2014 NEC Code
Changes
Ted “Smitty” Smith
E Light Electric
• Energy Management Systems
• Brand New Article
• Prompted by the need to meet energy management
requirements
There are certain systems that we do not want to interfere
with in this process
Article 750
• Alternate Power Sources
• Energy management systems shall not override alternate
power sources for the following systems
• Fire Pumps
• Health Care Facilities Emergency Systems
• Legally Required Standby Systems
750.20
• Energy Management Systems can not interfere with the
load shedding controls for the following
• Fire Pumps
• Health Care Facility Emergency Systems
• Legally Required Standby Systems
Load Shedding Controls
• The code has historically divided low and medium
voltage at 600V
• Solar and Wind had moved towards a standard of 1000
Volts
• In almost all circumstances where a proposal was
submitted to change from 600V to 1000V it was
accepted.
• Code Making Panel 1 did not change Article 110 and
deferred other changes to individual code making panels.
Low and Medium Voltage
Demarcation
• Outward opening door and panic hardware requirement
for electrical rooms has changed from being required for
equipment 1200 Amps and greater to now be 800 Amps
and greater
110.26
• Laundry Areas has been added to the list of areas in a
dwelling unit where GFCI protection is required
• Dishwashers are now required to be GFCI protected.
210.8 GFCI
• AFCI is now required in kitchens and laundry areas of
dwelling units
• Dormatory Units will now need to be AFCI protected
• Several new options have been added to provided AFCI
protection
210. 12 AFCI
• 1. AFCI Combination Breaker
• 2. Branch/ Feeder Breaker for the homerun only, then AFCI
device at first receptacle
• 3. Supplemental Arc Protection breaker for homerun then a AFCI
receptacle for first outlet. Limited to 50 ft or 75 ft homerun.
• 4. A listed branch circuit AFCI device that has been listed to work
together to protect both the homerun and the demand side of the
circuit. Limited to 50 and 75 ft homeruns
• 5. Use a steel wiring method from breaker to first outlet. Use a
AFCI receptacle at first outlet
• 6. Encase homerun in 2” of concrete and then use an AFCI
receptacle at the first outlet.
Six Methods to Provide
AFCI
• Related to new energy code requirements
• Energy codes are requiring fewer watts per square foot
but systems are required to be designed to handle much
more load
• New code requirement allows you to size lighting loads at
a lower amount if you meet specific requirements of a
energy management system in the building.
220.12 Lighting Loads
• Formally named Non-instantaneous Trip Circuit Breakers
• Renamed to be more definitive of the subject matter
• If the CB has a rating or can be adjusted to 1200A or greater
then the requirements of .87 must be met
• Uses the same language as 240.95 the GFI requirement
240.87 Arc Energy
Reduction
• Table is now eliminated
• Replaced with an adjustment factor of .83
• It also will clarify that other adjustment factors apply
310.15(B)(7) Dwelling Unit
Service Entrance
Conductor Sizing Table
• Same requirements as 2011 for in use covers, etc
• New requirement that the cover be extra hard usage listed
406.9(B)(1) Wet Location
Receptacles
• Patient Bed Receptacles: Increased from 4 to 8
receptacles required.
• Critical Care Patient Care Area Receptacles: Increased
from 6 to 14
• Operating Rooms now require 36 receptacles
• ISOLATED GROUND RECEPTACLES NO LONGER
ALLOWED IN PATIENT CARE BED AREAS
Article 517 Health Care
Facilities
• Essential Electrical System needed to meet the
requirements of Article 700 in the 2005 NEC
• Now clarified to be just be a requirement of the Life
Safety Branch and not the entire Essential Electrical
System.
517.26
• New requirement electric vehicle supply equipment is
considered to be a continuous load
• 125% application
• If supplied by an energy management system then size
OCPD and conductor based on the load supplied by the
energy management system WITHOUT 125%
requirement.
Electric Vehicle Supply
Equipment 625.14
• Added a list of listing requirements that are acceptable for
PV disconnects switchs.
• The old requirement just required they be listed.
• There are numerous listing specifications available so the
NEC narrowed them down to the ones that are acceptable.
690.17 Solar Power
Disconnect Switch
• Surge protection is now also required for the alternate
power supply system
New requirement
Surge Protection for
Emergency Standby
Systems Article 700
• 700.16 now requires emergency illumination at the
emergency power disconnect devices and transfer switch
areas.
Emergency Illumination
• Utility Supply and PV system for example
• Requires now OCPD near the point of interconnection to
protect against faults in the feeders that could flow back
to utility
Article 705
Interconnection of Power
Production Systems
• A new requirement for 120v receptacle installed adjacent
to the electrical service.
• Dwelling units excepted
Commercial Electrical
Service Areas
• The new requirement is going to be difficult to meet
• This requires the same type of rapid shutdown that is
required by the 6 handle rule
• 690.12
• There is no current equipment to accommodate this.
PV System Rapid
Shutdown