Harmonizing Electrical Installation Requirements

Harmonizing Electrical Installation Requirements

110 Years, 50 Editions

Origin of the National Electrical Code First meeting held on March 18-19, 1896 in New York City 23 persons in attendance American Society of Electrical Engineers American Institute of Architects National Street Railway Association

Origin of the National Electrical Code The International Association of Fire Engineers Underwriters Laboratories Factory Mutual AT&T General Electric

Origin of the National Electrical Code-Perspective Wright Brothers would not fly for 7 more years Henry Ford had invented his horseless carriage three years earlier, but he still worked for the Edison Illuminating Company as a Mechanical Engineer Some Limited train service, stage coaches and horses

Origin of the National Electrical Code-Perspective Edison had introduced the incandescent lamp 17 years earlier Alexander Graham Bell had invented his telephone only 20 years earlier

Insurance Perspective Associated Factory Mutual Insurance Companies losses-electrical fires in 65 insured textile mills in New England Large part of the problem-no standards. The workmen frequently created standards as they worked and no two workmen thought alike.

Electrical Codes in Use There were 5 electrical codes in use in the USA in 1896 Manufacturers were unable to standardize products where there could be 5 variations of the product.

Development Approach Take the best requirements from The five electrical codes The Electrical Code of Germany The Rules of the British Board of Trade The Phoenix Rules The rules had to be safe as well as practical The document was developed and circulated around the USA and Europe to 1200 experts

The First Edition Issued in 1897 by the National Conference on Standard Electrical Rules

National Fire Protection Association Assumed sponsorship in 1910 Published annual and biennial editions until 1959 Has published triennial editions since 1959 Published 42 of the 50 editions

Guiding Principles No one individual or industry segment possessed all of the answers. Broad consensus of all affected industry segments necessary

1896 1927 1943 1959 1962 1968 1984 1985 1992 1993 1994 First Meeting of the National Electrical Code Committee

1896 1927 1943 1959 1962 1968 1984 1985 1992 1993 1994 NFPA Founders include Canadian Underwriters Association

1910 1927 1943 1959 1962 1968 1984 1985 1992 1993 1994 NFPA Becomes the sponsor of the National Electrical Code

1896 1927 1943 1959 1962 1968 1984 1985 1992 1993 1994 First record of NEC published in Spanish (NEC-E)

1896 1927 1943 1959 1962 1968 1984 1985 1992 1993 1994 First record of NEC published in Spanish (NEC-E) New Canadian Electrical Code, first part based on NEC

1896 1927 1959 1962 1968 1984 1985 1992 1993 1994 1943 NEC-E published in New York

Trade Agreements Canada/US Free Trade Agreement North American Free Trade Agreement

Code Harmonization Binational Correlating Committee on the Electrical Installation Codes Canada USA Correlating Committee on the Electrical Installation Codes of North America Canada USA Mexico

Code Harmonization Studies to identify differences that affect products CSA NEMA Low voltage wire and cable Elevator General Solicitation of input

Code Harmonization Since Mexico uses NEC as basis for their code, the major differences involved the Canadian Electrical Code Changed focus back to the Binational activity with Canada

Code Harmonization Conductor Ampacity Many proposals to Canadian Electric Code, Part 1 use use NEC requirements as substantiation

Electrical Safety System Infrastructure For the United States of America

US Electrical Safety The system covers established risks for fire and electric shock The system handles approximately 3.1 trillion kwh of electricity annually Common practice and principles across the entire country Key standardizing bodies have existed for over 100 years

The US Electrical Safety System Product Standards and Certification UL IEEE Installation Codes National Electrical Code Inspection and Enforcement (verification) Safe Products and Safe Installations

National Electrical Code Importance Directs the safe installation of products and systems Helps to ensure use of safe products Tie to other parts of the safety system Influences requirements in product standards

Product Standards Importance product standards set design, performance, construction, and certification requirements for products provides basic requirements for safe products Tie to Other Parts of the Safety System certified compliance with standards indicates suitability for installation and use in accordance with the installation Code. inspectors rely on compliance to products standards to approve a particular product for installation The standards are voluntary and not regulated

Inspection/Enforcement Importance inspector verifies that installation complies with Code provides for systematic checks and balances in the system uniform interpretation of the installation code products that do not comply with required standards will most likely not be used Tie to Other Parts of the Safety System certified compliance with standards is evidence for the inspector that a product can be safely installed and used in accordance with the installation code enforcer of the installation code

Providing electrical safety since 1897