Rich: You are implying, but not stating, that NEC has the force of law regarding the domestic environment.
This differs with my understanding, or lack thereof. I have always regarded the National Electric Code as a recommended set of standards and practices which enabled localities to reference NEC in their local building codes, rather than develop their own from scratch. Perhaps you can expand on where the force of law applies to the NEC with regard to portable, plug-in (not permanently wired) home appliances and such? Jack Jacob Z. Schanker, P.E. 65 Crandon Way Rochester, NY 14618 Phone: 716 442 3909 Fax: 716 442 2182 j.schan...@ieee.org ----- Original Message ----- From: Rich Nute <ri...@sdd.hp.com> To: <gkerv...@eu-link.com> Cc: <schan...@frontiernet.net>; <wo...@sensormatic.com>; <emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org>; <mi...@ucentric.com> Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 2:32 PM 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.
