how they could get it all done in a 3 year code cycle.
 
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