This article was posted 07/16/2008 and is most likely outdated.

UL White Book
 

 

Topic - UL
Subject - UL White Book

July 16, 2008
This newsletter was sent to 29480 newsletter subscribers

Ask a Question |  Weekly Code GraphicQuizzes |  Free Stuff InstructorsOnline Training Products | Seminars | SubscribeUnsubscribe
[ image1 Post Comments | View Comments | Notify Me When Comments Are Added ] Web Page Version [Printer-Friendly]    

 

UL White Book

 

ImageFor the most part, the National Electrical Code contains requirements that are pretty straight forward, and only require a quick reading to fully understand. For example, all 125V, 15A and 20A receptacles in a bathroom must be GFCI-protected [210.8(A)(1) and 210.8(B)(1)]. Other requirements take a little more thought to fully understand, such as 250.4, which tells us that following all of Article 250 is simply a means of complying with section 250.4. Of all these rules in the NEC, however, there seems to be one rule that has a broader scope than any other rule, and that is 110.3(B). 110.3(B) tells us that if you install listed equipment, that equipment must be installed in accordance with the  listing instructions.

 

For the first few years of my electrical career, I didn’t know how to verify that I was following the listing instructions. I decided I would get the product standards for the equipment that I was installing, but then I found out that the standards aren’t free…in fact, they are far from it! It was a few years later that I was introduced to the UL Guide Information for Electrical Equipment (White Book). The White Book blew me away the first time I used it, because I found it to be so full of scattered information that I couldn’t find anything. There was nothing but a bunch of “product categories”, and even the people at UL didn’t know what they really meant, or what the rhyme and reason behind them was. A few years ago, however, UL revised the White Book to include a cross reference to related NEC sections.

 

Now when I see a metal outlet box in a fire-resistance rated wall, I can find the requirements for the box. 300.21 of the NEC tells us that the integrity of the wall shouldn’t be compromised, so I can look up section 300.21 in the White Book cross reference, and it tells me to go to Product Category “QCIT”. When I look in QCIT (metal outlet boxes), I find a few interesting things. For example:

  • Metal boxes in a rated wall must be secured to the framing member, which means cut-in (or old work) boxes aren’t allowed.
  • The answer to the age old question of “how many extension rings can be installed on a 4 in. box” is, quite simply, however many you want.
  • Concentric knockouts in a 4 in. box don’t require bonding.
  • Boxes for supporting a luminaire that weighs 50 or less pounds are marked “FOR FIXTURE SUPPORT” on the carton.

 Some other things that I found in the White Book:

  • Nearly all conduit fittings are listed for grounding and bonding (DWTT)
  • Listed reducing washers are listed for grounding and bonding (QCRV)
  • Reducing washers can be used on concentric knockouts…but only if all of the knockouts have been removed (QCRV).
  • The “back-stab” terminals of switches (WJQR) and receptacles (RTRT) are okay for stranded or solid conductors, but they are not listed for aluminum conductors.
  • Wire connectors for dissimilar materials can only be used in dry locations (AALZ).
  • Galvanized rigid steel conduit installed in concrete does not require supplementary corrosion protection. (DYIX).

 The White Book has a truly massive amount of information, and the information covers every end of the spectrum. Some of the requirements are obvious, some are obscure; some are useless, but most are highly useful. Most of these requirements can only be found in the White Book, not in the NEC.

 

Click here to download the UL White Book. The file is 15MB so it may take several minutes to download.

