NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (NEC) Softbound

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NFPA 70^® National Electrical Code^®, 2023 Edition

90 Introduction

Chapter 1 General
100 Definitions
110 General Requirements for Electrical Installations

Chapter 2 Wiring and Protection
200 Use and Identification of Grounded Conductors
210 Branch Circuits Not Over 1000 Volts ac, 1500 Volts dc, Nominal
215 Feeders
220 Branch-Circuit, Feeder, and Service Load Calculations
225 Outside Branch Circuits and Feeders
230 Services
235 Branch Circuits, Feeders, and Services Over 1000 Volts ac, 1500 Volts dc, Nominal
240 Overcurrent Protection
242 Overvoltage Protection
245 Overcurrent Protection for Systems Rated Over 1000 Volts ac, 1500 Volts dc
250 Grounding and Bonding

Chapter 3 Wiring Methods and Materials
300 General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials
305 General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials for Systems Rated Over 1000 Volts ac, 1500 Volts dc, Nominal
310 Conductors for General Wiring
312 Cabinets, Cutout Boxes, and Meter Socket Enclosures
314 Outlet, Device, Pull, and Junction Boxes; Conduit Bodies; Fittings; and Handhole Enclosures
315 Medium Voltage Conductors, Cable, Cable Joints, and Cable Terminations
320 Armored Cable: Type AC
322 Flat Cable Assemblies: Type FC
324 Flat Conductor Cable: Type FCC
326 Integrated Gas Spacer Cable: Type IGS
330 Metal-Clad Cable: Type MC
332 Mineral-Insulated, Metal-Sheathed Cable: Type MI
334 Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable: Types NM and NMC
335 Instrumentation Tray Cable: Type ITC
336 Power and Control Tray Cable: Type TC
337 Type P Cable
338 Service-Entrance Cable: Types SE and USE
340 Underground Feeder and Branch-Circuit Cable: Type UF
342 Intermediate Metal Conduit (IMC)
344 Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC)
348 Flexible Metal Conduit (FMC)
350 Liquidtight Flexible Metal Conduit (LFMC)
352 Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride Conduit (PVC)
353 High Density Polyethylene Conduit (HDPE Conduit)
354 Nonmetallic Underground Conduit with Conductors (NUCC)
355 Reinforced Thermosetting Resin Conduit (RTRC)
356 Liquidtight Flexible Nonmetallic Conduit (LFNC)
358 Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT)
360 Flexible Metallic Tubing (FMT)
362 Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing (ENT)
366 Auxiliary Gutters
368 Busways
369 Insulated Bus Pipe (IBP)/Tubular Covered Conductors (TCC) Systems
370 Cablebus
371 Flexible Bus Systems
372 Cellular Concrete Floor Raceways
374 Cellular Metal Floor Raceways
376 Metal Wireways
378 Nonmetallic Wireways
380 Multioutlet Assembly
382 Nonmetallic Extensions
384 Strut-Type Channel Raceway
386 Surface Metal Raceways
388 Surface Nonmetallic Raceways
390 Underfloor Raceways
392 Cable Trays
393 Low-Voltage Suspended Ceiling Power Distribution Systems
394 Concealed Knob-and-Tube Wiring
395 Outdoor Overhead Conductors over 1000 Volts
396 Messenger-Supported Wiring
398 Open Wiring on Insulators

Chapter 4 Equipment for General Use
400 Flexible Cords and Flexible Cables
402 Fixture Wires
404 Switches
406 Receptacles, Cord Connectors, and Attachment Plugs (Caps)
408 Switchboards, Switchgear, and Panelboards
409 Industrial Control Panels
410 Luminaires, Lampholders, and Lamps
411 Low-Voltage Lighting
422 Appliances
424 Fixed Electric Space-Heating Equipment
425 Fixed Resistance and Electrode Industrial Process Heating Equipment
426 Fixed Outdoor Electric Deicing and Snow-Melting Equipment
427 Fixed Electric Heating Equipment for Pipelines and Vessels
430 Motors, Motor Circuits, and Controllers
440 Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Equipment
445 Generators
450 Transformers and Transformer Vaults (Including Secondary Ties)
455 Phase Converters
460 Capacitors
470 Resistors and Reactors
480 Stationary Standby Batteries
495 Equipment Over 1000 Volts ac, 1500 Volts dc, Nominal

