This article was posted 07/13/2009 and is most likely outdated.

2011 NEC Accepted Revisions
 

 

Topic - NEC
Subject - 2011 NEC ACCEPTED REVISIONS

July 13, 2009
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Accepted Revisions for the 2011 National Electrical Code

Image1In an effort to keep you informed and encourage you to participate in the Code making process, I would like to bring to your attention some revised rules to be contained in the 2011 NEC. I am including 13 of the significant changes for your review. Naturally there are many rules that have been changed and you can download the ‘draft’ edition of the 2011 NEC at http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/ROP/70-A2010-ROPDraft.pdf.

If you would like to know more about ‘why’ a rule was changed, you can download the Report on Proposals at http://www.nfpa.org/Assets/Files/PDF/ROP/70-A2010-ROP.pdf which will give you all of the details.

It’s important that all of us in the industry participate in the Code making process, and you still can! All you need to do is submit a comment on any of the proposals by using one of the forms below:

Enjoy the following.
Note: the underlined text indicates what has changed.

 
Rule 1 – Available Fault Current
110.24 Available Fault Current [ROP 1-183].
(A) Field Marking. Service equipment in other than dwelling units shall be legibly marked in the field with the available fault current. The field marking(s) shall include the installation date and be of sufficient durability to withstand the environment involved. [ROP 1-183]

(B) Modifications. When modifications to the electrical installation occur that affect the available fault current at the service, the available fault current shall be verified or recalculated as necessary to ensure the service equipment interrupting ratings are sufficient for the available fault current at the line terminals of the equipment. The required field marking(s) in (A) above shall be adjusted to reflect the new level of available fault current. [ROP 1-183]

Exception: The field marking requirements in (A) and (B) shall not be required in industrial installations where conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the equipment. [ROP 1-183]

Rule 2 – GFCI Protection
210.8 GFCI Protection
(B) Other Than Dwelling Units. All 125-volt, single phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in the locations specified in (1) through (5) shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. The ground-fault circuit-interrupter shall be installed in a readily accessible location. [ROP 2-77]
(7) Locker rooms with adjacent showering facilities [ROP2-110]
(8) Garages, service bays, and similar areas [ROP 2-122]

Rule 3 – Available Fault Current
240.35 Marking with Available Short-Circuit Current. Equipment enclosures, in other than dwelling occupancies, containing service or feeder circuit overcurrent protective devices, shall be field marked with a label containing the following:
(1) The available short-circuit current as calculated for equipment rating purposes
(2) The date on which the short-circuit calculation was performed or obtained. [ROP 10-72]

Exception: In installations with written safety procedures, where conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the equipment, marking on the enclosure is not required if documentation of 240.35 (1) and (2) is available upon request to the authority having jurisdiction. [ROP 10-72]

Rule 4 – Supporting Wiring Methods
300.11 Securing and Supporting.
(A) Secured in Place. Raceways, cable assemblies, boxes, cabinets, and fittings shall be securely fastened in place. Support wires that do not provide secure support shall not be permitted as the sole support. Support wires and associated fittings that provide secure support and that are installed in addition to the ceiling grid support wires shall be permitted as the sole support. Where independent support wires are used, they shall be secured at both ends. Cables and raceways shall not be supported by ceiling grids.
(2) Non–Fire-Rated Assemblies. Wiring located within the cavity of a non–fire-rated floor–ceiling or roof–ceiling assembly shall not be secured to, or supported by, the ceiling assembly, including the ceiling support wires. An independent means of secure support shall be provided and shall be permitted to be attached to the assembly. Where independent support wires are used, they shall be distinguishable by color, tagging, or other effective means. [ROP 3-73]

Rule 5 – Conductor Sizing for Dwelling Units
310.15 Ampacities for Conductors Rated 0–2000 Volts.
(B) Tables. Ampacities for conductors rated 0 to 2000 volts shall be as specified in the Allowable Ampacity Table 310.15(B)(16) as modified by (B)(1) through (B)(7). [ROP 6-52]
(7) 120/240-Volt, Single-Phase Dwelling Services and Feeders [ROP 6-53].
(a) For individual dwelling units of one-family, two-family, and multifamily dwellings, conductors, as listed in Table 310.15(B)(7), shall be permitted as 120/240-volt, single-phase service-entrance conductors and service lateral conductors. [ROP 6-53]
(b) Feeder conductors for a dwelling unit, after adjustments and corrections, shall not be required to have an ampacity rating greater than the Table 310.15(B)(16) allowable ampacity of the service conductors. [ROP 6-83a, 6-85]

