As Reviewed by Mike Holt

The following text is a quick summary of the proposed changes for the 2005 NEC. This document is a work in progress and many will be changed by the Code panel over the next few months. Some of these you might find important to your work and you might want to follow their progress with me. Therefore, each week I will email you a few of these changes.

Each proposed change has a Report on Proposal (ROP) number, like 1-25. This number reflects the Proposal Number and all action on this proposal can be viewed in the following PDF document NEC Part 4. [ 554 pages please be patient ]

Chapter 6 Special Equipment

Article 604 Manufactured Wiring Systems

19-154
604.6 Construction.
(A) Types.
(3) Flexible Cord. Additional text clarifies when conductors smaller than 12 AWG can be used for manufactured wiring systems of the flexible cord type for the installation of electric-discharge luminaires.

Author's Comment: The conductor in the flexible cord is typically a 16 AWG, which has an ampere rating of 10A [Table 400.5], and it must be protected at it's ampacity, typically with a supplementary overcurrent protection device [240.5(A)].

19-155a
604.6 Construction.
(E) Securing and Supporting. The title and text of this section was changed to require manufactured wiring systems to be secured, as well as supported in accordance with the requirements of the specific wiring method article.

Author's Comment: The 2002 NEC only required the wiring method to be supported; now it must also be secured.

19-154
604.6 Construction.
(F) Luminaires. New subsection clarifies when manufactured wiring systems of the flexible cord type can be used for electric-discharge luminaires.


Article 605 Office Furnishings

18-120a
605.6 Fixed-Type Partitions.
Change identifies when a simultaneous disconnection means is required for multiwire branch circuits supplying fixed-type partitions.

Author's Comment:: Because partitions are moved frequently, individuals not familiar with the original install could get injured by not realizing that there were actually two or three energized circuits to the partition. Grouping circuits together on a multi-pole circuit breaker should help reduce this hazard.

18-121
605.7 Freestanding-Type Partitions.
Change identifies when a simultaneous disconnection means for multiwire branch circuits supplying freestanding-type partitions.


Article 625 Electric Vehicle Charging System

12-33
625.2 Definitions.
Electric Vehicle. New text clarifies that "neighborhood electric vehicle" a new category of electric vehicle, falls under the classification of an "electric vehicle."

Author's Comment: This type of vehicle has automotive grade headlights, seat belts, windshields, brakes and other safety equipment, with a top speed of 25 MPH. These vehicles are often used in retirement or other planned communities for short trips for shopping, social and recreational purposes.

12-34 and 12-35
625.26 Interactive Systems.
New section contains the requirements for hybrid electric vehicles that have the capability to use as a standby power source, in addition to its normal function of charging the vehicle batteries.


Article 640 Audio Signal Processing, Amplification, and Reproduction Equipment

12-44
640.3 Locations and Other Articles.
(A) Spread of Fire or Products of Combustion. Text revised to clarify when the accessible portion of abandoned audio distribution cables are required to be removed.


Article 645 Information Technology Equipment

12-61
645.5 Supply Circuits and Interconnecting Cables.
(D) Under Raised Floors.
(5) DP Rated Cables. New reference added to clarify when power cords installed under a raised floor in an Information Technology Room are not required to be DP rated.

12-61
645.5 Supply Circuits and Interconnecting Cables.
(D) Under Raised Floors.
(5) DP Rated Cables
(d) New rule contains the details when the power cord of listed equipment under a raised floor in an Information Technology Room is not required to have a DP cable rating.

12-44
645.5 Supply Circuits and Interconnecting Cables.
(D) Under Raised Floors.
(6) Text revised to clarify when abandoned cables are required to be removed.