IEEE

IEEE

Seminar on
Significant Changes
to NESC 2012
National Electrical
Safety Code.

Presented to FECA Conference

Date: 06/12/12
Presenter: Thomas Blair, P.E.

IEEE

Housekeeping Issues

Safety Tip
Always know your surroundings.

Where is nearest fire extinguisher?

Where is nearest phone?
Who would you call for emergency help?
Where is nearest fire exit?
What if that exit blocked?

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CEUs
Make sure you name & PE number is correct
on certificate at end of session.

Restrooms
Cell phones/pagers
Breaks
Introductions
Questions

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Disclaimer:

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this

tutorial are purely the authors and shall
not be considered an official position of the
IEEE Standards Association, American
National Standards Institute (ANSI), The
Accredited Standards Committee C2-2012,
or any of its Technical Committees or
Working Groups and shall not be
considered to be, nor be relied upon as, a
formal interpretation or promotion of the
IEEE/ANSI C2 2012 standard, IEEE, ANSI,
or any of its Technical Committees or
Working Groups.

Disclaimer:

IEEE

Readers are encouraged to refer to the

standard, the institutions responsible for
the information contained therein and
contact the institutions directly for official
interpretations or clarification of any items
of interest.
NESC INTERPRETATIONS http://standards.ieee.org/about/nesc/inter
ps.html
Form available in word online:

IEEE

OBJECTIVES

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NESC scope
Basic purpose and provisions
General NESC overview
Review basic 2007 arc flash requirements
Review NESC-2007 to NESC-2012 changes
2017 NESC update cycle reviewed.

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NESC 2012

NESC 2012

2012 Edition published on

August 1, 2011
Effective January 1, 2012
Summary of Changes
Updated scope, application, and definitions.
Simplified minimum approach tables (MAD)
Simplified voltage exposure for arc flash
Added K factor for wire attention
Added clarification of underground portions
of guys and swimming pools.

IEEE

NESC 2012

Is the NESC a Legal Document?

OSHA Interpretation November 22, 2005

The NESC is a voluntary standard.

Some editions and some parts of the Code
have been adopted, with and without
changes, by some states and local
jurisdictional authorities.

Please note that while OSHA does not

enforce national consensus or industry
standards directly, OSHA may consider
such standards, including the National
Electrical Safety Code (NESC), published by
the Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers, Inc., when determining whether
a hazard is "recognized" and whether there
is a feasible means of abating such a
hazard.

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NESC 2012

Rules for founded upon the fundamental

principles used for safety of utility facilities
NESC is not intended as a design
specification or an instruction manual
NESC is globally accepted as good
engineering practices

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NESC FORMAT

Divided into four (4) sections, four (4)

parts and 5 appendixes:
Section 1- Introduction to the NESC
Section 2- Definitions of Special Terms
Section 3- References
Section 9- Grounding methods for electric
supply and communication facilities

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NESC FORMAT

IEEE

Part 1 (Sec 10 19) - Electric supply

stations
Part 2 (Sec 20 29) - Safety rules for
overhead lines
Part 3 (Sec 30 39) - Safety rules for
underground lines
Part 4 (Sec 40 44) - Work rules for
supply & communication lines & equipment.

IEEE

NESC Part 2

Rules for the installation and maintenance

of electric supply stations and equipment
Purpose and scope
Protective arrangements in electric supply
stations
Installation and maintenance of equipment
Rotating equipment
Storage batteries
Transformers and regulators
Conductors
Circuit breakers, re-closers, switches and fuses
Switchgear and metal-enclosed bus
Surge Arresters

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Safety rules for the installation and

maintenance of overhead electric supply
and communication lines
Purpose, scope and application of rules
General requirements
Relationships between various classes of
lines and equipment
Clearances
Grades of construction
Loading for grades B and C
Strength requirements
Line installation

NESC Part 4

NESC Part 3

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NESC Part 1

Work rules for the operation of electric

supply and communication lines and
equipment
Purpose and scope
Supply and communication systems
- Rules for employees
General rules for employees
Additional rules for communication employees
Additional rules for supply employees

General

Energized conductors or parts

Switching control procedures

Work on energized lines and equipment

De-energizing equipment or lines to protect employees

Protective grounds

Live work

Protection against arcing and other damage while installing

and maintaining insulators and conductors

Safety rules for the installation and

maintenance of underground electric supply
and communication lines
Purpose, scope and application of rules
General requirements applying to underground lines
Underground conduit systems
Supply cable
Cable in underground structures
Direct-buries cable and cable in duct not part of a conduit
system
Risers
Supply cable termination
Equipment
Installation in tunnels

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NESC APPENDIXES

5 Appendixes
Appendix A Uniform system of
clearances (adopted 1990)
Appendix B Uniform clearance
calculations for conductors under ice and
wind conditions (adopted 2007)
Appendix C Example applications for
Rule 250C Tables 250-2 and 250-3
Appendix D Determining maximum
anticipated per unit overvoltage factor (T)
at the worksite
Appendix E Bibliography

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NESC 2012

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Section 1

What are the

changes between
2007 and 2012?

010B - Necessary for the safeguarding of:

The public
Utility workers (employee and
contractors)
Utility facilities
Electric supply and communication
equipment connected to utility facilities,
and
Other facilities or premises adjacent to or
containing utility facilities.
(Clarification of purpose but not change!)

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IEEE

SCOPE

NESC NEC

011A - NESC covers:

Supply and communication facilities including
metering and associated work practices
employed by:
Public or private electric supply
Communications
Railway utility facilities
Trolley utility facilities
Street and area lighting

WHERE IS THE
LINE OF
DEMARCATION BE
BETWEEN THE
TWO CODES?

IEEE

SCOPE

011A2 - The generation, transmission, and

distribution of electricity, lumens,
communication signals and communication
data through public and private utility
systems that are installed and maintained
under the exclusive control of utilities or
their authorized representatives.

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SCOPE

011B - NESC does not cover:

Wiring located beyond service point
Underground mine wiring
Ship installation
Railway rolling equipment
Aircraft
Automotive Equipment
Luminaries not under exclusive control of utility
Industrial complex not under exclusive control of
utility.

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SCOPE

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011B Not Covered by NESC

Any facilities that are not an integral
part of a generating plant, substation, or
control
Office buildings, warehouse, garage,
etc.
Premise wiring located beyond
utility service points to building or
outdoor installations
Underground mine wiring or
installations in ships, railway rolling
equipment, aircraft and automotive
equipment.

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NEC 2008

Utility owned premises covered by NEC

(continued)
Luminaries not installed or maintained
under the exclusive control by utilities
Industrial complex or utility interactive
systems that are not controlled
exclusively under utilities or qualified
persons or are located on the premises
wiring side of the service point.

