April 11, 2006 A Prism Business Media Publication Vol. IV No. 7

CONTENTS
Don't Miss Out on Future
Issues of CodeWatch

90.2 Scope of the NEC

What's Wrong Here?

Code Q&A

Code Quiz

Receptacle Code Proposal Moves Forward


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    Top 50 NEC Rules















    90.2 Scope of the NEC
    By Mike Holt
     The NEC contains requirements necessary for the proper installation of electrical conductors, equipment, and raceways; signaling and communications conductors, equipment, and raceways; as well as fiber optic cables and raceways in the following locations:
    1. Public and private premises, including buildings or structures, mobile homes, recreational buildings, and floating buildings.
    2. Yards, lots, parking lots, carnivals, and industrial substations.
    3. Conductors and equipment that connect to the utility supply.
    4. Installations used by an electric utility, such as office buildings, warehouses, garages, machine shops, recreational buildings, and other electric utility buildings that are not an integral part of a utility's generating plant, substation, or control center.
    The NEC does not apply to the following applications:
    1. Transportation vehicles -- Installations in cars, trucks, boats, ships and watercraft, planes, electric trains, or underground mines.
    2. Mining equipment -- Installations in underground mines and self-propelled mobile surface mining machinery and its attendant electrical trailing cables.
    3. Railways -- Railway power, signaling, and communications wiring.
    4. Communications utilities -- Communications (telephone), CATV, or network-powered broadband utility equipment located in building spaces used exclusively for such use or outdoors, if the installation is under the exclusive control of the communications utility.
    5. Electric utilities -- Electric installations under the exclusive control of an electric utility.
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    Code Challenge
    What's Wrong Here?
    By Joe Tedesco
     Think you know how this installation violates the NEC? Visit EC&M's Web site to see the answer.


    Hint: What's objectionable about this?
    Code Q&A
    By Mike Holt
     Q. Can recessed or surface-mounted lighting fixtures be supported by securing them to the suspended ceiling grid, or must they be independently supported from the building structure?

    Visit EC&M's Web site to see the answer.
    Code Quiz
    By Steven Owen
     Q. What is the minimum number of 20A branch circuits required for a guest suite of a hotel or motel, which consists of the following:

    • An area where provisions for cooking are provided, consisting of a counter-mounted cook top, a built-in microwave, a refrigerator, and a sink
    • A dining/living area
    • A separate bedroom
    • A separate bathroom
    A) 20A branch circuits are not required in hotel and motel guest suites or guest rooms.
    B) One 20A branch circuit is required for the bathroom receptacle(s).
    C) Two 20A branch circuits for the kitchen counter-top area.
    D) Three 20A branch circuits -- two small appliance branch circuits for the kitchen counter-top area and one for the bathroom receptacle(s).

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

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    Code News Update
    Receptacle Code Proposal Moves Forward
    In response to a large number of children under the age of 10 injuring themselves via energized receptacles, the NEMA Wiring Device Section called for an NEC rule requiring tamper-resistant receptacles throughout all homes and apartments. The Code proposal was recently approved by Code making Panel 18 at its January 2006 meeting.

    However, that's not all the news on the receptacle front. According to the March 2006 issue of electroindustry, section chairman Mike Gambino, president of Pass & Seymour/LeGrand said, "The task force and its working groups continue to work on a number of other proposals, including a weather-resistant receptacle."

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