2005 NEC Code ChangesPresenterMark NowakNorth East Specification and Project Manager

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This document was compiled through the efforts of the Technical Liaison Department of Thomas & Betts, and is the property of Thomas & Betts. If you have any questions or require interpretation assistance please contact one of the following: Tim McNeive 1-800-888-0211 Ext. 5785 Greg Steinman 1-800-888-0211 Ext. 5719 George Dauberger 1-800-888-0211 Ext. 5191Do not duplicate any part of this publication without the permission of a member of the T&B Technical Liaison Department.2005 NEC Changes

GeneralThe phrase Listed for the purpose has been removed from the NEC and replaced with Listed as ____. This provides users more guidance on the proper application of Listed products. Annex A of the NEC includes a list of Product Safety Standards for reference. An example would be products listed as grounding and bonding equipment as opposed to listed for the purpose.

Article 100 DefinitionsSection 100 (I) GeneralA new definition was added forGrounding Electrode: A device that establishes an electrical connection to the earth.

Article 200 Use and Identification of Grounded ConductorsSection 200.6(B) Means of Identifying Grounded Conductors - Sizes Larger than 6 AWG.An insulated grounded conductor larger than 6 AWG shall be identified by one of the following means:(1) A continuous white or gray outer finish(2) By three continuous white stripes along its entire length on other than green insulation(3) At the time of installation, by a distinctive white or gray marking at its terminations. This marking shall encircle the conductor or insulation. See illustration on the following page.

Article 200 Use and Identification of Grounded ConductorsGray markings

Article 210 Branch CircuitsGFCI Protection is now required in the following locations:Section 210.8 (B)(4) (New) Outdoors in public spacesSection 210.8 (B)(5) (New) HVAC convenience receptacles for other than dwellingsSection 210.8 (C) (New) Boat Hoists

Article 210 Branch CircuitsSection 210.52(C)(1) (New Exception) Dwelling Unit Receptacle Outlets; Countertops; Wall Counter SpacesA new exception and diagrams have been added to clarify how separate wall countertop spaces are determined and to clarify where outlets are and are not required.See illustrations on the following pages.

Article 210 Branch Circuits

Article 210 Branch Circuits

Article 210 Branch CircuitsSection 210.52(C)(2) Dwelling Unit Receptacle Outlets;Countertop; Island Counter SpacesNew text has been added to clarify how separate countertop spaces are determined on island countertops. Where a range top or sink is installed in an island counter, and the width of the counter behind the range top or sink is less than 300 mm (12 in.), the range top or sink is considered to divide the island into two separate countertop spaces as defined in 210.52(C)(4).See the following illustration.

Article 210 Branch Circuits

Article 230 ServicesSection 230.44 Cable Trays. ExceptionConductors, other than service-entrance conductors, shall be permitted to be installed in a cable tray with service entrance conductors provided a solid fixed barrier of a material compatible with the cable tray is installed to separate the service entrance conductors from the other conductors installed in the cable tray.

Article 250 Grounding and BondingANALYSIS OF CHANGE: The title of Article 250 has beenchanged from Grounding to Grounding and Bonding. Thisarticle has always included the rules for bonding. There aredifferences in these two terms and this is an effort to emphasizethe distinct differences.Bonded- The permanent joining of metallic parts to form anelectrically conductive path that ensures electrical continuity andthe capacity to conduct safely any current likely to be imposed.Grounded - Connected to earth or some conducting body thatserves in place of the earth.

Article 250 Grounding and BondingSection 250.8 Connection of Grounding and Bonding Equipment

Sheet metal screws shall not be used to connect groundingconductors or connection devices to enclosures.

Article 250 Grounding and BondingSection 250.30 Grounding Separately Derived AlternatingCurrent SystemsThe section was completely rewritten.250.30 (A)(4)(c) Connections. All tap connections to thecommon grounding electrode conductor shall be made at anaccessible location by one of the following methods:

1)a listed connector2)listed connections to aluminum or copper busbars not lessthan 6 mm x 50 mm (b in. x 2 in.). Where aluminum busbars are used, the installation shall comply with 250.64(A).3)by the exothermic welding process

Article 250 Grounding and BondingSection 250.50 Grounding Electrode SystemThe term if available was replaced with are present to describethe existing grounding electrodes that must be bonded together. In addition, an exception was added for concrete encasedelectrodes at existing buildings or structures. These electrodes donot have to be bonded where the re-enforcing bars or rods are not accessible for use without disturbing the concrete.