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Section 90.2(B)(5): Exceptions

(5) Installations under the exclusive control of an

electric utility where such installations
a. Consist of service drops or service laterals, and associated
metering, or
b. Are located in legally established easements, rights of way,
or by other agreements either designated by or recognized by
public service commissions, utility commissions, or other
regulatory agencies having jurisdiction for such installations, or
c. Are on property owned or leased by the electric utility for the
purpose of communications, metering, generation, control,
transformation, transmission, or distribution of electric energy.

NESC Section 1

NESC Section 1

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SCOPE

Introduction to NESC
- 010 and 011Clarified. Extensive
language revisions to the purpose and
scope clarify the actual, practical
application of the NESC versus the NEC and
other standards that have been established
since the emergence of the NESC as a
national standard. These are clarifications,
not substantive changes.

IEEE

NESC Section 2

- 014Wavers, Clarified. Waiver of burial

depth requirements during emergencies
was recognized here in addition to Rule
311C.

Definitions area lightingNew. Installation supplying

lumens. Exclusive control -> NESC; else NEC
applies. Definition supports revisions to Sec. 1.

- 015DIntent, Clarified. Application of

EXCEPTIONs is clarifiedthey are safe
utility options.

authorized personNew. Person authorized by

utility to perform specified duties on utility
facilities. Definition used in Part 4 and Sec. 1.

- 016Effective Date, Revised. Effective

date changed to first day of month after
180 days from publication date.

conductor. 9. lateral conductor, Revised

Clarified. Horizontal, vertical, or diagonal jumper
to make connections to line conductor on a
common structure.

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NESC Section 2

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NESC Section 2

conductor. 12. Vertical conductorNew. Risers and

vertical portions of lateral conductors

exclusive control New Convers installation, operation,

maintenance by qualified persons. (support section 1)

delivery pointNew. Point at which one utility delivers

signals or energy to another utility, as opposed to the
service point to a customer.

exclusive control of utility.New Where (a) separated

from public access and (b) utility responsible for
operation. (support Section 1)

effective ground/effectively groundedClarified.

Bonding requirements and purpose are clearly specified.
effectively grounded neutralNew. Requirements and
purpose are clearly specified. Not less than 4 grounds
per mile. Sized for fault current and successful operation
of OCPD.

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NESC Section 2

Lines. 2. electric supply lines.Revised. Fiber-optic

lines are communication lines, but supply conductors to
light amplifiers are supply lines.
Lines. 3. joint-use lines.New. Joint-use refers to two
or more utilities on the same line. Multiple types of
service (i.e. lighting and CATV) by one company is not a
joint use line.

NESC Section 2

NESC Section 2

Premises.New. Land and buildings of a user

on the user side of the service point.

Lines. 1. communication lines.Revised. Requirements

for communication lines located in the supply space (b)
versus the communication space (a). FO cables are
communication lines regardless of supply or
communication space location.

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Supervised installation.New. Maintained and

supervised such that only qualified personnel
monitor and service the system.
Supported facility.New. An overhead
component supported on but not providing
structural support to an overhead structure.

Premises wiring (system).New. Interior and

exterior wiring on user side of service point to
outlets.
Service point.New
Note NOTE. An informative
discussion of (1)
determination the location
of the service point and
(2) application of the NEC
and NESC relative to the
service point.

IEEE

NESC Section 2

Utility.Revised. An organization responsible

for the engineering and supervision of the design,
construction, operation, and maintenance of a
public or private electric supply, communication,
area lighting, street lighting, signal, or railroad
utility system.
Public utility & Private utility.-NEW added are
sub-definitions of public and private utilities. One
customer = private utility. Multiple customers =
public utility.

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NESC Section 2

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Utilization equipment.Revised. Uses

electric energy or light energy on the
premises wiring side of the service point.
Vault.Revised. A structure on an
underground system (Part 3) [not an
electric supply station (Part 1)].

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NESC Section 9

References Updates and additions; IEEE 100

(dictionary) and IEEE 1313 (Power
Systems-Insulation Coordination) removed

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Grounding Methods 091Scope, Revised. Items required to

be effectively grounded must meet the new
definition of effectively grounded.
093D1Grounding conductor, guarding &
protection, Revised. Guarding is required
for grounding conductors of singlegrounded systems, unless not accessible to
the public.
093D2Moved. Multi-grounded system
does not require guarding.

NESC Part 1

NESC Section 9

IEEE

NESC Section 3

Electric Supply Stations 110A2Safety Clearance Zone, Revised.

Reduce requirements for safety clearance
zone to live parts behind solid portion of
station fence and new Figure 110-2 was
added.

094B7Grounding Electrodes, directly

imbedded metal poles, Revised. Exception
allowed if supported by qualified
engineering study.
Still requires 1.5m (5ft) embedded length
exposed directly to earth. Supplemental
electrodes must be 6 ft from pole.
099BAdditional requirements, Electrode
connection, Revised. Communication
grounding conductor size increased from
AWG No. 14 to AWG No. 6.

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NESC Part 1

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NESC Part 1

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NESC Part 1

110B2, Arrangement, room and space,

Use, Exception 1Revised. Added storing
vehicles in stations is recognized use of
space.
111A1Illumination, normal condition,
Revised. Outdoor lighting not required at
unattended stations.
Table 111-1Revised. Illumination
requirements for generating stations and
substations was simplified (shorter list).

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NESC Part 1

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NESC Part 1

114 Fire extinguishing equipment,

ExceptionNew. Fire extinguishing
equipment is not required in unmanned,
outdoor substations without a control (or
similar) building.

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NESC Part 1

124A1Guarding live parts, where

required, Revised. Guards are now required
around energized parts (>300V) with
clearance to outer fence less than that
required by 110A2.
124DTaut-String Distances, New. Vertical
clearances to equipment bushings are tautstring distances up the side and over to the
partcodified an earlier IR.

IEEE

NESC Part 1

Figure 124-3
New Tautstring
measurement
of vertical
clearance to
energized
parts of
equipment or
behind
barriers.

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IEEE

NESC Part 2

Seminar on
Significant Changes
to NESC 2012
National Electrical
Safety Code.

Overhead General 214A4Inspection of lines, records,

Revised. Title change (Inspection records
Record of defects) plus inspection records
of conditions or defects affecting
compliance must be maintained until
correction.

Class Break
End of part 1
Part 2 next

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NESC Part 2

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Overhead General 214A5214A4Inspection of lines,

corrections, Revised. Title change
(Corrections Remedying defects) plus
conditions or defects reasonably expected
to endanger life or property must be
promptly corrected, disconnected, or
isolated.

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NESC Part 2

NESC Part 2

215C4215C4Insulators in anchor guys, Old

C5 renumbered to C4 and revised. Now covers
only insulators in anchor guys. Insulator
positions are specified to limit opportunity for the
public area or other facilities on the structure to
be energized through guy contact if a portion of
the guy becomes energized.

215C1Grounding, non current carrying parts,

general, New NOTE under Exception 1. If a
decision is made to ground all items above 8 ft
level, old ungrounded ones are not required to be
grounded. Then added Note: Typical practice is
to ground old items when doing other significant
work on the structure.
215C4Insulators in
guys, Moved. Span wires
carrying railroad or trolley
contact conductors. These
are included in 215C6.

