Unfortunately, compliance to the NEC is only required if the local or state government adopts it. Even then, they are not required to adopt any specific edition of the NEC. There are communities that are still using older editions as their current code. Some states have their own electrical codes, which they feel are better than NEC's. So, there are no absolutes about this subject.
-----Original Message----- From: Rich Nute [mailto:ri...@sdd.hp.com] Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 2:32 PM To: gkerv...@eu-link.com Cc: schan...@frontiernet.net; wo...@sensormatic.com; emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org; mi...@ucentric.com Subject: Re: NEC Question BUT REMEMBER OSHA Hi Gregg: > Just to ensure that I have my understanding right - if the equipment is used > where OSHA applies then it must be approved by a third party like UL Yes. More specifically: If... the product is used by an employee in the workplace... Then... the product must be certified by an NRTL, of which UL is one. > If it is domestic then it does not (in most states. No and yes. No, OSHA rules do not apply to a domestic place. Yes, NEC rules apply to a domestic place and do require third-party safety certification. OSHA rules apply to the workplace, not to domestic places. So, domestic places are not required -by OSHA- to have NRTL-certified products. HOWEVER, the National Electrical Code applies everywhere, including domestic places. The NEC requires products, including domestic products, to be "listed" by a third- party engaged in the safety evaluation of products. The NEC does not specify the third-party. During the process of adoption of the NEC by various city, county, or state governments, the government agency decides which certification houses are acceptable to them. The acceptable certification houses are published locally. For a third-party certifier, this means the certifier must not only apply to OSHA for NRTL, but must also apply to every jurisdiction in the USA for acceptance under the NEC. Many, but not all NRTLs are also accepted by the various city, county, or state governments under the local version of the NEC. Likewise, there are some certifiers who are accepted by one or more governments under the NEC, but are not NRTLs. There are a few pockets where local governments do not require "listing" under the NEC. In summary: OSHA requires products used in the workplace to be certified by an NRTL. The NEC requires products used in an installation (including domestic places) to be certified by an organization designated by the local government agency charged with enforcing the NEC. These are independent functions. For all practical purposes, third-party safety certification is required throughout the USA. Enforcement of both OSHA and NEC for cord-connected products is spotty at best. Since virtually all products are NRTL-certified, OSHA spends its time addressing more immediate workplace safety issues. Since cord-connected products are installed AFTER the electrical installation is complete and approved, and since virtually all products are safety-certified, there is little or no enforcement of NEC-required certification. > AND, does anyone have a list of States where certification is mandated? I would be easier to come up with a list of where certification is NOT required! :-) It would be a one-page list of cities or counties which have very low population densities. Best regards, Rich ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Michael Garretson: pstc_ad...@garretson.org Dave Heald davehe...@mediaone.net For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: No longer online until our new server is brought online and the old messages are imported into the new server. ------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE EMC Society Product Safety Technical Committee emc-pstc discussion list. Visit our web site at: http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/emcs/pstc/ To cancel your subscription, send mail to: majord...@ieee.org with the single line: unsubscribe emc-pstc For help, send mail to the list administrators: Michael Garretson: pstc_ad...@garretson.org Dave Heald davehe...@mediaone.net For policy questions, send mail to: Richard Nute: ri...@ieee.org Jim Bacher: j.bac...@ieee.org All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: No longer online until our new server is brought online and the old messages are imported into the new server.