Exception: Concrete-encased electrodes of existing buildings orstructures shall not be required to be part of the groundingelectrode system where the steel reinforcing bars or rods are notaccessible for use without disturbing the concrete.

Article 250 Grounding and BondingArticle 406 Receptacles, Cord Connectors and Attachment Plugs (Caps) Section 250.126 Identification of Wiring Device Terminals FPN:Section 406.9(B)(4) and Figure Grounding-The Grounding Symbol was changed to a fine print note.

Article 250 Grounding and BondingSection 250.146(A) Connecting Receptacle Grounding Terminal to Box; Surface Mounted BoxAt least one of the insulating washers shall be removed from receptacles that do not have a contact yoke or device that complies with 250.146(B) to ensure metal to metal contact.

Article 300 Wiring MethodsSection 300.4Several changes have been made to the section covering Protection Against Physical Damage.1.Installations where cables are run parallel to furring strips are required to utilize cable protection. 2.Protection for cables can be supplied by a steel plate less than 1/16 inch thick as long as it provides equal or better protection. 3.Cables run in notches must comply with the protection requirement.

Article 300 Wiring MethodsSection 300.18(A) Exception (New) Raceway Installations; Complete RunsAdd the following exception: Short sections of raceways used to contain conductors or cable assemblies for protection from physical damage shall not be required to be installed complete between outlet, junction, or splicing points.

Article 300 Wiring MethodsSection 300.22(B) Wiring in Ducts Plenums, and other Air-Handling Spaces; Ducts or Plenums Used for Environment AirThe term Liquidtight Flexible Metal Conduit was removed from the list of approved wiring methods permitted to be used in ducts or plenums specifically used to transport environmental air.

Article 300 Wiring MethodsSection 312.2(A) Damp, Wet, or Hazardous (Classified) Locations; Damp and Wet Locations.The following sentence will be added to the end of the section.For enclosures in wet locations, raceways or cables entering above the level of uninsulated live parts shall use fittings listed for wet locations.

Article 314 Outlet, Device, Pull and Junction Boxes: Conduit Bodies; Fittings; and Handhole EnclosuresSection 314.16(B)(1) Number of Conductors in Outlet, Device, and Junction Boxes, and Conduit Bodies, Box Fill Calculations, Conductor Fill.A new second sentence was added to the section and reads as follows: A looped, unbroken conductor not less than twice the minimum length required for free conductors in 300.14 shall be counted twice.

Article 314 Outlet, Device, Pull and Junction Boxes: Conduit Bodies; Fittings; and Handhole Enclosures combustible non-combustibleSection 314.20 In Wall or CeilingThis section was revised to add plaster rings, domed covers,extension rings and listed extenders to the installationrequirements relative to the surface of the wall or ceiling.

Article 314 Outlet, Device, Pull and Junction Boxes: Conduit Bodies; Fittings; and Handhole EnclosuresSection 314.23(B)(1) Supports; Structural Mounting; Nails and Screws.This change adds the following sentence to the end of the requirement, Screws shall not be permitted to pass through the box unless exposed threads in the box are protected using approved means to avoid abrasion of conductor insulation.

Articles 342, 344, 348, 350, 352, 356, 358, 362 Bends - How made This change moves the table that specifies the radius of the curve for bends to Table 2, Chapter 9.

Articles 342(IMC), 344(RMC), 358(EMT)

Section 342.42(A)Section 344.42(A)Section 358.42

The reference raintight type was changed to ...comply with314.15(A).

Articles 342(IMC) and 344(RMC)Section 342.30(B)(3) Securing and Supporting; SupportsSection 344.30(B)(3) Securing and Supporting; SupportsThe phrase firmly supported did not adequately secure the raceway, so the term was changed to securely fastened so the section reads, Exposed vertical risers from industrial machinery or fixed equipment shall be permitted to be supported at intervals not exceeding 6 m (20 ft.), if the conduit is made up with threaded couplings, the conduit is securely fastened at the top and bottom of the riser, and no other means of intermediate support is readily available.

Article 356 - Liquidtight Flexible Nonmetallic Conduit

Section 356.42 Couplings and ConnectorsThe Section was revised as follows:356.42 Connectors and Couplings. Only fittings listed for use with LFNC shall be used. Angle connectors shall not be used for concealed raceway installations.

Articles 386, 388 Surface RacewaysSection 386.56 Splices and TapsSection 388.56 Splices and TapsThe word junction was removed from the following requirement: Splices and taps in surface nonmetallic raceways without removable covers shall be made only in boxes.