Chapter 5 Special Occupancies
500 Hazardous (Classified) Locations, Classes I, II, and III, Divisions 1 and 2
501 Class I Locations
502 Class II Locations
503 Class III Locations
504 Intrinsically Safe Systems
505 Zone 0, 1, and 2 Locations
506 Zone 20, 21, and 22 Locations for Combustible Dusts or Ignitible Fibers/Flyings
511 Commercial Garages, Repair and Storage
512 Cannabis Oil Equipment and Cannabis Oil Systems Using Flammable Materials
513 Aircraft Hangars
514 Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities
515 Bulk Storage Plants
516 Spray Application, Dipping, Coating, and Printing Processes Using Flammable or Combustible Materials
517 Health Care Facilities
518 Assembly Occupancies
520 Theaters, Audience Areas of Motion Picture and Television Studios, Performance Areas, and Similar Locations
522 Control Systems for Permanent Amusement Attractions
525 Carnivals, Circuses, Fairs, and Similar Events
530 Motion Picture and Television Studios and Remote Locations
540 Motion Picture Projection Rooms
545 Manufactured Buildings and Relocatable Structures
547 Agricultural Buildings
550 Mobile Homes, Manufactured Homes, and Mobile Home Parks
551 Recreational Vehicles and Recreational Vehicle Parks
552 Park Trailers
555 Marinas, Boatyards, Floating Buildings, and Commercial and Noncommercial Docking Facilities
590 Temporary Installations

Chapter 6 Special Equipment
600 Electric Signs and Outline Lighting
604 Manufactured Wiring Systems
605 Office Furnishings
610 Cranes and Hoists
620 Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators, Moving Walks, Platform Lifts, and Stairway Chairlifts
625 Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System
626 Electrified Truck Parking Spaces
630 Electric Welders
640 Audio Signal Processing, Amplification, and Reproduction Equipment
645 Information Technology Equipment
646 Modular Data Centers
647 Sensitive Electronic Equipment
650 Pipe Organs
660 X-Ray Equipment
665 Induction and Dielectric Heating Equipment
668 Electrolytic Cells
669 Electroplating
670 Industrial Machinery
675 Electrically Driven or Controlled Irrigation Machines
680 Swimming Pools, Fountains, and Similar Installations
682 Natural and Artificially Made Bodies of Water
685 Integrated Electrical Systems
690 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
691 Large-Scale Photovoltaic (PV) Electric Supply Stations
692 Fuel Cell Systems
694 Wind Electric Systems
695 Fire Pumps

Chapter 7 Special Conditions
700 Emergency Systems
701 Legally Required Standby Systems
702 Optional Standby Systems
705 Interconnected Electric Power Production Sources
706 Energy Storage Systems
708 Critical Operations Power Systems (COPS)
710 Stand-Alone Systems
722 Cables for Power-Limited Circuits and Fault-Managed Power Circuits
724 Class 1 Power-Limited Circuits and Class 1 Power-Limited Remote-Control and Signaling Circuits
725 Class 2 and Class 3 Power-Limited Circuits
726 Class 4 Fault-Managed Power Systems
728 Fire-Resistive Cable Systems
750 Energy Management Systems
760 Fire Alarm Systems
770 Optical Fiber Cables

Chapter 8 Communications Systems
800 General Requirements for Communications Systems
805 Communications Circuits
810 Antenna Systems.
820 Community Antenna Television and Radio Distribution Systems
830 Network-Powered Broadband Communications Systems
840 Premises-Powered Broadband Communications Systems

Chapter 9 Tables
Informative Annex A Product Safety Standards
Informative Annex B Application Information for Ampacity Calculation
Informative Annex C Conduit, Tubing, and Cable Tray Fill Tables for Conductors and Fixture Wires of the Same Size
Informative Annex D Examples
Informative Annex E Types of Construction
Informative Annex F Availability and Reliability for Critical Operations Power Systems; and Development and Implementation of Functional Performance Tests (FPTs) for Critical Operations Power Systems
Informative Annex G Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
Informative Annex H Administration and Enforcement
Informative Annex I Recommended Tightening Torque Tables from UL Standard 486A-486B
Informative Annex J ADA Standards for Accessible Design
Informative Annex K Use of Medical Electrical Equipment in Dwellings and Residential Board-and-Care Occupancies

THE NFPA HANDBOOKS DIFFER FROM CODES AND STANDARDS

Ever wonder what the difference is between an NFPA^® handbook and a code or standard? We’re glad you asked.

