Electrical code and others… public access

[Lee Schierer]

Just for information:

The Electrical Safety Foundation (ESFI) is the premier 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety at home and in the workplace.

Founded in 1994 as a cooperative effort by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), ESFI depends on the support of community and industry stakeholders to provide funding for the development of new programs and resources throughout the year. ESFI receives funding from electrical manufacturers, distributors, independent testing laboratories, retailers, insurers, utilities, safety organizations, and trade and labor associations.

If you would like to view the NEC document for free, please follow these steps: Click on this link: https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=70. Click "Free Access"

[roger wiegand]

Sorry, but AFAIK, if you want a printed copy of any ordinances, regulations, or case law at the state, federal or local level you need to pay for the printing. Virtually all of that information is now freely available on the web, but if you want paper you need to pay, whether it's the 30 cents a page our town office charges for xerox copies or $100 for a code book. Traditionally the information was available by going to libraries or governmental offices, but if you wanted your own personal paper copy you needed to buy it. There are many exceptions to this, of course, but I'm speaking as a general rule (eg every state I know of will give you a paper copy of at least a summary of hunting and fishing regulations when you buy your license).

The information must be freely available in a commonly accessible format. These days the web provides that access to everyone, either through their device in their pocket or from the terminal in the public library. I don't think the government is, or should be, required to provide you the information in your personal preferred format, be that parchment scrolls or AI driven chatbots.

[Perry Hilbert Jr]

IF, very big if, you want printed copies. Yes. If you want to be able to just read what has the effect of law, then access should be and in some states, must be free. We are talking about a book for which nearly every municipality in the country needs a copy, most inspectors need a copy and many Libraries have copies. Then several contractors and electrical apprenticeship programs and schools. tens of thousands of copies. If like some other 501-c orgs I know of, they make money on the books, make money on the shipping, etc. I checked ESFI's filing with the IRS, confusing to say the least.

[Lee Schierer]

IF, very big if, you want printed copies. Yes. If you want to be able to just read what has the effect of law, then access should be and in some states, must be free. We are talking about a book for which nearly every municipality in the country needs a copy, most inspectors need a copy and many Libraries have copies. Then several contractors and electrical apprenticeship programs and schools. tens of thousands of copies. If like some other 501-c orgs I know of, they make money on the books, make money on the shipping, etc. I checked ESFI's filing with the IRS, confusing to say the least.

As noted above you can read the NEC and other codes for free on line or speak with a professional and they will likely let you read their purchased copy. Most local libraries have copies of the codes and you can read them at the library. Since they are reference books you probably won't be able to check them out. I know our local library has a copy.
NEC.jpg

[Perry Hilbert Jr]

As noted above you can read the NEC and other codes for free on line or speak with a professional and they will likely let you read their purchased copy. Most local libraries have copies of the codes and you can read them at the library. Since they are reference books you probably won't be able to check them out. I know our local library has a copy.
NEC.jpg

That totally misses the point. If my town passes a law, they need to have a copy available to the public. If something is law in that town, they better have a complete copy for the public to read. Otherwise it violates the very idea of public records and public access to those records. Nobody should have to play hide and seek on google to find the provisions of their municipality's laws from some private organization.

If you wanted to read your town's zoning ordinance to see what set backs you need to comply with, and the town's law only said to see a Uniform code from the National Townships and Boroughs Association and did not have a copy to review. . Not the way government is supposed to be.

You look at the practice and over look the principle.

[roger wiegand]

That totally misses the point. If my town passes a law, they need to have a copy available to the public. If something is law in that town, they better have a complete copy for the public to read. Otherwise it violates the very idea of public records and public access to those records. .

Such access (across virtually all public business in the state) is mandated by the open records law in our state. All 50 states have enacted some kind of open record provision, but they vary in effectiveness. If your state doesn't have a requirement to make the full laws and regulations available you really need to get on your legislator's case to implement such a policy, as that would seem to be a bare minimum. (In the case of building and fire codes the Mass CMR incorporates links to free copies of the relevant NFPA and IRC codes, supplementing the paper copies available at the town building department and the public library. The CMR itself contains the full text of any variations enacted by the state to the published NFPA and IRC codes.)

[Ken Combs]

You didn't answer the question, I don't disagree that people required to comply with a code must have access to the code. How do you propose the code writers get paid? I would suggest that if you are a professional electrical contractor, or an electrical engineering design firm, part of your toolkit should be a copy of relevant codes, buying them is part of your cost of doing business. Not sure of the best way if you are an amateur doing a home renovation, what do you suggest? Perhaps access to an online copy of the relevant codes should be included in the cost of your building permit?

Part of the problem is that the vast majority of the people developing the code are employed by manufacturers. Thus are paid by the companies that stand to profit from the resulting code. GFCI, AFCI, on and on. They don't need to be paid twice. Those not so employed should be paid by the other people that benefit from the code, tax payers. Just like those folks that make all the other laws we live by. JMHO.

Just to be clear, the safety aspects of those items is not in question, but the usage demanded in the code is far in excess of that needed for safety in a lot of cases. For instance, my shop lights are connected using ceiling mounted plug ins. No reason for that to be protected by a GFCI, by the letter of the current rule they should be. Again, JMHO,.

[Stan Calow]

. . . No reason for that to be protected by a GFCI, by the letter of the current rule they should be. Again, JMHO,.

Ken, I thought part of the reason for the codes in general, and things like your example, is to protect the next person who buys your house. I know I dont trust an inspector to turn that up during a house sale. Is that thinking way off?

[Bill Howatt]

You will never win an argument that making something safer is not a good idea - even if the risk is low and a lot of the rules seem to be just "guilding the lily", i.e. making something that is good a little better even if it doesn't need it.
I don't know the rule you are referring to for your light circuit requiring a GFCI but it could be the "basement" requirement. I understand that nobody is likely to touch a ceiling fixture while shoeless on a basement floor (trust me, you never want a shock like that; worst one I ever got) but the time may come where it is a handy place to plug in an extension cord which makes the circuit accessible at floor level.
I don't think the rules have anything to do with the next house owner, they are to protect the occupants, whoever they are.