Key 2014 NEC® Changes
November 2013
© 2013 Eaton. All rights reserved.
Alt. Energy Cable Limiters -705.31(New)
PV & Wind Systems
Where the power production source is connected on the supply side of the service
disconnecting means and the conductors are greater than 10 feet in length (measured from
the power production source overcurrent protection). Cable limiters or current limiting circuit
breakers are required.
Cable Limiter
Provides short-circuit protection for conductors that are often unprotected.
© 2013 Eaton. All rights reserved.
2
Emergency System Panelboard SPDs-700.8
New Requirement
“Surge Protection. A listed SPD shall be installed in or on all emergency systems
switchboards and panelboards.”
Provides surge protection for critical, life-safety-related loads
© 2013 Eaton. All rights reserved.
3
Definition of Selective Coordination-Article 100
Modified Definition
“Coordination (Selective). Localization of an overcurrent condition to restrict outages to the
circuit or equipment affected, accomplished by the choice selection and installation of
overcurrent protective devices and their ratings or settings for the full range of available
overcurrents, from overload to the maximum available fault current, and for the full range of
overcurrent protective device opening times associated with those overcurrents.”
X
Definition now clearly covers all available overcurrents and all times associated with
those currents. It’s all or nothing. Can’t be half selectively coordinated (0.1 seconds).
© 2013 Eaton. All rights reserved.
4
Selective Coordination-Enforcement
Additional Requirements
“Selective Coordination shall be selected by a licensed professional engineer or other
qualified persons engaged primarily in the design, installation, or maintenance of electrical
systems. The selection shall be documented and made available to those authorized to
design, install, inspect, maintain, and operate the system.”
New for elevators (620.62), emergency (700.28), legally required standby
(701.27), and critical operations power systems (708.54)
Requirements added to clarify who can design the selectively coordinated
system. This will make it easier for AHJs to enforce selective coordination.
© 2013 Eaton. All rights reserved.
5
Critical Operations Data Systems-645.27
New Requirement
“Selective Coordination. Critical Operations Data System(s) overcurrent devices shall be
selectively coordinated with all supply side overcurrent protective devices.”
A Critical Operations Data System is an information technology equipment
system that requires continuous operation for reasons of public safety,
emergency management, national security, or business continuity.
New requirement for Critical Operations Data Systems will help ensure that entire
critical computer systems do not crash due to an overcurrent in one rack or server.
© 2013 Eaton. All rights reserved.
6
Healthcare Selective Coordination 517.30(F)
Modified Requirement
“(F) Selective Coordination. Overcurrent protective devices serving the essential electrical
system shall be selectively coordinated for the period of time that a fault’s duration extends
beyond 0.1 second.
Informational Note: The terms “Coordination” and “Coordinated” as used in this section do
not cover the full range of overcurrent conditions.”
Healthcare inspectors should, at minimum, check to assure “coordination” to
0.1 seconds for the life safety branch of the essential electrical system. These
same circuits in commercial buildings must be “selectively coordinated” for all
possible overcurrents and opening times associated with those overcurrents.
This change clarifies that the healthcare requirement for coordination at 0.1 seconds
and greater is different than the requirement for selective coordination in Sections
620.62, 700.28, 701.27, and 708.54.
© 2013 Eaton. All rights reserved.
7
© 2013 Eaton. All rights reserved.
8