Articles 386, 388 Surface RacewaysSection 386.70 Combination RacewaysSection 388.70 Combination RacewaysThis change revises the means for identifying data and powercompartments in surface nonmetallic raceway. Previously, the compartments had to be marked with sharply contrasting colors. This change permits stamping, imprinting or color-coding as a means of identification.

Article 390 Underfloor RacewaysSection 390.17 Ampacity of Conductors (New) The following new Section was added:390.17 Ampacity of Conductors. The ampacity adjustment factors in 310.15(B)(2) shall apply to conductors installed in underfloor raceways.

Article 392 Cable TraySection 392.11(B)(3) Ampacity of Cables, Rated 2000 Volts orLess, in Cable Trays; Single-Conductor Cables; Exception (New)The exception was added to 392.11(B)(3) so it reads:(3) Where single conductors are installed in a single layer in uncovered cable trays, with a maintained space of not less than one cable diameter between individual conductors, the ampacity of 1/0 AWG and larger cables shall not exceed the allowable ampacities in Tables 310.17 and 310.19.Exception: For solid bottom cable trays the ampacity of singleconductor cables shall be determined by 310.15(C).

Article 406 Receptacles, Cord Connectors and Attachment Plugs (Caps)

Section 406.8(B)(1) Receptacles in Damp or Wet Locations; Wet Locations; 15 and 20 Ampere Receptacles.This Section was revised by deleting outdoor to read as follows: 15 and 20 ampere, 125 and 250 volt receptacles installed in a wet location shall have an enclosure that is weatherproof whether or not the plug cap is inserted.

Article 409 Industrial Control PanelsEntire Article is newThis article was added to the NEC to provide guidance to AHJs for the proper installation of industrial control panels. Locating the requirements in one article makes it easier to locate the needed information.

Article 430 - Motors, Motor Circuits, and Controllers

Section 430.102(B) Location; Motor; ExceptionThis second sentence of the exception was revised to read as follows: The provision for locking or adding a lock to the disconnecting means shall be installed on or at the switch or circuit breaker used as the disconnecting means and shall remain in place with or without the lock installed.

Article 518 Assembly OccupanciesSection 518.4(C) Wiring Methods; Spaces with Finish RatingThe title of the article was changed from Places of Assembly toAssembly Occupancies. College and university classrooms,drinking establishments, passenger stations and terminals of air,surface, underground, and marine public transportation facilitieshave all been removed from the list of locations where electricalnonmetallic tubing and rigid nonmetallic conduit may be used inspaces with finish rating.