NFPA codes and standards both provide requirements for achieving outcomes. Handbooks take a deeper dive, providing the full text of a code or standard as well as expert commentary and features such as graphics, decision trees, testing procedures, case studies, sample forms and checklists, and other helpful aids to give a better understanding of the reasoning behind the requirements and how to apply them.

JUST REMEMBER:

• A code or standard is a framework—a set of rules to follow with a goal to achieve a certain result
• A handbook is a connector—linking requirements to application by helping you understand the reasoning behind a code or standard

The simplest way to think about it is that codes and standards list the technical requirements while handbooks explain those requirements to clarify how to apply them.

2020 Edition

The revised and expanded 2020 edition of NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, features state-of-the-art information for safe electrical practices for public and private buildings, homes and structures, outdoor yards and lots, utility equipment, installations that connect to the power grid, and consumer-owned power generation systems and equipment.

Content has been added, edited, and reorganized to address safety for workers, energy systems and electric vehicles, limited energy, and communication systems.

Impactful changes include:

• New requirements for exterior emergency disconnects of one- and two-family dwellings for improved electrical safety for emergency responders
• Revisions to service disconnect rules to help protect electrical workers from arc flash hazards
• Adapted and adjusted requirements for installation practices of new technologies to meet the evolving demand of power over Ethernet
• Updates to modernize tables currently in use for calculations to reflect improvements in energy efficiency and align with evolving codes
• Revised requirements for ground-fault protection within marinas and boatyards
• Introduction of guidelines for the safe use of electric vehicles (electric vehicle power export equipment) as a backup or emergency power source for a building or a home
• Reorganization of Article 310, including new user-friendly numbering for important ampacity tables, and new definition for cable bundle in Article 725, and more!

The NEC, 2020 edition, introduces significant new requirements for:

• The residential installation of receptacle outlets serving island and peninsular countertops and for surge protection of services supplying dwelling units
• Working space for “housekeeping pads” for electrical equipment, the installation of wiring methods in exit enclosures, sizing supply and load conductors used with adjustable-speed drive systems, and AFCI protection of branch circuits in patient sleeping areas in care facilities
• Calculating the load of electric vehicle supply equipment with variable current settings
• Worker safety in identifying the source of power for disconnecting means and for egress from spaces containing large electrical equipment
• Grounding of disconnecting means installed on the supply-side of service disconnecting means
• Cables installed exposed on ceiling surfaces and sidewalls
• Special occupancies, special equipment, and special conditions, including installation of splash pads, the use of “Type P” cables in hazardous classified locations, and the reinspection of swimming pools and other bodies of water

Help protect life and property with the most relevant electrical requirements.

Get the cutting edge information you need to identify and overcome the latest hazards and complexities in electrical work. Order your copy of NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code, 2020 edition, today.

2017 Edition

Hundreds of changes in the 2017 edition NEC® bring you up-to-code and ready to address new sources of electrical power.

Throughout the United States and around the world, NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code® (NEC) sets the foundation for electrical safety in residential, commercial, and industrial occupancies. The 2017 edition of this trusted Code presents the latest comprehensive regulations for electrical wiring, overcurrent protection, grounding, and installation of equipment.

NFPA 70, NEC has been published since 1897, and a rigorous process of review keeps it up-to-date with new technologies. In fact, more than 4,000 public inputs and 1,500 comments went into the 2017 NEC alone. Hundreds of updates and five all-new articles pave the way to a safe and efficient electrical future.

Major additions reflect the continuing growth in renewable power technology.

The newest NEC addresses the advancement of privately owned wind and solar power generation and distribution equipment -- including coverage of higher voltage systems that were once only the utilities' domain. The new consumer role is a major factor in energy decentralization, and expanded NEC coverage is vital for designers, engineers, contractors, and AHJs.

• Large-Scale Photovoltaic (PV) Electric Power Production Facility (New Article 691) covers systems that produce at least 5 megawatts (MW) of power, or enough to power 800+ U.S. homes.
• Energy Storage Systems (New Article 706) governs ESS installation, disconnection, shutdown, and safety labeling.
• Stand-Alone Systems (New Article 710) covers power production sources that are not connected to the grid, including PV and wind-powered systems.
• Direct Current Microgrids (New Article 712) concerns independent energy distribution networks that allow the utilization of power from dc sources to direct-current loads. Microgrids are on the rise worldwide.