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NESC Part 2

215C5Insulators in span guys, Modified. To

cover insulators in span guys and added wires
supporting luminaires and traffic signals.
Requirements similar to the new 215C4.

Prevent energization of guy

wire within 8 feet of ground
to protect public.

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NESC Part 2

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217A1aProtection of structures, Revised.

Physical protection for structures is
required only in parking lots, in alleys, or
next to driveways where subject to
vehicular traffic abrasion that might affect
strength.
217A2bReadily climbable structures,
Addition. Structures must be attended or
climbing barriers installed whenever
temporary steps are attached to
the structure < 8ft from ground.

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NESC Part 2

217A4 & A5deleted and replaced with

new A4. Attachments, decorations, and
obstructions require permission of
structure owner
Non-utility attachments require permission
of occupants of the space involved.
Attachments cannot cause noncompliance
with NESC or obstruct climbing.
Through-bolts must be trimmed.

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218 - Vegetation Management 218A1Addition. New NOTE 2 recognizes

the impracticality of prevent all treeconductor contacts on overhead lines.

NESC Part 2

NESC Part 2

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NESC Part 2

Overhead Clearances
230A3Measurement of clearance,
Revised. Live metallic hardware connected
to supply or communication line conductors
is considered part of those conductors.
230A4Rounding of calculations, Revised
with addition. If a calculated clearance is
allowed to be reduced by footnote or
EXCEPTION, it shall first be rounded up,
then reduced per allowance, and the result
shall also be rounded up. An example was
added.

218B1Crossings, Addition. Crossings now

include navigable waterways requiring
crossing permits. Crossing and adjacent
spans should be kept free of overhanging
or decayed trees or limbs that might fall
into line.

IEEE

NESC Part 2

230B Ice and wind loading for clearances,

and Figure 230-1, Table 230-1, and Table
230-2 Addition. A new Clearance Zone 4
was added for warm islands in latitudes
less than 25 degrees. Temperature of 50F
and no ice below 9000 ft altitude; 15 F
and 0.25 in radial ice at higher elevations.

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NESC Part 2

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NESC Part 2

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Vertical Clearances
Table 232-1Revised Title of Category 4
added commercial and industrial sites to
the list of areas subject to truck traffic.
Tables 232-1, 234-1, 234-2, 234-3
Revised. Ungrounded portions of guys
added to column titles and some NOTES.
ERRATA

NESC Part 2

NESC Part 2

IEEE

NESC Part 2

234BClarified. These clearances also

apply above intermediate poles in the same
line in skip-span construction.
234C Clearance from buildings, etc, and
Table 234-1Clarified. Flagpoles, flags,
and banners were added to the list of other
installations covered by Part 2 of Table
234-1.

Table 232-2Revised. Title of Category 1c

added commercial and industrial sites to
the list of areas subject to truck traffic and
FN 26 of Table 232-1 was added as FN 3.
233BHorizontal clearance, Revised.
Maximum operating voltage is required for
circuits above 50 kV to ground. Between
different circuits, phasor difference voltage
is now used for horizontal clearances (when
unknown, assume 180O).

IEEE

NESC Part 2

234C3cClearance of supply conductors

attached to buildings, Clarified with new
Exception for service drop. Allows
reduction at attachment point to 1in. The
Footnote from Table 235-6 that had been
omitted when the value of 3 in was copied
from the table in 2007 was added to
recognize that the common house
attachment insulators do not always
provide the full value of the rule.

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NESC Part 2

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234C3d(1) Clearance to buildings,

Exception 1New. The language of old
Footnote 14 (now FN 12) from Table 234-1
for railings, walls, or balconies was added
to the rule. (ERRATA reassigns FN back to
FN 14).
234E1 NOTEClearance to
pools, New. The new NOTE
clarifies that swimming pool
clearances do not apply for
hot-tubs and other
equipment that do not
employ rescue poles and
skimmer poles.

IEEE

NESC Part 2

NESC Part 2

Table 234-1Clearance Table, Revised

Notes.
Porches and decks were added in with roofs
and balconies in FN12 (ERRATA).
Flagpoles, flags, and banners were added
in FN15 (To clarify treatment of windblown
flags) (ERRATA).
FN 11Deleted. No longer appropriate.
FN 16Added. To match FN 26 of Table
232-1 if oversized vehicles are expected
above loading ramps, etc. (ERRATA)

IEEE

NESC Part 2

Clearance between conductors235B1bHorizontal clearance, fixed

supports, Clarified. When using the formula
for fixed conductor clearance to determine
maximum allowable sag for a clearance,
round the resultant down.

235C2b1bAdditional vertical clearance,

Clarified. Both Exceptions (3% per 300m
above 1000m & clearance above 50kV
based on Max operating voltage) previously
under (1)(a) were moved after (1)(b),
since applies to > 50kV.

235CVertical clearance between

conductor and support, Clarified. The
clearances apply to both line conductors
and to lateral conductors at the support
(see definitions), not just line conductors.

235C2b1ci ExceptionNew. The

temperature differentials do not apply to
conductors of the same circuit installed the
same way that are simultaneously deenergized.

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NESC Part 2

235G4Conductor spacing, Deleted and

added back as two Exceptions to G3.
Neutrals of 230C3 cables and messengers
of 230C1 cables may attach to the same
insulator as a line neutral, so long as
clearances of Table 235-8 are maintained
in mid-span and insulated energized
conductors are held away at
attachments.

IEEE

NESC Part 2

Vertical clearance between communication and

supply.
238AClarified. Communication antennas, and
metal or nonmetallic supports or braces
associated with communication cables or
conductors are among the items to be
considered as equipment for this rule.

235HClearance between comm lines,

Revised. Pole owners must concur with
agreements for reduced clearance and
spacing between communication facilities.

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NESC Part 2

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NESC Part 2

Grades of construction
Tables 242-1Revised. Table 242-1 now
incorporates requirements of deleted Table
242-2.
242-2Deleted. Accommodates merging
Table 242-2 into Table 242-1.

General Loading for Grades B and C.

250B, Table 250-1 and Table 251-1
Revised from 3 loading zones to 4 loading
zones to add warm island loading. A new
Warm Island Loading case was added
for warm islands in latitudes less than 25
degrees north or south. Temperature of 50
F, 9 psf wind, and no ice below 9000 ft
altitude; 15 F, 4 psf wind, and 0.25 in
radial ice at higher altitudes.
Agrees with Section 23.

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NESC Part 2

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250C1, 250C2, and Table 250-2Revised.

Application of and velocity pressure
exposure coefficients (kZ) (height
adjustment) and gust response factors(GRF)
were revised to facilitate calculations of
wind forces on portions of a structure or
supported facilities at a specific height.
Formulas must be used to calculate height
adjustments for specific heights.

