National Electrical Safety Code

2017
SWEDE – Corpus Christi
April 25, 2016
 NESC
Accredited Standards Committee C2
• Secretariat – IEEE–SA

• Main Committee

• Executive Subcommittee

• Interpretations Subcommittee

• “Numbered” Subcommittees

2
 Subcommittees

SC1: Sec 1-3 (Definitions, gen. rules, etc.)

SC2: Section 9 – Grounding Methods

SC3: Sections 10-19 – Supply Stations

SC4: Sections 20-23 – OH Lines & Clearances

SC5: Sections 24-27 – Strength & Loading

SC7: Sections 30-39 – Underground Lines

SC8: Sections 40-43 – Work Rules

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 2017 NESC
NESC Zone at http://standards.ieee.org

Change Proposals Comments

SC1: 75 SC1: 84
SC2: 39 SC2: 38
SC3: 45 SC3: 52
SC4: 300 SC4: 199
SC5: 175 SC5: 262
SC7: 68 SC7: 57
SC8: 74 SC8: 54
======= ======
Total 686 Total 634

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 National Electrical Safety Code
SC1 – General Rules
013. Application
B. Existing installations
3. Where conductors or equipment are added, altered, or
replaced on an existing structure, the structure or the
facilities on the structure need not be modified or replaced
if the resulting installation will be in compliance with either
(a) the rules that were in effect at the time of the original
installation, or (b) the rules in effect in a subsequent
edition to which the installation has been previously
brought into compliance, or (c) the rules of this edition in
accordance with Rule 13B1. When an existing installation
is brought into compliance with a subsequent edition,
earlier editions no longer apply.

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 National Electrical Safety Code
SC1 – General Rules
013. Application
B. Existing installations
3. For structures that currently do not comply with Rule
013B3, if adding a new item, or replacing or rearranging
existing items would not in itself, either (1) create a
structural, clearance, or grounding non-conformance, or
(2) worsen an existing non-conformance, then the addition,
replacement, or alteration may be performed prior to
correcting existing non-compliance items.
For existing non-compliance items, see Rules 214A4 and
A5. (See IR 548) 6
 National Electrical Safety Code
SC2 - Grounding

Rule 092C – Message Wires and Guys

Exception added for 4 grounds in each mile in
areas of extreme terrain
Messenger must be “sufficient size and ampacity”
Messenger must be grounded at all structures in
that portion of the line
 National Electrical Safety Code
SC2 - Grounding

Rule 096C – Multi-grounded Systems

1. Exceptions to 4 grounds/mile rule allowed for
inaccessible facilities and extreme terrain
2. Grounds required where personnel can access
facilities
 National Electrical Safety Code
SC2 - Grounding

Rule 094B1
Stainless steel ground rods now included in non-
ferrous metal category
 National Electrical Safety Code
SC2 - Grounding

Rule 094B2
1. Driven rods, buried wire, strips, and plates (>2
ft2) are considered to be equivalent.
2. Butt wraps and small plates are ½ electrodes.
3. There is a new Working Group to look at
materials and dimensions of ground rods.
 NESC 2017 Significant Changes
SC3 - Electric Supply Stations
• Rule 110A1 - No other fences may be located within 6 feet of the
substation fence without concurrence of the substation owner.

Photo submitted with NESC CP 4572 by Allen Clapp

 NESC 2017 Significant Changes
SC3 - Electric Supply Stations

NESC Section 12 – Installation and Maintenance of Equipment

For Rules 110A and 124A, there is an altitude correction

requirement for altitudes above 3300 feet for substation
clearances. No specifics given but the following reference:

NOTE: For additional information, see IEEE Std C37.100.1-2007 [Bx] and
IEEE Std 1427-2006 [Bx].

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 NESC 2017 Significant Changes
SC3 - Electric Supply Stations
• Fig. 110-7. Example of how to apply the safety clearance zone to an
impenetrable fence per NESC Table 110-1 and NESC Fig. 110-2 (Rule
110A2b).