Rule 6 – Switches
404.2 Switch Connections.
(C) Switches Controlling Lighting Loads. Where switches control lighting loads supplied by a grounded general purpose branch circuit, a grounded circuit conductor shall be provided at the switch location. [ROP 9-95]

Exception: The grounded circuit conductor shall be permitted to be omitted from the switch enclosure where either of the conditions in (1) or (2) apply: [ROP 9-95]
(1) Conductors for switches controlling lighting loads enter the device box through a raceway. [ROP 9-95]
(2) Cable assemblies for switches controlling lighting enter the box through a framing cavity that is open at the top or bottom on the same floor level, or through a wall, floor, or ceiling that is unfinished on one side. [ROP 9-95]

Rule 7 – Replacement of Receptacles
406.4 General Installation Requirements.
(D) Replacements. Replacement of receptacles shall comply with 406.4(D)(1) through (D)(6) as applicable. [ROP 18-24]
(4) Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupters. Listed combination arc-fault circuit-interrupter receptacles shall be provided where replacements are made at receptacle outlets that are required to be so protected elsewhere in this code. [ROP 18-30]

Exception to (4): Unless the receptacle is protected by an upstream AFCI. [ROP 18-30]

(5) Tamper-Resistant Receptacles. Listed tamper resistant receptacles shall be provided where replacements are made at receptacle outlets that are required to be tamper-resistant elsewhere in this Code.[ROP 18-24]

(6) Weather-Resistant Receptacles. Weather-resistant receptacles shall be provided where replacements are made at receptacle outlets that are required to be so protected elsewhere in the Code. [ROP 18-33]

Rule 8 – Tamper-Resistant Receptacles
406.13 Tamper-Resistant Receptacles in Guest Rooms and Guest Suites. All nonlocking type, 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles shall be listed tamper-resistant receptacles. [ROP 18-87]

Rule 9 – Tamper-Resistant Receptacles
406.14 Tamper-Resistant Receptacles Child Care Facilities. In all child care facilities, all nonlocking type, 125- volt, 15- and 20- ampere receptacles shall be listed tamper-resistant receptacles. [ROP 18-90]

Rule 10 – GFCI Protection
445.20 Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter Protection for Receptacles on 15 kW or Smaller, Portable Generators.
All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- 20-, and 30-ampere receptacle outlets, that are a part of a 15 kW or smaller, portable generator, shall have ground-fault circuit interrupter protection for personnel integral to the generator or receptacle. [ROP 13-19]

Rule 11 – Transformer Disconnect
450.14 Disconnecting Means. Transformers, other than Class 2 or Class 3, shall have a disconnecting means located either in sight of the transformer or in a remote location. Where located in a remote location, the disconnecting shall be lockable, and the location shall be field marked on the transformer. [ROP 9-176]

Rule 12 – GFCI Protection
590.6 Ground-Fault Protection for Personnel.
(A) Receptacle Outlets. Temporary receptacle installations used to supply temporary power to equipment used by personnel during construction, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition of buildings, structures, equipment, or similar activities shall comply with the requirements in 590.6(A)(1) through 590.6(A)(3), as applicable. [ROP3-140]
(3) Receptacles on 15 kW or less Portable Generators. All 125-volt and 125/250-volt, single-phase, 15-, 20-, and 30-ampere receptacle outlets that are a part of a 15 kW or smaller portable generator shall have listed ground-fault circuit interrupter protection for personnel. Listed cord sets or devices incorporating listed ground-fault circuit interrupter protection for personnel identified for portable use shall be permitted for use with 15kW or less portable generators manufactured or remanufactured prior to January 1, 2011. [ROP 3-140]

