NEMA Publishes Electrical Baseboard Heater Standard
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Rossyln, Va., has published DC 10-2009, "Residential Controls—Temperature Limit Controls for Electrical Baseboard Heaters," which revises the 1983 version reaffirmed in 1989 and 2003.
DC 10 defines the basic standards for rating, classification, construction, testing, and performance of temperature limit controls for application on electric baseboard heaters. These controls or controls systems, of either the automatic- or manual-reset type, are responsible for disconnecting the electrical load when the heater reaches abnormally high temperatures.
Revisions include the addition of metric units and updates to the voltage ratings and marking requirements.
"DC 10 was designed to promote direct interchangeability of temperature limit controls for electrical baseboard heaters through industry standardization and assist users in selecting the proper controls for a particular application," says Tuong Nguyen, member of NEMA’s Residential and Commercial Controls Technical Committee. "This new revision will be very helpful for residential home builders and electrical contractors.”
DC 10 may be downloaded at no charge from the NEMA Web site.