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NESC Part 2

Wind Loading

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NESC Part 2

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Table 251-1Added note. Clarified

application of the K factor for wire tensions
when messenger supports multiple
conductors using spaces. when each
conductor is separately loaded with ice and
wind the K factor should be applied to all
cables.
Also added warm island location.

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NESC Part 2

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Load Factor Calculation.

253Revised. Language changed to reflect
deletion of Table 253-2 Alternate load
factors for wood and reinforced concrete
structures.
Table 253-2Deleted. Alternate method for
wood and reinforced concrete no longer
allowed.

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NESC Part 2

NESC Part 2

261BNew NOTE 2. Soil saturation can

reduce strength of foundations, settings,
and guy anchors.
261H1Revised. Addresses tensions of
overhead supply conductors / shield wires.
Added tension limits when Rule 250C
(extreme wind loading) and 250D (extreme
ice with concurrent wind loading) loads
apply. Now limited to 80% of the rated
breaking strength when those extreme load
conditions are applied with load factor of
1.0.

Strength requirements
260B, 261A1, 261A2a, 261A2b(3),
261D2a(2), 261D3 and Table 261-1A
Text revised or deleted. Language changed
to reflect deletion of the alternate method
of calculation of load factors for wood and
reinforced concrete structures (also Tables
253-2 and 261-1B removed dealing with
same topic).

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NESC Part 2

261H1 (continued) - Also modified

application of secondary conductor tension
limit from 15OC(60OF) to the colder
temperatures of Table 250-1. Should be
used for Aeolian vibration checks. Brings
into line temp limits of OEMs and reduces
risk of conductor damage due to Aeolian
vibration.
Exception allows higher temperatures
above Table 250-1, but not higher than
15OC(60OF), if vibration is controlled or
Aeolian vibration damage is unlikely to
occur under the controlling conditions.

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NESC Part 2

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Strength Factor Table

Table 261-1Revised footnotes. When new
or changed facilities modify the loads, the
new loads must be used to determine the
required strengths of the affected structural
components.

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NESC Part 3

Line insulation
Table 277-1Revised. New insulator standards
were added and several strength ratings were
revised.
279A1bRevised. Dry
and wet flashover values
of insulators determined
by ANSI C29.1. Also, UV
protection is required for
fiber reinforced polymer
and other guy insulators
affected by ultraviolet
light.

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Underground
313A4Inspection, Revised. Title change
from Record of Defects to Inspection
Records. Edited to Any conditions or
defects effecting compliance shall be
maintained. Requires records of conditions
or defects affecting compliance must be
maintained until correction.

NESC Part 3

NESC Part 3

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NESC Part 2

Underground
313B Deleted voltage level of > 300V for
grounding riser guards and ducts.
320B5 Separation of systems, Revised.
Requires not less than 300 mm (12in)
separation from gas and other lines
transporting flammable materials (distance
not previously specified).

313A5Correction, Revised. Title change

from Remedying defects to Corrections.
Implies conditions or defects reasonably
expected to endanger life or property must
be promptly corrected, disconnected, or
isolated.
Section 32 (Underground conduit systems)
NOTE 2Clarified. Both supply and
communication cables in duct not part of a
conduit system must meet Section 35, not
Section 32. (section 35 modified to include
both direct buried cable and cable in duct
not part of conduit system).

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NESC Part 3

323E5Vaults, New. If ventilation openings

in above ground vaults are not protected
against intrusion of sticks, etc. by baffles or
louvers, energized parts must be located
away from the opening to meet clearances
of Rule 110A2 and Table 110-1.

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NESC Part 3

Figures 323-1 and 323-2 Revised.

Complies with latest ASTM C857

IEEE

IEEE

NESC Part 3

NESC
Part 3

Direct buried 350F & GNew

Recommendation. If
color codes are
used on
underground cables,
use the APWA
Uniform Color Code.
Cable in Duct
352A2New.
Backfill and trench
should limit
opportunity for
damage to the duct.

IEEE

NESC Part 3

352A2 New. Cable in duct. Requires

bottom of trench to be smooth earth to
protect cable from damage.

352D1 & 2 and Table 352-1Addition of

duct. Duct must meet same requirements
as cable for burial depth. If a duct is strong
enough to resist forces from surface usage,
lesser depths may be used without
additional protection.
354A2New Exception. Supply cables up
to 300V can have less than 12 inches
clearance from steam lines, gas lines,
etc., if fault will not damage the other lines
and affected parties agree.

IEEE

NESC Part 3

355New. Requirements for duct not part

of a conduit system are specified, similar to
those for conduit.
A corrosion resistant,
B internal surface of duct smooth,
C duct joints adequate to prevent soil
intrusion,
D duct through walls shall be sealed To
prevent entrance of gas.

IEEE

NESC Part 3

380DEquipment, general, New Exception 2.

Allows reduced clearances from pad-mounted
equipment to fire hydrants if fire authority and
utility agree.
384 Equipment, installation, Rewritten.
Requires bonding between aboveground
metallic communication and supply enclosures
within 1.8m (6ft) separation or less only.

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IEEE

NESC Part 4

Seminar on
Significant Changes
to NESC 2012
National Electrical
Safety Code.

Work Rules
Section 41 Rules for EMPLOYERS
Section 42 General Rules for EMPLOYEES
Section 43 Additional Rules for
communication EMPLOYEES
Section 44 Additional Rules for supply
EMPLOYEES

Class Break
End of Part 3
Start of Part 4

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NESC Part 4

IEEE

Work Rules
Substantial changes to arc flash protection
section.
Significant testing done by two separate
major utilities and a research institute,
providing the opportunity to establish
appropriate incident energy levels for many
common industry applications. The result of
the review of the testing supported the
development of new Table 410-1 that
establishes arc energy thresholds for
different equipment/exposures at voltage
levels below 1KV.

IEEE

NESC 2007

NESC 2007

Low voltage arc exposure <1000 Volts

(2007 NESC)
The effective arc rating of clothing or a clothing
system to be worn at voltages 1000 V and above
shall be determined using Tables 410-1 and 410-2
or Performing an arc hazard analysis.
EXCEPTION 2: For secondary systems below 1000
V, applicable work rules required by this part and
engineering controls shall be utilized to limit
exposure. In lieu of performing an arc hazard
analysis, clothing or a clothing system with a
minimum effective arc rating of 4 cal/cm2 shall be
required to limit the likelihood of ignition.

Arc Exposure (2007 NESC)

Effective as of January 1, 2009, the employer shall
ensure that an assessment is performed to
determine potential exposure to an electric arc for
employees who work on or near energized parts or
equipment.
If the assessment determines a potential employee
exposure greater than 2 cal/cm2 exists (see Neal,
Bingham, and Doughty [B59]), the employer shall
require employees to wear clothing or a clothing
system that has an effective arc rating not less
than the anticipated level of arc energy.