Rule 13 – Pool Bonding
680.26 Equipotential Bonding.
(B) Bonded Parts. The parts specified in 680.26(B)(1) through (B)(7) shall be bonded together using solid copper conductors, insulated covered, or bare, not smaller than 8 AWG or with rigid metal conduit of brass or other identified corrosion-resistant metal. Connections to bonded parts shall be made in accordance with 250.8. An 8 AWG or larger solid copper bonding conductor provided to reduce voltage gradients in the pool area shall not be required to be extended or attached to remote panelboards, service equipment, or electrodes.
(7) Fixed Metal Parts. All fixed metal parts shall be bonded, including but not limited to, metal sheathed cables and raceways, metal piping, metal awnings, metal fences, and metal door and window frames. [ROP 17-184]

 
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Comments

  • I'm looking at the change for 404.2(C) and it's exception. I interpret this as permitting the grounding of the neutral at the switchbox except where there is a metal raceway. Grounding the neutral at the box would cause objectionable current if there is a metal raceway otherwise there should not be a problem. This would come in handy in places where there is no ground wire. If there is no metal raceway and no ground wire you might as well use the neutral as a return path for the fault current.

    Eric Kench
    Reply to this comment

  • I agree, taht the manufacturers are the ones who pushed/paid to get this through. They already have switches/dimmers that in my opinion should have NEVER been UL listed. they used the ground as their neutral. So they push for the electrician to have to run a neutral there to the box just in case a new dimmer is present.

    brother
    Reply to this comment

  • Rule 6 404.2 For what reason is the grounded conductor brought to the box? Exception 1: If this were a bonding/grounding conductor, it would make sense, particularly if the conduit were non-metallic. Will this added conductor be counted in calculating box fill? Exception 2: If the unfinished opening is proposed to be closed later, does a grounded conductor have to be added at that time? Who's going to make whom do it, since it will be a non-electrical closure, not requiring an electrical inspection

    Harvey E. Wilmoth
    Reply to this comment

  • Rule 6 404.2 There is no reason to bring a neutral to the switch box in the switch leg. And once there, then what? Dead end it with a wire nut? Run it back out to the switch load? So how much did the cable manufacturers pay the NEC for this suggestion.

    Mike B
    Reply to this comment

  • Rule 5: Is that a typo for a new Table 310.15(B)(16) as modified by the new Table 310.15(B)(7)?

    Rule 6: If 404.2(A) remains intact, adding an Ex. 2 to (A) stating "In dwelling non metallic cable, switch loops shall not require a grounded conductor where dead-end circuits are intentionally used."

    Rule 7: 406.4(D)(4) [Typo S/B 406.3...etc. Regardless, so will new AFCI receptacles be on the market to protect only part of an extension? Has industry developed a new AFCI circuit receptacle that can see unprotected line side branch circuits? What is the reasoning behind this for an extension that is new and the original intact line is potentially more fault-prone? This is discomforting to see MFRS. sell more $$ profit and partial warm feeling safety.

    ben jacks
    Reply to this comment

  • Qualified personal??????????? When will the code making panels address this issue? Pawning off the short circuit requirement on the electrician is a simple way for the designing engineer to release him/her self of all liability. What percentage of electricians in this country even know where to begin to calculate the short circuit or arc fault current?

    Dave
    Reply to this comment

  • 110.24 Available Fault Current [ROP 1-183].

    I have no issue with the initial publication of the AFC at the service. That seems like it should be standard, so now it is NEC.

    However, in the area of modifications (B), modification and extent should be defined. If the "modification" referred to is just to recalc the service entrance AFC, when the service parameters change, that is typically unknown and can even change based on utility company feed configurations. It is entirely in the control of the untilty company and rarely does the design professional or the owner know of the changes.

    If this will also be required when the owner adds a new accross the line chiller, these calcuations can be extensive. Also, what about the strip mall owner that decices to add cooling and "changes" the AFC at the service. Does the NEC expect that he will contact and engineer?

    In the case of a hospital with 150 panels on normal power, the calculations can be very extensive and would likely be performed very often. Every CT change, every Chiller change, etc. It would likely take a model of the facility. Is this the intent of the proposed code?

    James Stampe
    Reply to this comment

  • how about gfci protection on general purpose recepticals in restaurants dining areas especialy when the receptical is under the dinner tables

    mark
    Reply to this comment

  • 406.4(D)(4) AFCI "receptacles" as replacement. I feel this would be more usable if the rule read AFCI "protected receptacles". If the AFCI device were installed in the panel, it would be more likely to stay than if the home owner were to change out an AFCI receptacle for a standard receptacle.

    George
    Reply to this comment

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