 

Ryan Jackson

Code Consultant, Mike Holt Enterprises

 

 

 

Click here to post a comment
[ View More Newsletters ] [ Send to a Friend ] [ Post Comments | View Comments | Notify Me When Comments Are Added ]

Copyright © Mike Holt Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.
This article is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be
displayed or published on the internet without the prior written permission of Mike Holt Enterprises, Inc.

http://www.MikeHolt.com     1-888-NEC-CODE (1-888-632-2633)

Experiencing a Problem? Click Here

 
Comments
  • Mike why list aluminum wire as not listed for back stab for devices. Today devices only take #14copper. Aluminum conductors for #14 copper is #12 aluminum and will not back stab in devices .Also devices state #14 only. Do we need to list this fact? .

    lou roselle
    Reply to this comment

  • The UL listing is not the only listing allowed in most areas, There are two more prominent listing agencies that can and need to be referenced. The UL listing has a hold on the marketplace (because articles like the one i am posting about fail to give them equal promotion)and that drives the price of goods up because their incredible fees to list a product often keep a smaller companies product from the marketplace. The UL rlisting may not mean the safest or most reliable product, The CSA and ETL listings can also provide safe, reliable, and sometimes superior products and the manufacturers are able to pass on the savings from not listing UL.

    Kurt
    Reply to this comment

  • Thanks, but you showed me all of that thing I want to read.

    Bob
    Reply to this comment

  • THANKS! I had a copy of the white book about 15 years ago and found many many little gems in there.

    After all, that is the listing document and tells us how we can use the equipment we see every day.

    My old white book got lost/gone/who-knows a while back. I am hapy to have the new revision, and have it avialiable.

    Thanks again.

    Lynn Adams Building Trades Investigator Certified Florida Electrical Inspector

    Lynn Adams
    Reply to this comment

  • Very good information for a safety practioner to learn about equipment limitations and the like. Thank you for this information.

    Thomas
    Reply to this comment

  • Good artical and well done Ryan Jackson.

    When we prepare engineering documents and there is a suggestion to use a product that we are unfamiliar with, we will call the vendor and ask him or her if the product is UL listed. We also ask if the product is UL listed for the purpose that we are intending to use it for. If there answers are yes, then we will consider employing the equipment / piece in our design. CSA standard would be appropriate for installtions in Canada.

    Jeff Basiaga

    Jeff Basiaga
    Reply to this comment

  • Thanks for the awesome resource information.

    jmrobinson
    Reply to this comment

  • Ryan, I believe that you mistated the information for The “back-stab” terminals of switches (WJQR) and receptacles (RTRT) are okay for stranded or solid conductors, but they are not listed for aluminum conductors. It should be "are for the connection with 14 AWG solid copper only". The restriction is for all types of aluminum wire, 14 AWG stranded copper wire or 12 AWG solid or stranded copper wire.

    The UL White Book is an execellent resource in understatng how products can and can not be used and I frequent will refer to it. Thanks for this article

    Mark
    Reply to this comment

  • When I tried to download the White Paper, the page said the file no longer exists, What happened?

    Larry Petersen
    Reply to this comment

  • When will one be out refering to the 2008 NEC, please let me know.

    Curtis Parr
    Reply to this comment

  • The document is identified as copyright protected. Is there an official UL location to download the document, or does Mike Holt Enterprises, Inc. have permission to provide copies?

    Carl Wong
    Reply to this comment

  • Ryan, Spreading the word on the white book is great. There is an easier way to get info out of it though. If you have a code section and are looking for a listed product check out this link. Try it with 210.12. Once you get to the guide info click on view listings and the manufacturers will come up

    http://www.ul.com/regulators/codelink/

    Larry LeVoir
    Reply to this comment

  • Regarding fittings approved for grounding, not all locknuts are UL listed. A listed locknut is slightly thicker than a non-listed locknut. I have installed thousands of locknuts and only recently noted that some have the UL stamp, some don't.

    Tom Baker
    Reply to this comment


Get notified when new comments are posted here
* Your Email:
 
        
 
Add Your Comments to this Newsletter
* Your Name:
   Your name will appear under your comments.

* Your Email:
   Your email address is not displayed.
* Comments:

Email Notification Options:
Notify me when a reply is posted to this comment
Notify me whenever a comment is posted to this newsletter