IEEE

NESC Part 4

Work Rules
410A3Revised. Recognizes exposures less
than 1KV. Either a detailed arc hazard
analysis or Table 410-1, 410-2, or 410-3
must be used to determine the effective arc
rating of clothing or clothing systems to be
worn working above 50 V. Evaluation based
on available fault current, duration of arc,
and distance from arc to employee.

Table 410-1 <1kv

Table 410-2 1.1kv to 46kv
Table 410-3 >46.1kv
Based on 15 separation

17

IEEE

NESC Part 4

IEEE

Table 410-1New 50V to 1kV Table.

Calorie per cm2 clothing rating
requirements are shown by equipment
type and voltage.
These values can be used in lieu of
calculating values. Old Tables 410-1 and
410-2 were renumbered to 410-2 and 4103.
Note Table 410.1 values determined by testing.
Table 410.2 and Table 410.3 determined using
software (not testing).

IEEE

NESC Part 4

NESC Part 4

410A3 continued
Exception added if PPE creates greater
hazard then arc hazard, reduced effective
arc rated clothing allowed.
Changed original Note 1 to Note 2- Added
natural fiber to non-flame resistant
material.
Changed original Note 2 to Note 3- Added
Utilizing engineering controls to reduce
arc energy levels and work practices to
reduce arc energy levels.

IEEE

Example Engineering Controls and Work

Practices to reduce arc energy levels

IEEE

NESC- 2012

Footnote 11- Industry testing on 480V network

protectors indicates arcs will not self-extinguish
and heat flux rates will exceed 60 cal/cm2/s at 24
in working distance. Perform arc hazard analysis.
(See Eblen and Short [B31].)
Footnote 13- Industry testing on panelboards
with edge-mounted, parallel bus bars indicate
arcs will not self-extinguish and heat flux rates will
exceed 60 cal/cm2/s at 18 in working distance.
Perform arc hazard analysis. (See Eblen and
Short [B31].)
Other Footnotes- Many that relate to testing
criteria

IEEE

NESC Part 4

Table 410-2 (old 410-1)Moved. Old Table

410-1 was renumbered.
Table 410-2- Clothing and clothing systems
voltage, fault current and maximum
clearing times for voltages 1.1 kV to 46 kV
ac

18

IEEE

IEEE

NESC Part 4

Table 410-3 (46.1kV-800kV)

(old 410-2)Revised. Maximum clearing
times allowed for 4, 8, and 12 calorie
systems were updated
(generally increased).
Major changes throughout the table

IEEE

IEEE

NESC- 2012

Supporting Comments Subcommittee 8

Established a low-voltage arc flash work
group (WG).
Evaluate minimum clothing or clothing
system requirements for employees
working on voltages less than 1000
volts.

IEEE

NESC- 2012

Supporting Comments Subcommittee 8

PG&E completed tests during 2008 to
determine the arc flash characteristics of
480 V self-contained metering equipment
by creating fault conditions at various kA
levels.
-WG collaborated with PE&G on tests.
-Application of an accepted industry
standard (IEEE-1584-IEEE Guide for
Performing Arc Flash Hazard
Calculations-2002)

IEEE

NESC- 2012

Supporting Comments Subcommittee 8

The new table (410-1) uses an 18 inch
worker separation.
Unlike the existing higher voltage tables
in NESC-2007 which uses a 15 inch
worker separation.
The WG committee based the change on
the application of IEEE 1584 test
methodologies and typical working
distances for low-voltage motor control
centers and panel boards.
The employee working distance is based
on the incident energy on the workers face
and body not on the hands and arms.

19

IEEE

NESC 2012

410A3 Requires each employer to perform

an arc hazard assessment (using tables or
calculations) for employees who work on or
near energized lines, parts or equipment at
50V to 800 kV. Assess both hazard level
and risk (probability) of incident occurring.

IEEE

NESC 2012

Requires employers to determine the

effective arc rating of clothing or clothing
systems to be worn by employees working
on or near energized lines, parts, or
equipment at voltages 50V-800 kV by one
of the following methods:
Employers perform a detailed arc hazard
analysis
Use tabulated values in tables provided.
Table 410-1 (50V-1000V)
Table 410-2 (1.1kV-46kV)
Table 410-3 (46.1kV-800kV)

IEEE

NESC 2012

410A3b New Note 1: Assessments

performed to determine potential exposure
to an electric arc consider the affected
employees assigned tasks and/or
work activities.
- Highlights difference between incident
energy level and HRC (Hazard) where
- Hazard is function of both incident energy
level and probability of incident occurring.

IEEE

NESC 2012

410B. Revised - Emergency procedures and

first aid rules procedures
Change in wording from conspicuous
locations to kept accessible.
Ensures copies of emergency and first
aid procedures are accessible to
employees where they work.

IEEE

NESC 2012

410A3b
Changed original Note 1 to Note 2 Added natural fiber to non-flame
resistant material.
Changed original Note 2 to Note 3Added
Utilizing engineering controls to reduce
arc energy levels and work practices to
reduce exposure levels.

IEEE

NESC 2012

411C. Inspection and testing of

protective devices and
equipment
Changed terms line worker's
body belts, lanyards and
positioning straps and other
personal equipment to:
Climbing fall protection
equipment.
Requires an inspection before
use to ensure the climbing
and fall protection equipment
are in safe working condition.

20

IEEE

NESC 2012

IEEE

411F2. Revised, Fall Protection

Non- locking snap hooks shall not be
permitted.

IEEE

NESC 2012

NESC-2007 does not contain a specific

requirement to conduct a job briefing.

NESC Part 4

General Precautions
420K6Revised. Non-locking snap hooks
are now prohibited.

IEEE

NESC Part 4

Overhead line operating procedures

422A2Revised. Contact with trucks or other
equipment setting poles, etc., in vicinity of
energized lines must be
avoidedeven if the equipment is grounded.
NESC-2007 words not bonded to an effective
ground was removed.
States: Contact with trucks, or other
equipment that is being used to set, move, or
remove poles
shall be avoided by employees standing
on the ground or in contact with
grounded objects unless employees are
wearing suitable protective equipment.

General operating routines

421A6 New. Conduct a job briefing
before each job. Includes;
Hazards associated with the job.
Work procedures involved
Special precautions
Energy source controls
PPE requirements.

IEEE

NESC Part 4

Approach to energized conductors / parts

431CNew. When repairing underground
communication lines in joint use with
damaged supply lines, treat all
communication and supply lines as
energized or assure that the supply lines
are de-energized.

IEEE

NESC Part 4

Communication work MAD table.

Table 431-1Revised. The approach
distances were revised using IEEE Std 5162009 calculations. Some values changed
an inch or so. Transmission voltages were
subdivided to give more flexibility.

