2014 NEC Code ChangesTed “Smitty” Smith

Article 750

• Energy Management Systems• Brand New Article• Prompted by the need to meet energy management

requirements

There are certain systems that we do not want to interfere with in this process

750.20

• Alternate Power Sources• Energy management systems shall not override alternate

power sources for the following systems• Fire Pumps• Health Care Facilities Emergency Systems• Legally Required Standby Systems

Load Shedding Controls

• Energy Management Systems can not interfere with the load shedding controls for the following• Fire Pumps• Health Care Facility Emergency Systems• Legally Required Standby Systems

Low and Medium Voltage Demarcation

• The code has historically divided low and medium voltage at 600V

• Solar and Wind had moved towards a standard of 1000 Volts

• In almost all circumstances where a proposal was submitted to change from 600V to 1000V it was accepted.

• Code Making Panel 1 did not change Article 110 and deferred other changes to individual code making panels.

110.26

• Outward opening door and panic hardware requirement for electrical rooms has changed from being required for equipment 1200 Amps and greater to now be 800 Amps and greater

210.8 GFCI

• Laundry Areas has been added to the list of areas in a dwelling unit where GFCI protection is required

• Dishwashers are now required to be GFCI protected.

210. 12 AFCI

• AFCI is now required in kitchens and laundry areas of dwelling units

• Dormatory Units will now need to be AFCI protected

• Several new options have been added to provided AFCI protection

Six Methods to Provide AFCI

• 1. AFCI Combination Breaker• 2. Branch/ Feeder Breaker for the homerun only, then AFCI device at

first receptacle• 3. Supplemental Arc Protection breaker for homerun then a AFCI

receptacle for first outlet. Limited to 50 ft or 75 ft homerun. • 4. A listed branch circuit AFCI device that has been listed to work

together to protect both the homerun and the demand side of the circuit. Limited to 50 and 75 ft homeruns

• 5. Use a steel wiring method from breaker to first outlet. Use a AFCI receptacle at first outlet

• 6. Encase homerun in 2” of concrete and then use an AFCI receptacle at the first outlet.

220.12 Lighting Loads

• Related to new energy code requirements• Energy codes are requiring fewer watts per square foot

but systems are required to be designed to handle much more load

• New code requirement allows you to size lighting loads at a lower amount if you meet specific requirements of a energy management system in the building.

240.87 Arc Energy Reduction

• Formally named Non-instantaneous Trip Circuit Breakers• Renamed to be more definitive of the subject matter• If the CB has a rating or can be adjusted to 1200A or greater

then the requirements of .87 must be met• Uses the same language as 240.95 the GFI requirement

310.15(B)(7) Dwelling Unit Service Entrance Conductor Sizing Table

• Table is now eliminated• Replaced with an adjustment factor of .83• It also will clarify that other adjustment factors apply

406.9(B)(1) Wet Location Receptacles

• Same requirements as 2011 for in use covers, etc• New requirement that the cover be extra hard usage listed

Article 517 Health Care Facilities

• Patient Bed Receptacles: Increased from 4 to 8 receptacles required.

• Critical Care Patient Care Area Receptacles: Increased from 6 to 14

• Operating Rooms now require 36 receptacles• ISOLATED GROUND RECEPTACLES NO LONGER

ALLOWED IN PATIENT CARE BED AREAS

517.26

• Essential Electrical System needed to meet the requirements of Article 700 in the 2005 NEC

• Now clarified to be just be a requirement of the Life Safety Branch and not the entire Essential Electrical System.

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment 625.14

• New requirement electric vehicle supply equipment is considered to be a continuous load

• 125% application

• If supplied by an energy management system then size OCPD and conductor based on the load supplied by the energy management system WITHOUT 125% requirement.

690.17 Solar Power Disconnect Switch

• Added a list of listing requirements that are acceptable for PV disconnects switchs.

• The old requirement just required they be listed. • There are numerous listing specifications available so the

NEC narrowed them down to the ones that are acceptable.

Surge Protection for Emergency Standby Systems Article 700

• Surge protection is now also required for the alternate power supply system

New requirement

Emergency Illumination

• 700.16 now requires emergency illumination at the emergency power disconnect devices and transfer switch areas.

