As an electrical instructor for 26 years, electrical engineer and master electrican, the NFPA and Local Inspection Authorities over estimate the ability of the average electrican to learn and understand the theory and practical nature of the business. I recognize that no two installations are the same and each and everyone needs to be assessed separately but what the "code experts" need to do is to come up with clear, concise, practical drawings/pictures and place them in the code books. Lets face it, the code although not intended to be an instructional manual, is exactly that! My students are constantly frustrated with being referred from one section to another, only to end up more confused than they need to be. It keeps me employed as an instructor but I can understand how there will be and continue to be, misinterpretations of the intent of the code in installations. I remember someone once saying to me when I was a student "keep it simple" and I understand what they meant.
One more thing, if the NFPA expects people to learn and understand the code, please stop changing section numbers and code article numbers. Through my many years, I learn and become able to quote sections only to have the section numbers to change from cycle to cycle with no major change in intent or language! That is frustration! (i.e. 2002 table 430.150 is now 430.250; Table 220.19 is now 220.55) Rick Broderick
| 
