Mike Holt's 2005 NEC Changes Summary

Articles 312 through 330

ARTICLE 312 Cabinets, Cutout Boxes, and Meter Socket Enclosures

This article addresses the installation and construction specifications for the items mentioned in its title. Why do we need a Code article telling us how to install these things? What can possibly go wrong? In Article 310, we observed that you need different ampacities for the same conductor, depending on conditions of use. The same thing applies to these items-just in a different way. For example, you can't use just any enclosure in a wet area or in a hazardous location. The conditions of use impose special requirements for these situations.

For all such enclosures, certain requirements apply-regardless of the use. For example, you must cover any openings, protect conductors from abrasion, and allow sufficient bending room for conductors.

Part I is where you'll find the requirements most useful to the electrician in the field. Part II applies to manufacturers. If you use name brand components that are listed or labeled, you do not need to be concerned with Part II. However, if you are specifying custom enclosures, you need to be familiar with these requirements to ensure the authority having jurisdiction approves the enclosures.

Part I. Installation

• New text requires a watertight connection (termination fitting listed for wet locations) in areas where the contour of the wiring method would lead water above live parts of the enclosure in a wet location.
• New rule added to require the sealing of gaps or open spaces around cabinets or cutout boxes employing a flush-type cover, as is required around outlet boxes [314.21].

Article 314 - Outlet, Device, Pull and Junction Boxes, Conduit Bodies, and Handhole Enclosures

Article 314 contains installation requirements for outlet boxes, pull and junction boxes, conduit bodies, and handhole enclosures.

This is another article that can make you pause and ask, "What do we need this for?" It might seem there is no secret to installing a conduit body, fitting, or anything else mentioned in the title. But as with Article 312, conditions of use apply. If you're running raceway in a hazardous location, for example, you must use the correct fittings and the proper installation methods. But consider something as simple as a splice. It makes sense that you wouldn't put a splice in the middle of a raceway-doing so means you cannot get to it. But if you put a splice in a conduit body, you're fine, right? Not necessarily. Suppose that conduit body is a "short radius" version (think of it as an elbow with the bend chopped off). You do not have much room inside such an enclosure and for that reason; you cannot put a splice inside a short radius conduit body.

Part I. Scope and General

The scope of Article 314 was expanded to include the requirements for handhole enclosures. See 314.30 for details.

Part II. Installation

• New sentence requires conductor volume calculations to be increased in size when conductors are looped or run unbroken through the box. But this rule only apples when the length of the conductors outside the outlet box is in compliance with 300.14.
• Additional text clarifies the setback requirements for plaster rings, extension rings, or listed extender, as well as boxes from combustible surfaces.
• Additional text clarifies when gaps around boxes must be repaired.
• New text continues to allow screws to be used to support boxes, but only if they comply with the new requirements.
• The support requirements previously contained in 422.18 were relocated to 314.27(D). This makes it unnecessary to use of two sections when determining the maximum fan weight permitted to be supported by an outlet box.
• New section contains the requirements for handhole enclosures.

ARTICLE 320 Armored Cable: Type AC

Armored cable is an assembly of insulated conductors, 14 AWG through 1 AWG that are individually wrapped within waxed paper and contained within a flexible spiral metal sheath. Armored cable looks like flexible metal conduit.

Key point: The metal sheath serves as the effective ground-fault current path and there are no limitations to the number of bends between terminations.

Part II. Installation

• This section was reorganized with editorial changes to add clarity and uniform interpretation. New subsection (A) General, gives a title to the opening paragraph and includes requirements that apply generally. The requirements for securing and supporting have been separated into (B) and (C); as they are two different issues.
• Changes clarify when the 90°C conductor insulation ampacity as listed in Table 310.16, can be used for conductor ampacity adjustment or correction, and the change brings the ampacity adjustment and correction requirements for Type AC cable into consistency with Type NM cable [334.80].

ARTICLE 330 Metal-Clad Cable: Type MC

Metal-clad cable encloses one or more insulated conductors in a metal sheath of either corrugated or smooth copper or aluminum tubing, or spiral interlocked steel or aluminum. The physical characteristics of MC cable make it a versatile wiring method you can use in almost any location and for almost any application. The most common type of MC cable is interlocking type, which looks similar to armored cable or flexible metal conduit. Because the outer sheath of interlocking type cable isn't suitable as an effective ground-fault current path, it contains a separate equipment grounding (bonding) conductor.

Part III. Construction Specifications

• This section was reorganized with editorial changes to add clarity and uniform interpretation. New subsection (A) General, give a title to the opening paragraph and include requirements that apply generally. The requirements for securing and supporting have been separated into (B) and (C); as they are two different issues.
• Section rewritten to clarify when Type MC cable is permitted to serve as an equipment grounding (bonding) path.

Mike Holt's Comment: If you desire more information about any of the above changes, be sure to order my Changes book and/or library (Video/DVD).

2005 NEC Changes, Part 2, Article 320 - 830, DVD Course

This Code review program covers the changes in Articles 320 through Article 830. Included is a video of one of Mike’s most dynamic live classes with a fully illustrated textbook. The textbook contains over 150 diagrams which make the changes easy to understand. Includes textbook and 4.5-hr DVD. Product Code: 05CCD2 Multimedia: DVD Price: $109.00 each DVD Available January, 2005 Sample Graphic