wet location receptacles 406.9 (B)(1) exception

[Wire-Smith]

what is the idea behind this exception? it seems like they believe covers that are only weatherproof when receptacles are removed are more weather resistant, in my experience after a few years most of those do not close tight or they even open slightly on there own. and you can't tell me every common person is going to unplug everything before they wash something down. And the way the exception reads if i pressure wash my house routinely i don't need in-use covers outdoors either. I see Hubbell tried to get it removed in 17' i haven't looked if they are trying in 20'. what am i missing? thanks. 2008 it was added in for meat processing, i understand that and they probably use better cover's but shouldn't this be a little more restricted?

 

[MasterTheNEC]

what is the idea behind this exception? it seems like they believe covers that are only weatherproof when receptacles are removed are more weather resistant, in my experience after a few years most of those do not close tight or they even open slightly on there own. and you can't tell me every common person is going to unplug everything before they wash something down. And the way the exception reads if i pressure wash my house routinely i don't need in-use covers outdoors either. I see Hubbell tried to get it removed in 17' i haven't looked if they are trying in 20'. what am i missing? thanks. 2008 it was added in for meat processing, i understand that and they probably use better cover's but shouldn't this be a little more restricted?

Greetings - The NEC is a minimum safety standard and while your thoughts on what "may" happen or has "happened" in your experience may not actually depict what others are seeing or experiencing. Also about unplugging, we know that we can't take into account all the "what people will do" aspects of life into the NEC but we sure try to come close. My recommendation is that if you feel very strongly about this you can partake in the process and submit a public input on the idea and be sure to substantiate it with more than assumptions (which are noble, do not get me wrong) as the CMP's are looking for facts or at least trying to anyway. Do they always get it right or perfect most certainly not....I am living proof of being apart of that experience.

FYI- as of the Public Inputs - First Revision the Exception is unchanged from the 2017 NEC.

 

[Wire-Smith]

Greetings - The NEC is a minimum safety standard and while your thoughts on what "may" happen or has "happened" in your experience may not actually depict what others are seeing or experiencing. Also about unplugging, we know that we can't take into account all the "what people will do" aspects of life into the NEC but we sure try to come close. My recommendation is that if you feel very strongly about this you can partake in the process and submit a public input on the idea and be sure to substantiate it with more than assumptions (which are noble, do not get me wrong) as the CMP's are looking for facts or at least trying to anyway. Do they always get it right or perfect most certainly not....I am living proof of being apart of that experience.

FYI- as of the Public Inputs - First Revision the Exception is unchanged from the 2017 NEC.

i agree with all you said, i'm actually asking what other people think about this. wouldn't it make more sense to have something added to it like "and when it is determined a weatherproof while not in use cover would offer more protection for the situation/installation." i think the intent of the exception was for a more robust installation not an exception to allow for a lower grade installation.

Thanks