Use R for gap

Figure from McGraw Hill’s NESC 2012 Handbook used with permission of Marne and
Associates, Inc. and the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. © 2012
 NESC
SC4 – OH Lines and Clearances

Energized lines Guy Insulator

or parts area
A Performance Rule

Guy insulator shall be positioned

such that no portion of the anchor
guy, including any conductive
components of the guy insulator, can
Anchor Guy
become energized within 8 ft of the
ground level when the anchor guy
becomes slack or breaks below the
lowest guy insulator

Provided by Rule 215C4a

Mickey Gunter 2012 Code
 NESC SC4 – OH Lines and Clearances
Guy Insulators

Rule 215C2a for 2017 NESC Requires

Anchor Guys to be Effectively Grounded
– Not a new Code requirement
– The installation of guy insulators is an
exception to the grounding rule
Exception 2 to Rule 215C2a:
– Guy insulators shall be positioned so as to
limit the likelihood of any portion of an anchor
guy becoming energized within 2.45 m (8 ft)
of the ground level in the event that the
anchor guy becomes slack or breaks.

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 NESC
SC4 – OH Lines and Clearances
Table 235-6

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 NESC
SC4 - OH Lines and Clearances
Table 235-6
Questions Surrounding Existing Table:
– Application of “parallel to line”
– Application of “anchor guys”
– And what facilities are included in “all other”
SC4 Felt Table 235-6 Needs to be
Clarified
– Discussions and received comments clearly
indicate that the application of the existing
table is not uniform.
– Working Group Formed
• Review the clearances between energized parts and
down guys. Table 235-6 Row 2a, b, and c.

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 NESC
SC4 – OH Lines and Clearances
Street Light Brackets
Revised Table 238-2 to Require 40”
Clearance Between an Ungrounded
Street Light Bracket and Communication
Facilities Within the Communication
Space (CP4139).
– Currently, 20” required
• Not considered adequate if the street
light bracket were to become energized
– Clearance can be reduced to 4” if street
light bracket grounded.

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 NESC
SC4 – OH Lines and Clearances
WGs Established

Working Groups Were Assigned to

Provide SC4 Direction on Specific Change
Proposals
– WG 4.1 (CP 4683)
• Determine if a new extreme ice loading criteria is
required for road crossings
– WG 4.2 (CP4468)
• Determine if the Code needs to develop
clearances to agricultural irrigation systems and
water streams

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Re-format Rule 241.C. At Crossings
241. Application of grades of construction to different situations

2012 version

2017 version

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Re-format Rule 241.C. At Crossings
241. Application of grades of construction to different situations

2012 version

2017 version

Same Words
Easier to Comprehend

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Revise Table 242-1
Grades of Construction Applications
CP Intention:
Improve logical layout and format

Columns sequence from low to high voltage

Rows sequence from low to high voltage

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2012
Table 242-1

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2012
Table 242-1

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2017 Table 242-1

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Revise Table 242-1
Grades of Construction Applications

FN 3 reversed; higher grade in the table

3 Grade B C construction shall may be used if the supply circuits

will not be promptly de-energized, both initially and following
subsequent breaker operations, in the event of a contact with
lower supply conductors or other grounded objects.

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Revise Table 242-1
Grades of Construction Applications
Add FN 11 – Grade N for dielectric fiber-optic
supply cables
11. For communication, Grade N may be used for entirely dielectric fiber-optic supply cables meeting Rule 230F1b,
insulated communication cables located in the supply space and supported by an effectively grounded messenger, and
for communication cables supported on messengers that are bonded at intervals specified in Rule 092C to supply
messengers supporting cable meeting Rule 230C1, 230C2, or 230C3. These grades of construction apply to
communications service drops as well as cables.

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Revise Table 242-1
Grades of Construction Applications
• Dielectric
Add FN 11 cables perNRule
– Grade 230F1b fiber-optic
for dielectric
• Insulated Comm supply Cables cables in Supply Space and
11. For communication, Grade N may be used for entirely dielectric fiber-optic supply cables meeting Rule 230F1b,
supported by onmessenger that’s
at intervalseffectively
insulated communication cables located in the supply space and supported by an effectively grounded messenger, and
for communication cables supported messengers that are bonded specified in Rule 092C to supply

grounded
messengers supporting cable meeting Rule 230C1, 230C2, or 230C3. These grades of construction apply to
communications service drops as well as cables.

