I agree with Joe. Since jurisdictions across the US do not adopt the same revision of NFPA 70 <https://www.nema.org/docs/default-source/technical-document-library/nec-adoption-map.pdf>, mandating a single edition at the federal level could be problematic.
On Fri, Oct 30, 2020 at 8:15 AM Joe Randolph <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Doug: > > > > The short answer is that compliance with NFPA 70 is, in fact, the law in > most states and localities. > > > > Most states have passed laws that require compliance with NFPA 70. In > these states, when the electrical inspector visits a site, the code book > used to determine compliance with the state’s electrical code is NFPA 70. > > > > I think the situation is similar to the ITU standards, which are > officially called “Recommendations” and do not, by themselves, have the > force of law. However, the laws in many countries call out certain ITU > standards. > > > > Similarly, UL standards in the USA are not, by themselves, legally > binding. However, many UL standards are called out by law by OSHA and in > state electrical codes (which typically call out NFPA 70). > > > > > > Joe Randolph > > Telecom Design Consultant > > Randolph Telecom, Inc. > > 781-721-2848 <(781)%20721-2848> (USA) > > [email protected] > > http://www.randolph-telecom.com > > > > *From:* Douglas Powell [mailto:[email protected]] > *Sent:* Friday, October 30, 2020 10:00 AM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* [PSES] NFPA Codes, law or not? > > > > My Friday Question, > > > > NFPA Codes, law or not? Officially the answer is, "No, these are not > laws." > > > > I recently saw a clarification stating: > > "*As a national consensus safety standard, NFPA 70 is not a law and it > has not been incorporated into the Code of Federal Regulations. Therefore, > compliance is not deemed mandatory. Even so, OSHA has cited NFPA 70 in > cases where lack of compliance has resulted in a workplace accident*." > > > > The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a nonprofit > organization and not a government entity. In the USA, possibly the best > known published document is the NFPA 70 which is the National Electric Code > or NEC ®. And indeed, this code has been translated and adopted in other > countries in places like Latin America > <https://www.nfpa.org/NEC/NEC-adoption-and-use/NEC-adoption-and-use-in-Latin-America>. > Nevertheless, in my view, the whole system is bordering on becoming a > legal requirement, especially at the local level where Authorities Having > Jurisdiction (AHJs) adopt these into their local city and county codes. > > > > Occasionally a discussion is raised on electrical forums where someone > wants to point out that in this country any code which is officially > mandated law must be freely available for public use. NFPA does indeed > offer a "free view" but these are very deficient with regard to usability. > > > > The question then becomes, "Should these codes be law? > > > > Food for thought... > > > > Doug > > > > -- > > > > Douglas E Powell > > [email protected] > http://www.linkedin.com/in/dougp01 > > - > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > > This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc > discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to < > [email protected]> > > All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: > http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html > > Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at > http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in > well-used formats), large files, etc. > > Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ > Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to > unsubscribe) <http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html> > List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html > > For help, send mail to the list administrators: > Scott Douglas <[email protected]> > Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> > > For policy questions, send mail to: > Jim Bacher <[email protected]> > David Heald <[email protected]> > - > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > > This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc > discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to < > [email protected]> > > All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: > http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html > > Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at > http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in > well-used formats), large files, etc. > > Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ > Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to > unsubscribe) <http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html> > List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html > > For help, send mail to the list administrators: > Scott Douglas <[email protected]> > Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> > > For policy questions, send mail to: > Jim Bacher <[email protected]> > David Heald <[email protected]> > -- Scott Aldous | Regulatory Compliance Manager | [email protected] | 650-253-1994 - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to unsubscribe) List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <[email protected]> David Heald: <[email protected]>
