In article , Twayne wrote:
In ,
Doug Miller typed:
In article ,
"Twayne" wrote:
You are under a serious misconception. The NEC et al, is a
set of nationwide MINIMAL requirements

Wrong. The Code describes itself as "contain[ing]
provisions that are
considered necessary for electrical safety." Nowhere does
it describe itself
as a set of minimum standards. Further, the Code
specifically authorizes local
jurisdictions to waive provisions of the Code.

Of course not!, AFAIK, and it should not anyway since NEC is NOT the body
responsible for deciding what is a set of minimal requirements and what is
not. It is, however the MINIMAL requirements for the US fire and personal
safety protection requirements. It may specify say 8 conductors in a certain
box: no more than 8 in a box can be used and still pass the electrical
code. It is not possible for another body to step in and say BS, I'll allow
10, or 12, or 21! It can spec a minimal distance between objects, but as
before that distance can NOT be made less but it CAN be more!
You need to get a grip and actually think about what you're on about
before spewing misinformation to the world, in particular the type that
indicates a final word on a location's requirements can be gotten from this
newsgroup and be as good or better than going to the local controlling
authority.

What you are trying to say, and failing to do, and only bringing up
confusion for most who are not familiar wth these areas, is that the NEC
comes from a SMALL part of the NFPA - 70 I think? Not sure but if YOU don't
know, it wouldn't surprise me in the least.
The NEC is a set of "regulations" for protection of personnel and
property safety in electrical installations. Except for heavily more
stringent regulations, NOT weaker. Fiber-optics is one such area, but
nit-picking of that kind only serves to dillute the credibility of your own
input.
The NFPA "adopted" NEC and approved by ANSI. I almost defy you to cite
ANY local which has less stringent rules than the NEC unless the artcles
concern something that is Not Applicable to the region. You will find that
even such a case, should it exist, is NOT the end of the line and WILL have
been approved, usually by ANSI. I don't mention the other 3 because I don't
want to do your homework for you.

based on the criteria of many different organizations
all pulled together into NEC (NFPA, etc.).

Wrong. The Code is the product of *one* organization, the NFPA.

Urban Renewals has this short, concise definition:
The accepted standard for installation of wiring and associated devices. It
is written by a panel of experts and printed by the National Fire Prevention
Association. Top of Page [Top]


Oh, then how come the NEC calls FOR the NFPA in many sections if IT IS the
NFPA sourced it? It's not uncommon at all to see things like:
"
NEC REQUIREMENT
? Either of the following listing
requirements**
A. Underwriters Laboratories
B. FM Global

* Refer to NFPA 220 for definition of non-combustible Type I and II building
construction.
** Fine Print Note, Section 450.23, (B)(1) states: "Installations adjacent
to combustible material, fire escapes, or door and window openings may
require additional safeguards such as those listed in Section 450.27. It
says to go to the NFPA for DEFINITIONS, not for rules. The NEC contains the
rules.

The NEC is NOT the NFPA! Two different offices, two different functions in
the overall scheme of things.

SNIP from here to edit for space

ANSI and NFPA are private organizations. I have a hunch that any others
contributing to NEC are also private organizations. NEC is a product of
NFPA more than anything else.

Underwriters' Laboratories is a private organization.

Private organizations do not make laws. Only governments make laws.

The NEC is law only where gubmint makes it the law, and USA's Federal
gubmint does not make NEC into law. Maybe 98-99% of USA's population
lives in counties or municipalities where the building code makes NEC in
full as of some specific year (sometimes with further restrictions) into
law. Some localities forbid retailing of electrical equipment of kinds
that UL establishes listing requirements for but is not listed by UL or
one of its competitors. Fire insurance companies can cause grief over
using electrical equipment "other than as directed" or if UL has
requirements for it to be listed and the equipment is not listed by UL
(or one of their competitors). Failure of building work to comply with
NEC may contribute to one who did non-compliant work to be on the short
end of a civil court case.

But the writers of NEC do not make law, and USA's Federal gubmont is
generally not in the business of building codes (even though they regulate
employment and workplace safety practices and manufacturing, and usage and
disposal and transportation of some materials).

(Strange fun fact: Ballastless light bulbs are usually not UL listed,
even if they are of the "Big 3" brands, GE, Philips, Osram-Sylvania.)
--
- Don Klipstein )