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Sunday, February 20, 2011

Do you follow the National Electrical Code?

IF YOU WORK WITH WIRING OF ANY TYPE
THEN YOU MUST COMPLY WITH
THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE.

I was standing at a Electrical Supply House Counter the other day and a Cable TV guy and Telephone
Installer were standing there arguing with the counter man they were not covered by the NEC well they are wrong any one who does any type of wiring low or high voltage
Even running on batteries , Solar or Wind power you are required to follow the NEC
This goes for Heating & Cooling and Refrigeration Service Men even thermostat wiring is covered
By The NEC.
There are thousands of Installers and service people all across the state that believe they are exempt from and do not need to know or follow the NEC.
They are wrong and they usually find this out when they get sued. After something crashes and or burns.
Satellite, Computer Network, 2-way radio wiring installers mistakenly believe they are exempt as well they are not. This also goes for burglar and fire Alarms as well as CCTV and Card Access Systems. Even lawn Sprinkler and Low voltage lights are covered.
The NEC clearly spells out the types and styles of wiring and how they must be installed
Low voltage wiring comes under rules of Class I II III Remote control and signaling
There is also section 800 and various subsections, which covers all coax and antenna wiring. Every Repairman / Installer who has anything at all to do with the installation or repairing of wiring should have a copy of the NEC and know how to use it.
But 90% totally ignore the fact the NEC covers there job. This can be a deadly costly mistake.
When I work for insurance companies investigating Electrical Fires and Accidents
The first thing I pull out is a copy of the National Electrical Code to help determine what the codes are for a particular installation and if it was done to code this is because the National Electrical Code is the standard used were there are no local codes adopted.
To settle disputes and litigation.
As all other communities are automatically covered if they follow BOCA, CABA etc.
A Burglar Alarm Company in this state was successfully sued when it hung a wire at
12 ft over an alley way and a truck pulled it out. Causing damage to the truck and building they argued they were exempt from codes and hung it high enough because it was over private property .but the NEC clearly stated 18ft
for that installation
It is unfortunate that there is a total ignorance of the NEC and it is even worse when you here Industry trainers and Magazines telling there people the NEC does not cover them when in fact it does. And those who give out this bad info can be held liable for it.
Wonder if your job requires you to follow the NEC then by all means pick up a copy and Investigate before you have to Litigate.

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