Other NEC revisions protect the public and workers from deadly hazards.

• New labeling, such as detailed arc flash hazard warning on equipment, helps workers and supervisors assess electrical risks.
• New minimum space clearances for equipment installation clarify the safeguards needed to protect installers and maintainers.
• Fixed Resistance and Electrode Industrial Process Heating Equipment (New Article 425) presents needed regulations for industry.
• Revised provisions for AFCI and GFCI protection improve electrical and fire safety in homes.

Be prepared to protect lives and property in the ever-changing electrical landscape. Order the 2017 National Electrical Code.

Work with the latest requirements governing public and private buildings, homes, and structures; outdoor yards and lots; utility equipment; installations that connect to the power grid; and consumer-owned power generation systems and equipment. The 2017 NEC is better aligned with the safe work practices in NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®. (Softbound, 888 pp., 2017)

NFPA 70®: National Electrical Code® (NEC®) is the basis for electrical safety that has saved countless lives.

Adopted in all 50 states, the NEC helps protect people and property from electrical hazards involving wiring and equipment. Comprehensive provisions address electrical installations in virtually all buildings -- including commercial, residential, and industrial occupancies. Revisions to the NEC are industry-driven, based on public proposals and comments. Each editio n of the Code builds on the next, through consensus-based changes that reflect the evolving needs of the field, emerging technologies, and new information about electrical safety.

• The 2014 edition of NFPA 70: National Electrical Code responds to a changing world with new requirements addressing the emerging use of DC power in many applications, and new information about reducing electrical fire and shock hazards. Four added Articles expand coverage on growing technologies, including Low Voltage Suspended Ceiling Power Distribution Systems (Article 393); Modular Data Centers (Article 646); Fire Resistive Cable Systems (Article 728); and Energy Management Systems (Article 750). Other new or revised requirements enhance protection of electrical personnel from the risks of shock and electrocution, such as centralized locking requirements and revisions dealing with field marking of equipment and hazard warning labels.
• The 2011 NFPA 70: National Electrical Code advances to meet the increasing consumer demand for alternate energy, green technologies, and IT equipment. New Article 694 presents requirements for small wind electric systems and new Article 840 addresses the increased demand for broadband communications systems with requirements for wireless, routers, and wireless disconnects. Other changes include revised Article 625 with updates on safe battery charging for plug-in hybrid vehicles; and revised Article 705 with guidance on interconnecting generators, windmills, and solar and fuel cells with other power supplies.
• The 2008 NFPA 70: National Electrical Code works to improve public safety, emergency preparedness, Code usability, and worker protection. New Article 708 covering Critical Operations Power Systems (COPS) presents provisions for electrical security in public and private facilities that must stay online during a crisis, such as public safety dispatch centers and hospital ICUs. Because arcing faults on wiring systems and extension cords can cause home fires, the 2008 NEC expands AFCI use to living areas. New rules for tamper-resistant receptacles respond to the CPSC's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) reports that thousands of children are treated in hospitals every year for burns received as a result of inserting objects into receptacles.
• The 2005 NFPA 70: National Electrical Code expands requirements for ground-fault circuit-interrupters (GFCI) to help ensure the use of these potentially life-saving devices in homes, businesses, and public spaces. New Article 409 introduces rules for industrial control panels, new Article 506 presents a zone hazardous area classification system for combustible dusts and ignitible fibers and flyings, and new Article 682 covers natural and artificially made bodies of water not classified as swimming pools or fountains. In addition, new Article 353 is added for installations using HDPE conduit.
• The 2002 NFPA 70: National Electrical Code adds provisions for installing surge-protective devices in new Article 285. Other key revisions in this edition include a one-stop Article 406 that improves user efficiency when handling receptacles, cord connectors, and attachment plugs; Article 692 with access rules covering fuel cell systems; and a parallel numbering systems for Raceway and Cable Articles in Chapter 3: Wiring.
• The 1999 NFPA 70: National Electrical Code introduces new Article 490 with general guidelines for high-voltage installations, and new Article 830 with added NEC requirements impacting telecommunications installations. In addition to numerous technical changes, it's also the first NEC Codebook printed in an 8 1/2 x 11-inch size with more legible type and expanded tables.

Interested in other editions of the NEC? Use the drop down menu above to select the edition year you need.

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