CHANGES TO THE 2014 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL

CODE

15. CHANGES TO THE 2014 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE

There were a number of changes made to Art. 250 in the 2014 edition of the
National Electrical Code (NEC). Most of the changes were either global issues,
such as the change made across the board moving the 600-V rule to 1000 V or
the changes that involved adding clarification to better explain existing code. But
in a few areas, we see some fairly big changes.

In particular, we see the addition of a new table, Table 250.102(C) (see Appendix
B), in the 2014 Code. This new table is intended to help in determining the proper
size of all types of bonding jumpers, and is very similar to Table 250.66 (see
Appendix B). We see in Part VI of Art. 250 a significant expansion of Art.
250.122(F) Conductors in Parallel, in an attempt to help clarify a fairly confusing
section of the Code. In Part VIII, we see a brand-new section of the Code, Art.
250.167, which adds the requirement for ground-fault detection systems on
certain direct current (DC) systems.

In Part X, for systems operating at over 1000 V, we actually have two entirely new
sections of code. The 2011 version of Art. 250.186 gets renumbered as Art.
250.187, giving us a new Art. 250.186 for 2014. The new Art. 250.186 is quite
large and extensive and deals with new regulations regarding the neutral
conductor. Additionally, this same section sees an entirely new area mandating
the bonding of metal fences for electrical systems operating at 1000 V and higher
in Art. 250.194.

Here is a list of each of the changes to Art. 250 by part. Only a few of the minor
wording changes regarding the global 1000-V change are mentioned below, as in
most cases this change had little impact on Art. 250.
15.1. PART I

Article 250.10 Protection of Ground Clamps and Fittings

There is minor simplification in wording.

15.2. PART II

Article 250.20(B) Alternating Current Systems of 50 Volts to 1000 Volts

There is a small change in this section to clarify the wording regarding the 50- to
1000-V specification.

Article 250.20(C) Alternating Current Systems of Over 1000 Volts

There is a small change in this section to clarify the wording regarding the 50- to
1000-V specification.

Article 250.21(A) General

There is a small change in this section to clarify the wording regarding the 50- to
1000-V specification.

Article 250.21(B) Ground Detectors

There is a small change in this section to clarify the wording regarding the 50- to
1000-V specification.

Article 250.21(C) Marking

The Code added the required wording to be marked on ungrounded systems.

Article 250.24(A)(1) General

The Code added overhead and underground service conductors to the existing
requirements.

Article 250.24(C) Grounded Conductor Brought to Service Equipment

There is a small change in this section to clarify the wording regarding the 1000-V
or less specification.

Article 250.24(C)(1) Sizing for a Single Raceway

This change referenced the new table: Table 250.102(C).

Article 250.24(D) Grounding Electrode Conductor

The Code removed a reference to Art. 250.24(A).

Article 250.24(E) Ungrounded System-grounding Connections

The Code added overhead and underground service conductors to the existing
requirements.

Article 250.26 Conductor to Be Grounded—Alternating Current Systems

The Code changed the term "common conductor" to "neutral conductor."

Article 250.28(D)(1) General

This change referenced the new table: Table 250.102(C).

Article 250.30 Grounding Separately Derived Alternating Current Systems

The Code added wording to confirm that multiple separately derived systems
connected in parallel must also meet the rules found in Art. 250.30.

Article 250.30(A)(1) System Bonding Jumper

The Code reworded Exception no. 2 to improve clarity.

Article 250.30(A)(2) Supply-side Bonding Jumper

The Code referenced the new table: Table 250.102(C).

Article 250.30(A)(3) Grounded Conductor

The Code referenced the new table: Table 250.102(C).

Article 250.30(A)(5) Grounding Electrode Conductor, Single Separately Derived

System

There was a minor change in this section to improve the clarity of the wording.

Article 250.30(A)(6) Grounding Electrode Conductor, Multiple Separately Derived

Systems

There was a minor change in this section to improve the clarity of the wording.

Article 250.32(B)(1) Supplied by a Feeder or Branch Circuit

The Code was changed in this section to improve the clarity of the wording and
added Exception no. 2.

Article 250.34(A) Grounded Conductor Bonding

Article 250.34(B) Portable Generators

Article 250.34(C) Vehicle-mounted Generators

The 2014 edition of the Code changed the order of sections A, B, and C to
improve clarity.

Article 250.36(F) Grounding Electrode Conductor Locations

The Code clarified that this section applies to both services and separately
derived systems.

15.3. PART III

Article 250.64(D)(1) Common Grounding Electrode Conductor and Taps

There was a minor change to include the provision that the ground bar
must be of sufficient length to accommodate the number of
terminations necessary for the installation.

Article 250.64(E) Raceways and Enclosures for Grounding Electrode Conductors

Article 250.64(E)(1) General

Article 250.64(E)(2) Methods

Article 250.64(E)(3) Size

Article 250.64(E)(4) Wiring Methods

This section of the Code was split into four subsections for clarity.

Article 250.66(A) Connections to Rod, Pipe, or Plate Electrodes

There was a minor change in this section to clarify that a combination of differing
types of electrodes or multiple electrodes of the same type could be used, but
that the same rules apply.