21

IEEE

IEEE

NESC 2012

Section 44. Additional Rules For Supply

Employees
441. Energized conductors or parts (MAD tables)
Complete Rewrite Table 441-1
AC live work minimum approach distance
Table 441-2
DC live work minimum approach distance
Table 441-3
Altitude correction factor
Table 441-4
Maximum use voltage for rubber insulting
equipment

IEEE

NESC 2012

IEEE

NESC 2012

Minimum Approach Distances (MAD)

OSHA the closest distance an employee is
permitted to approach and energized or a
grounded object
NESC the closest distance a qualified
employee is permitted to approach either
an energized or a grounded object, as
applicable for the work method being used
IEEE 516 - the minimum air insulation
distance (MAID) plus a factor for
inadvertent movement

Minimum Approach Distances (MAD)

Problem
IEEE 516-2009
Major changes were made in regards to
MAD distances in IEEE 516-2009.
OSHA reopened the comment period
two times to ensure time for IEEE 5162009 to be approved.

(516-2009 - IEEE Guide for Maintenance Methods on

Energized Power Lines)

IEEE

NESC 2012

IEEE

Minimum Approach Distances (MAD)

OSHA - 1910.269 and 1926 in Subpart V
NESC - in Part 4 Rules for the Operation
of Electric Supply and Communication
Lines and equipment
IEEE 516 - IEEE Guide for Maintenance
Methods on Energized Power Lines

NESC 2012

Minimum Approach Distances (MAD)

In NESC since early 1900s

Recent years based on IEEE 516
calculation method
IEEE 516 repeatedly changed since
inception
NESC has followed those changes
IEEE 516 2009 changes begs the
question Why change again?

22

IEEE

IEEE

NESC 2012

Minimum Approach Distances (MAD)

Minimum Approach Distances (MAD)

Error discovered in phase-to-phase

calculations
Phase-to-ground air saturation factor
used to calculate phase-to-phase MAD
Discovered error -> deemed some OSHA
and NESC MAD values incorrect
Must correct in OSHA and 2012 edition of
the NESC

IEEE

Most significant changes occur in phaseto-phase voltages above 230 kV

Phase-to-phase increases perceived as
problems by some SC8 members
Working group has met several times to
address issue
Recently conducted joint meeting with
IEEE 516 task group

IEEE

NESC 2012

NESC 2012

Voltage in kilovolts
phase to phase

NESC 2012

IEEE 516 - Minimum Approach Distances

T - p.u.

Phase to ground

Phase to phase

(ft - in)

(ft - in)

1994
2009 IEEE
2002 NESC 2007 NESC
1910.269
516

1994
2009 IEEE
2002 NESC 2007 NESC
1910.269
516

0 to 0.05

not specified

not specified

0.051 to 0.300

avoid contact

avoid contact

0.301 to 0.750

avoid
contact

10

10

11

avoid
contact

10

10

0.751 to 15

21

22

22

22

22

23

23

23

15.1 to 36

24

27

27

25

27

210

210

210

36.1 to 46

27

29

29

27

210

32

32

31

46.1 to 72.5

30

33

33

30

36

311

311

39

72.6 to 121

32

32

34

34

43

43

47

47

121.1 to 145

37

37

310

310

411

411

54

54

145.1 to 169

40

40

43

43

58

58

60

63

169.1 to 242

53

53

58

58

76

76

82

92

11

242.1 to 362

86

86

92

91

126

126

13-6

14-3

362.1 to 550

2.4

113

113

1110

1111

18-1

181

19-2

19-9

551 to 800

14-11

1411

15-11

15-10

26-0

260

27-10

29-2

IEEE 516 MAD TABLE - 121.1 to 145 kV

IEEE
T (p.u.)

Line-to-ground work

Phase-to-ground
MAID Minimum air insulation distance
MTID Minimum tool insulation distance
MAD Minimum approach distance
MAD for tools MAD with tool in air gap
MHAD Minimum helicopter approach
distance

IEEE

Line-to-line work

NESC 2012

MAID (ft)

MTID
(ft)

MAD (ft)

MAD for
Tools (ft)

MHID (ft)

MAID (ft)

MAD (ft)

MHID (ft)

1.5

1.26

1.39

2.26

2.39

2.49

2.22

3.22

3.54

1.6

1.34

1.48

2.34

2.48

2.58

2.35

3.35

3.68

1.7

1.43

1.57

2.43

2.57

2.67

2.48

3.48

3.83

1.8

1.51

1.66

2.51

2.66

2.76

2.61

3.61

3.97

1.9

1.6

1.75

2.6

2.75

2.85

2.75

3.75

4.12

1.68

1.85

2.68

2.85

2.95

2.88

3.88

4.27

2.1

1.76

1.94

2.76

2.94

3.04

3.02

4.02

4.42

2.2

1.85

2.03

2.85

3.03

3.13

3.16

4.16

4.58

2.3

1.93

2.12

2.93

3.12

3.22

3.3

4.3

4.73

2.4

2.01

2.22

3.01

3.22

3.32

3.44

4.44

4.89

2.5

2.1

2.31

3.1

3.31

3.41

3.59

4.59

5.04

2.6

2.18

2.4

3.18

3.4

3.5

3.73

4.73

5.2

2.7

2.27

2.49

3.27

3.49

3.59

3.88

4.88

5.36

2.8

2.35

2.58

3.35

3.58

3.68

4.02

5.02

5.52

2.9

2.43

2.68

3.43

3.68

3.78

4.17

5.17

5.69

2.52

2.77

3.52

3.77

3.87

4.32

5.32

5.85

3.1

2.6

2.86

3.6

3.86

3.96

4.47

5.47

6.02

3.2

2.68

2.95

3.68

3.95

4.05

4.63

5.63

6.19

3.3

2.77

3.04

3.77

4.04

4.14

4.78

5.78

6.36

3.4

2.85

3.14

3.85

4.14

4.24

4.94

5.94

6.53

3.5

2.94

3.23

3.94

4.23

4.33

5.09

6.09

6.7

Minimum Approach Distances (MAD)

441A New Note 3Methodology for calculating minimum
approach distances (MAD) were taken from
IEEE std 516-2009
Table 441-1 AC live work minimum approach
distance
Changes to voltages (301V- 800 kV)
Added distance to employee from energized
part (transmission voltages 72.6-800 kV)
Without tools phase-to-ground
With tools phase-to-ground
Without tools phase-to-phase

23

IEEE

IEEE

NESC 2012

MAD Table Notes

3. Inadvertent movement factors used in these
tables are as follows:
0.301 kV to 0.750 kV = 0.3 m (1 ft)
0.751 kV to 72.5 kV = 0.5 m (2 ft)
72.6 kV to 800 kV = 0.3 m (1 ft)

IEEE

NESC 2012

IEEE

NESC 2012

MAD Table Notes

MAD Table Notes

6. Distances were calculated using the following

TOV values:
72.6 kV to 362 kV = 3.0
362.1 kV to 550 kV = 2.4
550.1 kV to 800 kV = 2.0
7. Distances for live line tools in the air gap were
calculated by adding a tool factor to the electrical
component (IEEE 516 C2 1.1 tool factor).