All of the T&B employees identified are principal members of Code Making Panels representing NEMA. Tim is on CMP19, Greg is on CMP5 and George is on CMP8. Care should be taken when applying this wording. An example is in 250.30 where the subject is grounding separately derived systems, the requirement is to use a listed connector. This means the connector only has to be listed, not necessarily as grounding and bonding equipment per UL467.This is an interesting use of the word device. We normally think of wiring devices with that term. This term is later used to describe electrical connectors.The addition of gray marking at its terminations was added to correlate gray being allowed as an identification for grounded conductors. The color used to be natural gray. Some interpreted natural gray to be an off-white color while others interpreted this to be gray. Care should be taken when working with gray conductors as these may have been used on ungrounded conductors in the past. A fine print note cautions users regarding this topic.This expanded requirement for GFCI protected receptacles outdoors will influence the demand for the size and type of boxes and weatherproof while-in-use covers in:1. Public places such as schools, stores, theaters, shopping malls,restaurants, museums, houses of worship, and other commercial and government structures, along sidewalks, plazas, parks, promenades, etc.2. HVAC convenience receptacles within 25 feet of the equipment.3. Boat hoists installed in dwelling locations.This change may result in the need for additional receptacle outlets on wall counters as outlets placed within the areas designated outlets not required, do not fulfill the requirements.This change results in the need for additional receptacle outlets on certain island countertop designs. Since each side of the countertop is determined to be a separate countertop space, a separate receptacle outlet is required for each space 12 inches or wider.Cable trays were added as a support for service- entrance conductors in the 2002 NEC This change clarifies that other conductors may be used in the cable tray as long as there is a barrier between them. The 1999 NEC did not address this installation.There is a movement to use the word bonded where the industry has used grounded. There are distinct differences in the words, but care should be taken when choosing the proper word. The intent of bonding is to create a low impedance path to ground.The revised text adds the term or connection devices and disallows the attachment of connection devices with sheet metal screws. The connection issue is with the sheet metal screw and its tendency to loosen over time. This is another use of the term device for something other than a wiring device- see Article 100 for the grounding electrode definition. The previous requirements could have been interpreted as allowing a terminal to be attached with a sheet metal screw. This section was re-written to make it more user friendly. Aluminum busbars were added for making grounding electrode conductor taps. Tap connections do not have to be listed as grounding and bonding equipment. The phrase listed for the purpose was dropped. Mechanical connections are now allowed as the phrase irreversible compression was also dropped. There were different interpretations of the words if available. It was not the panels intent to require the removal of concrete to gain access to encased re-enforcing rods (rebar) in the foundation of existing buildings or structures. The key word is EXISTING buildings or structures This does not give the electrician an out if the slab was poured before he arrived for a new construction job.There is a problem with very small parts when the entire figure could not fit on the part. Some products did not include the circle around the symbol. The changing of the figure to a fine print note makes this symbol informative and allows for variations to be used such as without the circle.On surface mounted metal boxes, non-self-grounding receptacles may be used without an equipment bonding jumper, as long as one of the insulating washers is removed. There was concern that these fiber washers would inhibit a good grounding connection between the device and box.Furring strips are not normally considered framing members and protection for the cable or raceway still needs to be maintained. This new requirement presents a new application for cable protectors and the like.It was concluded that heat treated thinner metals can be as effective as the 1/16 inch thick protector.Cables run in notches were never addressed in this requirement.This change would apply to any raceway that was used for protection purposes only, such as; applications involving direct buried conductors as well as conductors run next to furring strips.In the last Code cycle, all PVC products were removed from the list of acceptable products for use in ducts or plenums or other spaces used for environmental air. This change simply updates 300.22(B) to agree with the 2002 change.The intent here is to maintain the appropriate environmental rating between the enclosure and the raceway/cable interface. It was felt by the CMP that it was important to reinforce the requirement in Section 314.15 (A) which contain the requirements for wet locations. When loops of conductor are left inside the box to allow cutting in the middle for a splice or connection to a device, this change will force the inspector to count this as two conductors. In the past, this practice has caused a lack of space as well as additional heat inside the box.The requirements for placement of boxes in noncombustible and combustible walls or ceilings now also applies to extension rings, domed covers, plaster rings or listed extenders that could be assembled to the face of the box.Any screw that passes through a box such that the threads are exposed to the conductors, must have the threads protected in such a way that the insulation on the conductors will not be chafed. An example might be a screw that passes through a box to mount the box to a stud.This moves the location of the table for radius of conduit bends from the rigid conduit Article 344 to new table 2, Chapter 9 where it more appropriately belongs.Section 314.15(A) requires that fittings used in damp or wet locations be listed for use in wet locations. Raintight type applications are considered wet locations. The reference to Section 314.15(A) is a more appropriate reference since this is the Section that covers the installation of boxes, fittings, etc. in damp or wet locations.The word supported did not completely satisfy the intent of the panel. Just because the conduit was supported at the top and bottom did not imply that a force somewhere on the length of the conduit would not tend to move the conduit and damage the integrity of the assembly. The words securely fastened imply that the conduit is permanently fixed and will not move when subjected to force.This change requires that fittings used with LFNC to be listed for that application since there have been some instances where fittings have been solvent cemented ontoLFNC.All boxes, outlet and device, are suitable for making taps and splices. The new wording changes the requirement to include all boxes, not just junction boxes.This change allows for methods other than sharply contrasting colors for compartment identification. Obviously this identification will have to take place at the time of installation since each application will be unique.Although this wording was never in the Code, many inspectors have always enforced the ampacity tables in underfloor installations. This change formally adopts this practice.The issue here is the ampacity of single conductor cables in solid bottom cable tray where the ventilation is restricted. Since solid bottom cable tray will restrict the free air-flow to the conductors, the ampacity should be determined under engineering supervision per 310.15(C).The outdoors restriction was removed from the requirement. Indoor wet location installations will also require the use of weatherproof while-in-use covers.The requirements for industrial control panels were in many different articles throughout the NEC. Placing all these into one article makes the NEC easier to use. This change clarified that the locking means must be available at all times and that portable locking means, which can be removed when the lock is removed, are not allowed as a means for lockouts on disconnecting means that are not within sight of the motor. The words and shall remain in place with or without the lock installed were added.This is a reduction in usage for electrical nonmetallic tubing (ENT) and rigid nonmetallic conduit (RNC). The high profile nightclub fires were cited in the substantiation for this change.