As an electrical code enforcement official, I appreciate the opportunity to share some thoughts with electrical professionals working in a variety of areas. In this column, my goal is to help you understand the impact of markings and installation instructions. Let’s begin by reviewing some common terms and definitions.
Defining NEC Terms
We must understand that Sec. 110.2 in the National Electrical Code (NEC) requires all conductors and equipment to be approved. A review of defined NEC terms in Art. 100 is necessary to understand the impact of that requirement.
First, we should review the term “equipment.” It is “a general term, including fittings, devices, appliances, luminaires, apparatus, machinery, and the like used as a part of, or in connection with, an electrical installation.” That general term likely covers every piece of equipment mass-produced by every equipment manufacturer used in an electrical installation.
Second, we should review the term “approved.” This is defined in Art. 100 as: “Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.”
Finally, we should review the phrase “authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).” AHJs are defined as: “an organization, office, or an individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure.”
The AHJ’s Role
As we look across the United States and around the globe, it’s important to understand that the AHJ, equipment manufacturers, electricians, contractors, designers, and other electrical industry professionals all have different backgrounds, education, experience, and abilities. Regardless of the individual AHJ, approval of equipment and installations are that organization’s and/or individual’s responsibility (see Figure).
Thus, the requirement in Sec. 110.2 and the defined terms above hopefully helps us understand the value of markings and installation instructions. It’s important to realize that AHJs are approving hundreds and thousands of individual products. Those products will be installed on small, simple installations; large, complex installations; and every type of installation in between those extremes. Many of these products are available from numerous manufacturers. That being said, providing products with clear, complete, and concise markings (Photo 1 on page C16) and installation instructions is critical to the AHJ for approval, and ultimately for the benefit of customers. (Photo 2).
Cook is the IAEI representative and Chair of NEC, CMP-17 and past IAEI representative and Chair of NEC, CMP-14 and CMP-10. He actively serves IAEI as an officer and/or board member at the International, Section, Chapter, and Division level. Since 2010, Cook has served on the NFPA board of directors. He has served as an instructor in a variety of settings over the past 25 years. He can be reached at [email protected].
Inspector Intel articles are provided by the International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI), www.iaei.org, a membership-driven, non-profit association headquartered in Richardson, Texas, that promotes electrical safety throughout the industry by providing education, certification of inspectors, advocacy, partnerships, and expert leadership in electrical codes and standards.