8. Phase to phase live line tool in the air gap

values are not available. If this situation exists,
an engineering evaluation should be performed.
9. With Tools means a live line tool bridging the
air bap to the employee from the energized part.
10. For bare-hand work where the employee is at
line potential, this distance is to an object at a
different potential.

IEEE

NESC 2012

Minimum Approach Distances

Table 441-2 DC live work minimum
approach distance
Added distance to employee from
energized part (transmission voltages
72.6-750 kV)
Without tools pole-to-ground
With tools pole-to-ground

IEEE

NESC Part 4

Energized conductors or parts

441A3b2Clarified. Approach distances
apply to reach or extended reach.
441A1Revised. Approach distances
determined by engineering analysis are
allowed in addition to Tables 441-1 to 4414. New NOTES explain components of
calculations and applicable standards.
IEEE Std 516-2009 - IEEE Guide for
Maintenance Methods on Energized Power
Lines primary reference.

24

IEEE

NESC Part 4

IEEE

441A4Voltages above 72.5kv

Revised. Approach distances NOT
determined by engineering analysis must
meet Table 441-1 or 441-4 and specified
conditions. Blocking of automatic reclosing
is required below 242 kV & above 420kV
resistor / arrestor used to limit switching
overvoltages.
Note in above states It is recommended to
block reclosing during live work on all
voltages. .

IEEE

NESC Part 4

NESC Part 4

441A6Altitude correction Revised. Values

of inadvertent movement from previous
441A7a were moved here, instead of
referencing the deleted rule. Values are;
0.301 kV to 0.750 kV = 0.3m (1 ft)
0.751 kV to 72.5 kV = 0.5m (2 ft)
72.6 kV to 800 kV = 0.3m (1 ft)
441A7Deleted. Additions of this
information to tables and rules elsewhere,

IEEE

Table 441-4 DC work MADReworked and

replaced by table 441-2. The approach
distances for DC live line work were revised
using IEEE Std 516-2009 calculations.
The entire table was restructured. Values
below 72.6 kV were added. Values above
72.5 kV are based upon a TOV of 1.8 (the
last row of the old table).

IEEE

IEEE

NESC Part 4

444D Employees protective grounds

Revised. Previous paragraph specifying
location of employee protective grounds at
or on both sides of work location was
deleted and performance requirements
were added, including a new NOTE and a
new Exception.

25

IEEE

NESC 2012

IEEE

NESC 2012

444 D. Employees Protective Grounds

444 D. Employees Protective Grounds

Remove- Grounds shall be placed at each

side of the work location and as close as
practical to the work location
Add- Temporary protective grounds shall
be placed at such locations and arranged in
such a manner that affected employees are
protected from hazardous differences in
electrical potential.

Note addedTouch and step potentials may exist.

Additional measures may include
barriers, insulation, isolation or
grounding mats.

IEEE

NESC 2012

IEEE

444D Employees Protective Grounds

Exception added:
Alternative work methods such as
isolation of equipment, lines and
conductors from all sources including
induced voltages may be employed when
the employer has assured worker
protection from hazardous differences in
electrical potential.

IEEE

NESC 2012

NESC 2012

445. B.3. Removing Grounds

Note 1- added
Hazards due to electric and magnetic
field induction may exist when
conductors, cables and equipment are
parallel or cross other energized circuits.
Note 2- added
References IEEE 1048 and 1246 for
personal protective grounding.
IEEE-1048 IEEE Guide for Protective Grounding of
Power Lines
IEEE-1246 - IEEE Guide for Temporary Protective
Grounding Systems Used in Substations

445 Protective grounds

Added Extreme caution shall be exercised
that the proper sequence of installing and
removing protective grounds is followed.
When installing grounds,
1. Connect ground side first.
2. Connect phase conductor last
When removing grounds,
1. Remove phase conductor first.
2. Remove ground conductor last

IEEE

Seminar on
Significant Changes
to NESC 2012
National Electrical
Safety Code.

Class Break
End of Part 4
Appendices &
Errata

26

IEEE

NESC Appendixes

IEEE

Table A-1 clearanceRevised editorially.

The metric M&E column was moved to the
right side of the table. The table now
shows in order how the values of M&E are
created from the original rigid (R), nonrigid (NR), grounded or insulated(GI),
open(O), and mechanical and electrical
(M&E) values in feet, then last column to
the right is M&E values in metric.

IEEE

NESC Errata

Appendix CRevised to reflect changes in

Rule 250C regarding structural support
calculations.
Existing examples showing application of
extreme wind loading requirements of 250C
were revised to match changes in the code
terms.
New Example 5 was added to illustrate
calculations for wind on a lattice tower with
a large window section and two separate
ground wire support peaks.
Appendix ERevised editorially. Updated
with new dates and additional standards.

IEEE

Updated version at:

http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/nesc/NESC2012-Edition_Sheet1.pdf

Page 2: There is a typographical error in

Rule 011A4. The sentence should contain a
closing parenthesis.

Below information is based on Errata issued

6 February 2012

NESC Errata

Page 96: There is an error in item (f) of

Footnote 10 that appears at the end of Table
232-1 (m). Item (f) should contain 215C4 or.

NESC Errata

(f) Grounded guys, guys meeting Rules 279A1 and 215C4

or 215C5 exposed to 0 to 300 V 2.9

Page 96: There is an error in Footnote 15 that

appears at the end of Table 232-1 (m). The
word 215C5 should be replaced with 215C4.
15 The portion of anchor guys below the lowest insulator
meeting Rules 279A1 and 215C4 may have the same
clearance as grounded guys.

4. Street and area lights that provide a supply of lumens

where these facilities are supplied by underground or
overhead conductors installed and/or maintained under
the exclusive control of utilities (including their authorized
contractors or other qualified persons).

IEEE

NESC Errata

IEEE

NESC Appendixes

Page 97: There are errors that appear at

the end of Table 232-1 (m). Although
Footnote 25 was deleted from the
previous version, it should have been
listed as follows. Therefore, the inserted
footnote should have been shown as
Footnote 26.
25 This footnote not used in this edition.
26 When designing a line to accommodate oversized
vehicles, these clearance values shall be increased by the
difference between the known height of the oversized
vehicle and 4.3 m.

27

IEEE

NESC Errata

IEEE

Pages 97, 98, and 99: There is an error

in Table 232-1 (ft). The cells in columns 2
and 5 of the header row should state
(ft) for feet and not (m) for meters.

IEEE

NESC Errata

Page 100: There is an error in item (f) of

Footnote 10 that appears at the end of
Table 232-1 (ft). Item (f) should contain
215C4 or.
(f) Grounded guys, guys meeting Rules 279A1 and 215C4
or 215C5 exposed to 0 to 300 V

IEEE

Page 100: There is an error in Footnote 15 that

appears at the end of Table 232-1 (ft). The word
215C5 should be replaced with 215C4.

15 The portion of anchor guys below the lowest insulator meeting Rules 279A1 and
215C4 may have the same clearance as grounded guys.