Article 250.66(B) Connections to Concrete-encased Electrodes

There was a minor change in this section to clarify that single or multiple
connections to the steel rebar in the foundation (concrete-encased electrode)
could be used but that the same rules apply.

Article 250.68(C) Grounding Electrode Connections

The title of this section was changed and permission to extend rebar or
conductors out and above of the concrete foundation, so as to allow an accessible
location for connecting the grounding electrode conductor to the concrete-
encased electrode, was added

15.4. PART V

Article 250.100 Bonding in Hazardous (Classified) Locations

The requirement to reference 505.5 and 506.5 was added to this section, and an
informational note with regard to special bonding requirements found in Arts.
501.30, 502.30, 503.30, 505.25, and 506.25 was also added.

Article 250.102(C) Size—Supply-side Bonding Jumper

Table 250.102(C) was added to decrease confusion regarding the sizing of

bonding jumpers.

15.5. PART VI

Article 250.112(A) Switchboard or Switchgear Frames and Structures

Switchgear was added to this section on switchboards.

Article 250.118 Types of Equipment-grounding Conductors

Type MI identification was added to line item 9, regarding the mineral-insulated,

metal-sheathed cable; the location of the definition of effective ground fault–
current path was moved to Article 100 definitions.

Article 250.119 Identification of Equipment-grounding Conductors

The Code added two new exceptions: Exceptions nos. 2 and 3.

Article 250.119(A) Conductors Larger Than 4 AWG

The size of the conductor in this rule was changed from 6 AWG to 4 AWG.
Article 250.122(B) Increased in Size

Statements were added to clarify this section of the Code.

Article 250.122(F) Conductors in Parallel

This section was expanded to improve clarity; the exception allowing design
changes by electrical engineers was also added.

15.6. PART VII

Article 250.130(C) Nongrounding Receptacle Replacement or Branch Circuit

Extensions

Wording was added to clarify the requirements in Art. 250.130(C)(4).

Article 250.142(B) Load-side Equipment

A global change to the 600-V rule to 1000 V; this was changed in Exception no. 4.

15.7. PART VIII

Article 250.162(A) Two-wire, Direct Current Systems

The Code increased the DC voltage from 50 V to 60 V and required (in Exception
no. 1) that the source of power be adjacent or integral to the system.

Article 250.166 Size of Direct Current Grounding Electrode Conductor

The Code placed a maximum size of 3/0 copper or 250 kcmil aluminum for the
grounding electrode conductor on DC systems.

Article 250.167 Direct Current Ground-fault Detection

Article 250.167(A) Ungrounded Systems

Article 250.167(B) Grounded Systems

Article 250.167(C) Marking

This section is new to the 2014 Code.

Article 250.162(A) Two-wire, Direct Current Systems

The Code increased the DC voltage from 50 V to 60 V and required (in Exception
no. 1) that the source of power be adjacent or integral to the system.

Article 250.166 Size of Direct Current Grounding Electrode Conductor

The Code placed a maximum size of 3/0 copper or 250 kcmil aluminum for the
grounding electrode conductor on DC systems.

Article 250.167 Direct Current Ground-fault Detection

Article 250.167(A) Ungrounded Systems

Article 250.167(B) Grounded Systems

Article 250.167(C) Marking

This section is new to the 2014 Code.

15.8. PART IX

Article 250.170 Instrument Transformer Circuits

The Code added the requirements in this section to include metal-enclosed

switchgear.

Article 250.174(A) Not on Switchboards or Switchgear

The Code added the requirements in this section to include switchgear.

Article 250.174(B) On Metal-enclosed Switchgear and Dead-front Switchboards

The Code added the requirements in this section to include metal-enclosed

switchgear.

Article 250.178 Instrument Equipment-grounding Conductor

The Code added the requirement in this section to include metal-enclosed

switchgear.

15.9. PART X

Article 250.184(A)(1) Insulation Level

The Code added underground service conductors to Exception no. 1, item 2.

Article 250.186(A) Systems with a Grounded Conductor at the Service

Article 250.186(A)(1) Sizing for a Single Raceway or Overhead Conductor

Article 250.186(A)(2) Parallel Conductors in Two or More Raceways of Overhead

Conductors

Article 250.186(A)(3) Delta-connected Service

Article 250.186(B) Systems without a Grounded Conductor at the Service Point

Article 250.186(B)(1) Sizing for a Single Raceway or Overhead Conductor

Article 250.186(B)(2) Parallel Conductors in Two or More Raceways or Overhead

Conductors

This section is new to the 2014 Code.

Article 250.194 Grounding and Bonding of Fences and Other Metal Structures

Article 250.194(A) Metal Fences

Article 250.194(B) Metal Structures

This section is new to the 2014 Code.

Citation
EXPORT
David R. Stockin: McGraw-Hill's National Electrical Code® 2014 Grounding and
Earthing Handbook. CHANGES TO THE 2014 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE,
Chapter (McGraw-Hill Professional, 2014), AccessEngineering

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