Article 705 Interconnection of Power Production Systems

• Utility Supply and PV system for example• Requires now OCPD near the point of interconnection to

protect against faults in the feeders that could flow back to utility

Commercial Electrical Service Areas

• A new requirement for 120v receptacle installed adjacent to the electrical service.

• Dwelling units excepted

PV System Rapid Shutdown

• The new requirement is going to be difficult to meet• This requires the same type of rapid shutdown that is

required by the 6 handle rule

• 690.12• There is no current equipment to accommodate this.

Conductors of Different Systems 300.6(C)

• We can have conductors of different voltages in the same raceway, junction box, and enclosure under the following conditions• All of the circuits are 1000v or less• All of the conductors are rated for the highest voltage in the

box.

Secondary Wiring to High Discharge Lighting 310.6(C)

• The secondary wiring for EDL 1000V or less if insulated for the secondary voltage involved, can occupy the same luminaire, sign, or outline lighting enclosure

Corrosive Areas 330.6(A)

• Any field cut ferrous metal raceways, etc need to be suitably protected from corrosion in the environment• Field cuts have to have the corrosion protection replaced

• A new information note clarifies that a field cut is any cut made anywhere other than at the factory

300.22(C) Other spaces used for Environmental Air (Plenums)

• Nonmetallic cable ties and other nonmetallic cable accessories used to secure and support cables shall be listed as having low smoke and heat release properties

300.38 Raceways in Wet Locations above Grade

• Where raceways are installed in wet locations above grade the interior of the raceway shall be considered a wet location.

Cables and Raceways on Rooftops Exposed to Direct Sunlight (T310.15(B)(3)(c)

• XHHN conductors are now exempted from this requirement

314.15 Boxes in Damp or Wet Locations

• We can now drill drainage holes in boxes listed for damp and wet locations as long as the hole is no larger than ¼ inch.

• We can also install listed drain fittings in larger holes as long as it is done according to the manufacturers instructions.

314.16(B) Box Fill Clamp Assemblies

• New addition to cover clamp assemblies with terminations listed for use with non-metallic boxes

• This assembly is counted as a single cable clamp

200.4(B) Neutral Marking

• If there is more than one neutral associated with different circuits in an enclosure the neutrals have to identified or grouped so that they correspond with the ungrounded circuits for which they are associated. • This can be done by wire markers, cable ties, or similar

means in at least one location within the enclosure.

210.5(c)(1) Branch Circuit Identification

• They have further clarified the requirement to identify ungrounded conductors of systems with multiple voltages at all terminations, connection and splices by phase, line and system. • This clarifies the requirement in houses or structures in

single phase systems• This is easily enforceable and often violated

210.5(c)(2)

• They have added an entire new section about this for DC systems• More than 50 volts• 4 AWG or larger• Identified by Polarity• Ungrounded conductor• By marking tape, tagging• At all spices, terminations and connections

210.5(c)(2)

• They have added an entire new section about this for DC systems• More than 50 volts• 6 AWG and smaller• Positive Polarity

• Red outer finish• Red stripe continuously and durable• Imprinted plus signed or the work POSITIVE or POS repeated ate

intervals of no less than 24 inches

• Negative Polarity• Black outer finish• Black stripe continuously or durable• Imprinted minus sign, or word NEGATIVE OR NEG repeated at intervals

no less than 24 incues

Applies PV Systems

• This requirement has been added to 215 feeders as well• And it is referenced in the PV article

225.56 Inspection and Tests

• Outside Branch Circuits and Feeders over 1000V• Design including settings for protective devices,

switching and control circuits have to be made available to the AHJ before energization

• And shall be performance tested when first installed on site

230.28 Service Masts

• New strength requirement or supported by guy wires• Can not be connected to the mast between the

weatherhead and the end of the conduit or coupling if the coupling is located above the last point of securement to the structure

• Weatherheads have to be identified for use as service-entrance equipment

230.30 Service Laterals

• Must be installed in only the following• RMC• IMC• NUCC• HDPE• PVC• RTRC• IGS cable• USE• MV or MC identified for direct burial