Or
messenger bonded at intervals specified in
Rule 092C to Supply messengers supporting
cable meeting Rule 230C
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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Rule 250C, D Exemption for Tall Structures
Fuhgeht about it!!!!

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Clarify Rule 250D

…………

Add ice to: Do not add ice to:

Wires Structure
Conductors Other supported facilities
Cables
Messengers

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Add Temperature Map to 250D

To Be Used
With 250D
Extreme Ice &
Concurrent Wind

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
New ASCE Reference
Extreme Wind Map

2012 NESC
ASCE 7-05
Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures

2017 NESC
ASCE 74-10
Guidelines for Electrical Transmission Line Structural Loading

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
New ASCE Reference
Extreme Ice Map

2012 NESC
ASCE 7-05
Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures

2017 NESC
ASCE 7-10
Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures

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 NESC
SC5 Strength and Loading
Aeolian Vibration – Rule 261H.1.b

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 NESC
SC5 Strength and Loading
Aeolian Vibration – Rule 261H.1.b

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Insulators – New Rating System
Old Line Post ratings:
Rating equal to average
Lowest no less than 85% of average

New Line Post ratings:

Rating = Minimum of all insulators

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Insulators – New Rating System

Old Transmission Suspension ratings:

1.2 standard deviations

New Transmission Suspension ratings:

3.0 standard deviations

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Insulators

CP Intention:
Introduce Load factors (LRFD)

Adjust allowable stresses

Mostly equivalent insulator applications

Introduce Classes: Distribution & Trans

Different allowables for Rule 250B vs 250C, D

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Insulators: Table 253-1 Load Factors

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Insulators: Table 253-1 Load Factors

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Insulators Table 277-1

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Insulators Table 277-1

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Insulators Table 277-1

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Insulators Table 277-1

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Nonceramic Table 277-1 cont’d

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Nonceramic Table 277-1 cont’d

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Nonceramic Table 277-1 cont’d

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Nonceramic Table 277-1 cont’d

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Nonceramic Table 277-1 cont’d

FN 3: This percentage shall be supplied by the manufacturer.

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Insulator Factory Tests Rule 274
Exception Added

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 NESC
SC5 – Strength and Loading
Insulator Factory Tests Rule 274
Exception Added
EXCEPTION:

Where guy insulators manufactured per designs for which

[1] validation tests have been performed, and

[2] a valid quality assurance program is followed,

this rule does not require that dry and wet flashover tests be
performed on each guy insulator unit.

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 NESC
SC7 – UG Lines
Random UG Separation (<12” apart)

2012 354D3a – Copper concentric neutral must have a

conductance not less than one half that of the phase
conductor.

This requirement practically eliminates the use of 3 phase

cables in direct buried systems.

• 3-phase cables normally are 1/3 size neutrals

• Studies show 1/3 is adequate for device tripping

Rule 354D3a was deleted.

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 NESC
SC7 – UG Lines
Grounding and Bonding
2012 384C. Bonding should be provided between all aboveground metallic supply and
communications enclosures that are separated by a distance of 1.8 m (6 ft) or less. For
the purpose of this rule, pole grounds are not required to be bonded to the
communication enclosure.

The rule does not prohibit the practice of bonding between communication pedestals and
supply pole grounds but, based on safety issues raised by studies, does not require it.

NOTE: This rule does not prohibit bonding communication

metallic enclosures to supply pole grounds, provided all
affected parties are in agreement.

