NEC Editions and Exceptions

NFPA 70 - NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE (NEC)

The National Fire Protection Association provides Article 70, the NEC and publishes a revised edition every three years. Idaho Code establishes the National Electrical Code (NEC) as the safety standard for electrical installations in the state of Idaho. Under those provisions, the National Electrical Code, 2005 Edition, as adopted by the Idaho State Electrical Board, is in full force and effect on and after July 1, 2005, with the exception of the following:

• Compliance with Article 675.8(B) will include the additional requirement that a disconnecting means always be provided at the point of service from the utility no matter where the disconnecting means for the machine is located.
• Compliance with Article 550.32(B) shall limit installation of a service on a manufactured home to those homes manufactured after January 1, 1992.
• Compliance with Article 210.12(B) shall not apply to the fire/smoke alarm branch circuit outlet.
• d. Poles used as lighting standards that are forty (40) feet or less in nominal height and that support no more than four (4) luminaries operating at a nominal voltage of three hundred (300) volts or less, shall not be considered to constitute a structure as that term, is defined by the National Electrical Code (NEC). The disconnecting means shall not be mounted to the pole. The disconnecting means may be permitted elsewhere in accordance with NEC, Article 225.32, exception 3. SEC special purpose fusible connectors (model SEC 1791-DF or model SEC 1791-SF) or equivalent shall be installed in a listed hand hole (underground) enclosure. The enclosure shall be appropriately grounded and bonded per the requirements of the NEC applicable to Article 230-Services. Over current protection shall be provided by a (fast-acting - minimum - 100K RMS Amps 600 VAC) rated fuse. Wiring within the pole for the luminaries shall be protected by supplementary over current device(s) (time-delay - minimum - 10K RMS Amps 600 VAC) in break-a-away fuse holder(s) accessible from the hand hole. Any poles supporting or incorporating utilization equipment or exceeding the prescribed number of luminaries, or in excess of forty(40) feet, shall be considered structures, and an appropriate service disconnecting means shall be required per the NEC. All luminary-supporting poles shall be appropriately grounded and bonded per the NEC. 

  Refer to Light Pole Installation and Inspection Procedures, under Important Informational Notices for more specifics.

A copy of the current edition of the NEC is available for reference at the office of the Division of Building Safety, Electrical Bureau 1090 E. Watertower St., Meridian, Idaho. NEC books may be obtained online, at some electrical supply houses and bookstores.