SOME CODE CHANGES FOR 2008 NEC

•          100 Definitions

•          210.5 (C) color code changes

•          210.12 (B) Arc-Fault requirements (In Multi Family Dwellings, when changing a unit panel to accommodate AFCI Breakers  engineering is required. When adding a sub panel to accommodate AFCI Breakers,  engineering is not required )

•          210.52 switched outlets

•          210.52 (e) Out door Outlets

•          210.52 n (g) Basement and garages  outlet required in addition to outlets for  specific equipment.

•          210.60 (A) Guest rooms and Guest suites…  Shall have outlets spaced  with 210.52 A

•          210.62 Show window outlets within 18” of actual window

•          215.6 Feeder equipment grounding conductor.

•          215.12 (C) color code for ungrounded conductors

•          225.39 Rating of disconnects

•          240.4 (D) Overcurrent protection for small conductors 16 awg and 18 awg.

•          240.24 (F) Devices not located over steps.

•          250.28 (D) System Bonding Jumper Size.

•          250.30 (A) (4) Multiple Separately Derived Systems common grounding electrode conductor.

•          250.32 (B) Exception - Grounding at separate Building or structure.

•          250.52 (A) (3) Concrete encased Electrode clarified.

•          250.94 Bonding for other systems ( Intersystem bonding terminations are required to be provided external to the enclosure)

•          300.4 (E) Raceways installed under roof decking ( required to have 1-1/2” clearance from decking).

•          300.9 Raceways installed in wet locations above grade (The inside of the conduit system shall be considered a wet location and wet location conductors shall be used).

•          300.50 Revisions for concrete cover and depth underground conductors.

•          310.15 Conduits exposed to direct sunlight on roof tops (correction factors apply).

•          312.4 Repairing Noncombustible surfaces( No more than an 1/8” gap from panel to surface)

•          314.16 (B)(4) Device or equipment fill ( A device wider than 2” as described in table 314.16(A) (Shall have double volume allowances for each gang required for mounting of the device or equipment).

•          334.15(C) NM cable sheath shall extend thru the conduit and into the outlet or device box by not less than1/4” in length, the cable shall be SECURED within 12” from the point of entry into the conduit).

•          334.80 NM Cable thru hole with insulation  ( Where more than 2 NM cable are install thru the same hole without separation and draft stop sealant is installed the Ampacities of the cables SHALL be adjusted).

•          338.10 and  12 Uses permitted for USE and SE cable

•          348.12 Flex conduit not allowed in any wet location.

•          355 RTRC CONDUIT NEW ARTICLE

•          378.44 Expansion fittings for Nonmetallic wireways

•          DISCONNECTS CAPABLE OF BEING LOCKED OPEN (The provisions for locking shall remain in place with or (without the lock installed) at the circuit breaker or switch).

•          404.8(C) General use multi pole snap switches shall not be feed with more than a single circuit unless listed and marked as a 2 or 3 circuit switch.

•          406.4(G) Voltage between ganged devices shall not exceed 300 volts without approved dividers and box.

•          406.11 Tamper-resistant Receptacles in Dwelling Units NEW TO 2008

•          409.10 Industrial control panel marking ( NEW 2008)

•          410.6 ALL Luminaire fixtures and lamp holders are required to be LISTED.

•          410.130 (G)  Disconnecting means for lighting fixtures required.

•          422.52 Electric Drinking Fountains shall be Ground-fault protected.

•          440.14 A C Disconnect shall not obscure Equipment data nameplate .

•          645.5 (F) Abandoned supply circuits and Interconnecting cables shall be tagged on both ends as to the future use( See complete article).

•          680.26 (C) Pool water is required to be Bonded to Equipotential Bonding Grid. (See complete article).

•          690 Photovoltaic Systems See 4D, 31E, 31F, 33C&E, 45B, 53 AND 74 FOR COMPLETE CHANGES.

•          695.6 (B) Fire Pump MOTOR CIRCUITS  Fire rating changes to 2 hr from 1 hr. Note: Not to be confused with Fire Pump Feeder circuit Requirements for physically Routed outside the building.

•          700.9 (D) (3) Control  wires shall be kept independent of ALL other wiring.

•          NEW Article 708 CRITICAL OPERATIONS POWER SYSTEMS    

•          760 Article Reorganized Fire Alarm

•          800.2 NEW  Communication Circuits (800.24) Shall be installed in a neat and workman like manner, See also 300.4D and 300.11

•          800.100 Grounding conductor shall be protected from Physical damage.

•          800.100 (B) Intersystem Bonding termination is required to be provided externally of the enclosure (s) , See also B for connections to

•          800.156 New 2008, At least 1 communication outlet shall be provided in all New dwelling units.

•          820.93 (C & D) A listed primary connector is required at all antenna and CTV connections external of the structure.

•          830.25 ABAONDONED Cables shall be tagged for future use with durable tag and on both ends.

•          830.26 Spread of fire or products of combustion.

Article 695 Fire Pumps

•          695.6 ( A ) Supply Conductors SHALL BE ROUTED OUTSIDE THE BUILDING. (This pertains to the conductors from the Xcel power and from the Generator if applicable all the way to the fire pump controller and final disconnect).

•          695.6 ( B ) FIRE PUMP CIRCUIT CONDUCTORS. On the Load side of the Fire Pump Controller and Final Disconnecting means.

•          They Shall be permitted to be routed thru a building using one of the following methods.

•          (1) Be Encased in a minimum of 2” of concrete

•          (2) Be within an enclosed construction dedicated to the fire pump circuit (s) and having a minimum of a 1-hour fire resistive rating( this is where  the newer RHH 2 Hour Fire Rated cable can be used in lieu of the 1-hour construction enclosure)