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 NESC SC8
Work Rules for the Operation of Electric Supply
and Communications Lines and Equipment

2017 edition
– Reconcile existing rules with FED-OSHA revisions
• Rule 410.3 on arc hazard
- New information addressing hand, head, feet protection
- New information for dc systems
- New information on 480V arc-in-a-box test results

• Rule 420K on fall protection

- Fall protection to be used at elevated locations above 4 ft.
- Appropriate equipment to limit free fall to 2 ft.
- Anchorages must support 3000 lb-force
- Employees to visually assess anchorages

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 SC8
Work Rules for the Operation of Electric Supply
and Communications Lines and Equipment

2017 edition (continued)

• Minimum Approach Distances (MAD)
- Revise Table 431-1 (Communication)
- Revise Rule 441
- Adds rule specific definition for “reach”/”extended reach”
- Revise rules for voltages above 72.5kV
- Revise default Table 441-1 (Supply)
- Add new Tables 441-2, 441-3, 441-4 (‘T’ has been calc’d)
- Retain/renumber existing Tables 441-2, 441-3, 441-4

• Minimum clearances for open air gap

- New Table 444-1 for supply stations and OH lines

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Rule 410A3
 New / Revised Exceptions

– EXCEPTION 2: Arc-rated equipment is not necessary for the

employee’s hands when the employee is wearing rubber
insulating gloves with protectors. Heavy-duty leather work gloves
with a weight of at least 407 gm/m2 (12 oz/yd2) may be worn if
the estimated incident energy is no more than 14 cal/cm2.

– EXCEPTION 3: Arc-rated equipment is not necessary for the

employee’s feet when the employee is wearing heavy-duty work
shoes or boots.

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Rule 410A3
 New / Revised Exceptions
 EXCEPTION 4: Arc-rated equipment is not necessary for the
employee’s head or face when the employee is wearing head
protection meeting 29 CFR 1910.135 if the estimated incident
energy is less than OSHA 9 cal/cm2 for exposures involving single
phase arcs in open air less than or 5 cal/cm2 for other exposures.
Arc-rated equipment is necessary for the protection of the
employee’s head and face and may consist of head protection
meeting OSHA 29 CFR 1910.135 and a face shield with a minimum
arc rating of 8 cal/cm2 if the estimated incident-energy exposure is
greater than 9 cal/cm2 and less than 13 cal/cm2 for exposures
involving single-phase arcs in open air or greater than 5 cal/cm2 and
less than 13 cal/cm2 for exposures involving single-phase arcs in
open air or greater than 5 cal/cm2 and less than 9 cal/cm2 for other
exposures. For exposures involving single phase arcs in open air,
the arc rating for the employee’s head and face protection may be 4
cal/cm2 less than the estimated incident energy.

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New Rule 410A6 / Revised Rule 420Q
Antennas
 410A6
The employer shall provide training to all employees who work in the
vicinity of antennas operating in the range of 3 kHz to 300 GHz to
recognize and mitigate exposure to radiofrequency sources that
exceed exposure levels set forth by the regulatory authority having
jurisdiction.
NOTE: See OSHA 29 CFR 1910.97, Subpart G [B67]; OSHA 29 CFR 1910.268, Subpart R
[B68]; FCC Bulletin No. 65 [B32]; IEEE Std C95.1-2005 [B61].

 420Q
Employees working in the vicinity of antennas operating in the range
of 3 kHz to 300 GHz shall use controls to mitigate exposure to radio-
frequency sources that exceeds permissible exposure levels.
NOTE: See Rule 410A6.

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Rule 420K – Fall Protection

1. Employees shall use appropriate fall protection equipment while

climbing, transferring, or transitioning across obstacles on poles or
structures, unless doing so not feasible or creates a greater hazard
than doing so unattached.

a. When work positioning is used, it shall be rigged in a manner in

which the employee cannot free fall more than 0.60 m (2 ft).

b. Anchorages for work-positioning equipment shall be capable of

supporting at least twice the potential impact load of an employee’s
fall, or 13.3 kN (3000 lb-force), whichever is greater.

