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The designations "National Electrical Code” and “NEC” refer to the National Electrical Code®, which is a registered trademark of the National Fire Protection Association.

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Top 2005 Code Changes
410.4 Luminaires (Fixtures) in Specific Locations
By Mike Holt
This new subsection was added to clarify when a lamp shield for mechanical protection is required for mercury vapor or metal halide lamps. (Note: Code text has been paraphrased.)

What the Code says:
(E) Luminaires (Fixtures) in Indoor Sports, Mixed-Use, and All-Purpose Facilities.
Luminaires subject to physical damage, using a mercury vapor or metal halide lamp, installed in playing and spectator seating areas of indoor sports, mixed-use, or all-purpose facilities must be of the type that has a glass or plastic lamp shield. Such luminaires are permitted to have an additional guard. (Text new to the Code is underlined.)

Behind the change: The industry continued to experience a persistent number of cases in sports facilities -- particularly in schools -- where athletic activity resulted in the breakage of mercury or metal halide lamps used in open luminaires.

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Nightmare Installations
Follow the Cord to Trouble
A few years ago I assisted a licensed electrician in performing a service change for a private residence. During the process, we removed the meter to the dwelling only to discover that the previous homeowner had managed to tap into the line side of the meter with an 18 AWG, 2-conductor lamp cord wire. The wire was then routed through the exterior wall, into the garage, up and over the exposed rafters in the garage, down a 4x4 post, and connected to a single-gang, surface-mount box/receptacle. A large freezer was plugged into the receptacle. Who knows what else had been plugged into that receptacle prior to our discovery. For obvious reasons, this installation could have resulted in an overload and resulted in a fire. There was no circuit protection for this bogus installation. Needless to say, we removed the wiring.
Michael Caesare
Hayward, Calif.

Send your 200-word story to us and it may appear in a future issue of CodeWatch. Authors of stories chosen will receive $25.

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www.exair.com/15/540_07b.htm

Code Challenge

What's Wrong Here?
By Joe Tedesco
How does this installation violate the NEC?

Hint: Don't focus on the wiring this time.
For a close-up of this picture, click here.

Code Q&A
By Mike Holt
Q. How would you size the bonding wire to a motor that's protected by an inverse time circuit breaker?
See the answer.

Code Quiz
By Steven Owen
Class A GFCI protection for personnel is required for all but which of the following installations?

To protect heating cables installed in electrically heated floors of any bathroom, and in hydromassage bathtub areas

For receptacle outlets installed for vending machines, or a GFCI device which is integral in the supply cord of the vending machine

For 15A and 20A, single-phase, 125 through 250V, 50/60 Hz receptacle outlets installed in the work area of an aircraft hangar

For receptacle outlets which are accessible to the public, or are for use by the public

Visit EC&M's Web site for the answer and explanation.

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Speak Out
All or Nothing?
It seems that with each new version of the Code comes a new GFCI requirement, begging the question, Where will it end? If Code-making panels continue to add requirements at this pace, it might not be long before GFCIs will be mandatory everywhere, so should they cut to the chase and implement an across-the-board requirement in the 2008 Code? Visit EC&M's Web site to tell us.

Few CodeWatch readers felt compelled to share their plans for submitting change proposals for the 2008 NEC, but of those who did, it was an even split between those who will and those who won't. We'll just chalk up your lack of interest to the fact that it's early and you haven't had time to make it all the way through the 2005 Code. Start reading!

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Books, Code Quiz, DVDs, Graphics for PowerPoint, Newsletter, Online Training, Posters, Simulated Exams, Software, Video clips, and Videos
Visit www.NECcode.com and stay current with important industry issues.

Shows and Events
Grounding vs Bonding Seminar
Grounding and bonding of electrical systems, sensitive electronic, and communications equipment is the most important and least understood activity in the electrical, data processing, and communications industry. At four two-day seminars, Code expert Mike Holt will explain the basics as well as the advance concepts necessary to understand the practical grounding and bonding rules in the NEC for systems not over 600V. Download the conference brochure for specific dates and locations.

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