All Zero Surge products are designed according to the National Electrical Code (NEC), but what is the NEC? The National Electrical Code is a set of guidelines and regulations that govern the installation and maintenance of electrical systems in the United States. This code is updated regularly to ensure that it stays current with the latest advancements in technology and safety measures.
The NEC is published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and is used as the basis for local and state electrical codes throughout the country. It is important to note that while the NEC is a widely adopted standard, it is not a federal law, but rather a model code that is adopted and enforced by state and local jurisdictions.
The NEC is updated every three years, with the most recent being the 2023 edition. The process of updating the NEC is a collaborative effort between various stakeholders including electrical contractors, engineers, manufacturers, and code officials. This is to ensure that the code remains relevant and addresses the latest safety concerns and industry practices.
Changes in the newest edition include new, expanded, and revised content and provisions for:
- All electrical systems, including the use and approval of reconditioned equipment, level/flat standing surfaces within the required working space for electrical equipment, servicing and maintenance of equipment, and opened electrical equipment doors that impede access to or egress from required equipment workspace
- Residential electrical systems covering ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) for specific appliances, optional installation of receptacle outlets serving island and peninsular countertops and work surfaces, emergency disconnects of one- and two-family dwellings, the use of 10-ampere branch circuits, and an annex providing guidelines on the use of electrically powered medical equipment in homes and residential board and care occupancies
- Commercial/industrial electrical systems accounting for everything from GFCI for specific appliances and the use of “replacement panelboards” to arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) protection of sleeping areas of public safety and first responder facilities, disconnecting means in sight of luminaires using double-ended lamps to include LED type, and other considerations
- Alternative energy systems and energy management addressing the interconnection of distributed on-site power supplies with electric utility supplies, the delineation between storage battery systems and emergency storage systems, commissioning energy storage systems (ESS), photovoltaic electric systems, emergency management systems, load calculations for outlets supplying electric vehicle supply equipment, and solar photovoltaic and wind power electric systems on floating structures and in offshore locations
- New articles and requirements for never before covered systems and equipment such as Class 4 fault-managed circuits, hazardous locations within commercial and industrial cannabis production facilities, equipotential bonding in and around areas with “splash pads,” insulated bus pipe/tubular covered conductors systems, flexible bus systems, germicidal irradiation lighting equipment, and more.
It is important to check for updates to the NEC regularly to ensure that all electrical systems are in compliance with the latest safety guidelines. This is particularly important for electrical contractors, engineers, and other professionals who are responsible for the design, installation, and maintenance of electrical systems. Failure to comply with the NEC can result in fines, legal penalties, and other penalties. For more information, visit nfpa.org.