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Rule 420K (continued)
NOTE 1: Wood-pole fall-restriction devices meeting American Society of Testing and
Materials Standard Specifications for Personal Climbing Equipment, ASTM F887-04
[Bx] or later versions, are deemed to meet the anchorage-strength requirement
when they are used in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions.
NOTE 2: Recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, with
consideration given to such factors as design specifications and maintenance
procedures, may be used in determining whether potential anchorages meet the
strength requirements in 420K1b provided the employee performs a visual inspection
before use that reveals nothing about the appearance of the anchorage (for example,
corrosion around support-member connections or bent support members) suggests
that the applicable strength criteria would not be met.
NOTE 3: On poles, when the employee is transitioning or at the work location and
the work positioning strap is positioned above a bolted attachment, step bolt, or
other equipment, these attachments may serve as the anchorage. It is not necessary
to determine the strength of the attachment provided the employee performs a
visual inspection before use that reveals nothing about the appearance of the
anchorage (for example, corrosion or cracks) suggests that the applicable strength
criteria would not be met.

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Rule 431 / Table 431-1

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Rule 441 New Exception
 441A1a
A. Minimum approach distance to energized lines or parts
1. General
Employees shall not approach or bring any conductive object within the
minimum approach distance listed in Table 441-1 or Table 441-5 or distances
as determined by an engineering analysis to exposed energized lines or parts
unless one of the following is met:
a. The line or part is de-energized and grounded per Rule 444D.
EXCEPTION: For voltages less than 600 V where the making of the ground is
impractical, the line or part may be isolated in lieu of installing temporary
protective grounds provided the following conditions are met: (a) the lines and
equipment are isolated from all sources and tested to be de-energized, (b)
there is no possibility of contact with another energized source, and (c) the
hazard of induced voltage is not present.

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Rule 441 Changed Notes
 441A1d
d. The employee is performing barehand live-line work according to
Rule 446.
NOTE 1: Minimum approach distances calculated under this rule for 0.301 kV to
0.750 kV contain the electrical component plus 0.31 m (1 ft) for inadvertent
movement. Voltages 0.751 kV to 72.5 kV contain the electrical component plus
0.61 m (2 ft) for inadvertent movement. Voltages above 72.5 kV contain the
electrical component plus 0.31 m (1 ft) for inadvertent movement.
NOTE 2: Methodology for calculating minimum approach distances were taken
from 29 CFR 1910.269 Appendix B [B66].
NOTE 3: The voltage ranges are contained in ANSI C84.1-1995, Table 1.
NOTE 4: For the purpose of Section 44, reach is defined as the range of
anticipated motion of an employee while performing a task, and extended reach
is defined as the range of anticipated motion of a conductive object being held
by an employee while performing a task.

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Rule 441 / Tables
 441A4
When performing live line work, employees shall position themselves so that
they are not within the reach or extended reach of the applicable minimum
approach distance.
In lieu of using the minimum approach distances in Table 441-1, the minimum
approach distance in Table 441-2 through Table 441-4 may be used provided
the per unit transient overvoltage value (T) has been determined through an
engineering analysis considering the system design, expected operating
conditions, and control measures.
NOTE 1: Control measures include blocking reclosing, prohibiting switching during live line
work, using protective air gaps, use of closing resistors and surge arrestors, etc.
NOTE 2: IEEE Std 516-2009 [B37] and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 Appendix B [B66] contain
information that may be used to perform an engineering analysis to determine maximum
transient overvoltage factors. The engineering analysis may be performed on a system
basis or a per-line basis.

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Rule 444 / New Table 444-1

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Subcommittee 8 Working Group(s)

 Working Group 8.14 – Part 4 – Generation Facilities

 Working Group 8.14 was formed to address possible gaps in Part 4 rules regarding significance
to work in generating stations. The kick-off meeting for this WG was held in late August to
perform a thorough review of existing rules specifically to assess their relevance to that work.
Additionally, a former member of Subcommittee developed a draft Part 5, designed to
specifically address work in generating stations. The next meeting of the working group was
cancelled because of Hurricane Sandy and another meeting has not yet been scheduled

 Also, the intent is to deliver the WG’s new/revised draft rules to the full Subcommittee for
consideration as new (SC8) Change Proposal(s)

 Chair: J. Tomaseski; Members:

 Working Group X.XX – Part 4 / Part 1 – Storage batteries

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Questions?

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