Although Footnote 25 was deleted from the

previous version, it should have been listed as
follows. Therefore, the inserted footnote should
have been shown as Footnote 26.

Page 129: There are three errors in

Figure 234-4(b). At the top of the figure,
the two instances of H should read A.
The text associated with A in the legend
should read B + 5.5 m (18 ft) and not
V + 5.5 m (18 ft).

25 This footnote not used in this edition.

26 When designing a line to accommodate oversized vehicles, these clearance
values shall be increased by the difference between the known height of the
oversized vehicle and 14 ft.

IEEE

NESC Errata

IEEE

Pages 130, 131, and 132: There is an

error in Table 234-1 (m). The cell in
column 6 of the header row should
contain ungrounded equipment cases,
750 V to 22 kV.

NESC Errata

NESC Errata

NESC Errata

Page 133: There is an error in Footnote 11 that

appears at the end of Table 234-1 (m). The
word 215C5 should be replaced with 215C4.
11 The portion of anchor guys below the lowest insulator meeting Rules 279A1 and 215C4 may
have the same clearance as grounded guys.

Although Footnotes 12 and 13 were deleted

from the previous version, the remaining
footnotes should not have been renumbered.
They should be listed as follows:
12 This footnote not used in this edition.
13 This footnote not used in this edition.
14 For clearances above railings, walls, or parapets around balconies, decks, or roofs, use the
clearances required for row 1b(1). For such clearances where an outside stairway exists to
provide access to such balconies, decks, or roofs, use the clearances required for row 2b(2).
15 Does not include neutral conductors meeting Rule 230E1.
16 These clearance values also apply to guy insulators.
17 It is presumed that a flag or banner is fully extended but that there is no deflection or
displacement of the flagpole or other supporting structure due to wind and that the conductors,
cables, or rigid live parts are not displaced by the wind. The specified clearance is measured to
the point of maximum displacement of the banner or flag towards the overhead utility facility.
18 When designing a line to accommodate oversized vehicles, these clearance values shall be
increased by the difference between the known height of the oversized vehicle and 4.3 m.

28

IEEE

NESC Errata

IEEE

Pages 134, 135, and 136: There is an

error in Table 234-1 (ft). The cell in
column 6 of the header row should
contain ungrounded equipment cases,
750 V to 22 kV.

IEEE

NESC Errata

Page 137: There is an error in Footnote 11 that

appears at the end of Table 234-1 (ft). The word
215C5 should be replaced with 215C4.
11 The portion of anchor guys below the lowest insulator meeting Rules 279A1 and 215C4 may
have the same clearance as grounded guys.

Although Footnotes 12 and 13 were deleted

from the previous version, the remaining
footnotes should not have been renumbered.
They should be listed as follows:
12 This footnote not used in this edition.
13 This footnote not used in this edition.
14 For clearances above railings, walls, or parapets around balconies, decks, or roofs, use the
clearances required for row 1b(1). For such clearances where an outside stairway exists to
provide access to such balconies, decks, or roofs, use the clearances required for row 2b(2).
15 Does not include neutral conductors meeting Rule 230E1.
16 These clearance values also apply to guy insulators.
17 It is presumed that a flag or banner is fully extended but that there is no deflection or
displacement of the flagpole or other supporting structure due to wind and that the conductors,
cables, or rigid live parts are not displaced by the wind. The specified clearance is measured to
the point of maximum displacement of the banner or flag towards the overhead utility facility.
18 When designing a line to accommodate oversized vehicles, these clearance values shall be
increased by the difference between the known height of the oversized vehicle and 14 ft.

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Page 138: There is a typographical error

in Table 234-2 (m). The underscore
should be removed from the comma in
the last sentence of the parenthetical
statement below the table caption.

Table 234-2
Clearance of wires, conductors, cables, and unguarded rigid live parts from bridges
(Voltages are phase to ground for effectively grounded circuits and those other circuits where all
ground faults are cleared by promptly de-energizing the faulted section, both initially and
following subsequent breaker operations. See the definitions section for voltages of other
systems. Clearances are with no wind displacement except where stated in the footnotes below.

See Rules 234A, 234D1a, and 234H4.)

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NESC Errata

Page 166: There is an error in Table

235-6 (mm). The cell in column 2 of row
2c should read 75 and not 3.

Page 142: There is an error in Footnote 2 that

appears at the end of Table 234-3 (m). The
word 215C5 should be replaced with 215C4.
2 The portion of anchor guys below the lowest insulator meeting
Rules 279A1 and 215C4 may have the same clearance as
grounded guys.

Page 143: There is an error in Footnote 2 that

appears at the end of Table 234-3 (ft). The word
215C5 should be replaced with 215C4.
2 The portion of anchor guys below the lowest insulator meeting
Rules 279A1 and 215C4 may have the same clearance as
grounded guys.

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NESC Errata

NESC Errata

NESC Errata

Page 222: There is a typographical error

in Footnote 3 that appears at the end of
Table 261-1. Delete the strikethrough
(R) in the last sentence of the footnote.
3 Wood and reinforced structures shall be replaced or rehabilitated when
deterioration reduces the structure strength to 3/4 of that required when
installed. When new or changed facilities modify loads on existing
structures, the required strength shall be based on the revised loadings.
If a structure or component is replaced, it shall meet the strength
required by Table 261-1. If a structure or component is rehabilitated, the
rehabilitated portions of the structures shall have strength greater than
3/4 of that required when installed.

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NESC Errata

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NESC Changes

Page 230: There is an error in Rule

279A2b(1). The sentence should contain
215C4 or.
(1) The guy is otherwise insulated to meet the
requirements of Rules 215C4 or 215C5 and 279A1.

Page 262: There is a typographical error

in Rule 410A3b. The exception and notes
are applicable to Rule 410A3 and not Rule
410A3b.

Online at;
http://standards.ieee.org/about/nesc/erp/index.html

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NESC Schedule

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The NESC is revised every 5 years

NESC-2017 schedule
July 15, 2013- Final date to receive
change proposals
September- October 2013- Committees
meet and consider change proposals
September 2014- Proposed
amendments printed. Comment period
opens.
May 2015- Committee study period and
comments- Comments due

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References

NESC-2017 schedule
October 2015- Committees prepare
final report
January 2016- Proposed revision of
NESC to NESC committee for letter
ballot.
May 2016- Committee approved
revisions submitted to ANSI for
recognition as an ANSI standard
August 2016- Publication of the
2017 Edition of the NESC

IEEE

NESC Schedule

NESC 2012 Presentation, Jim Tomaseski

NESC 2012 Presentation, John Pierson Jr, Tim Weir, Betty Jo Kiesow
NESC 2012 Presentation, Pamela (Pam) T. Tompkins,
OSHA, Line Contractors strategic Partnership- IEEE report
Hugh Hoagland- Arc Wear
OSHA
NFPA 70e
Salisbury Protective Products
Testing update on protective clothing and equipment for electric arc
exposure, IEEE
HD Electric
Arc Flash Phenomena- Collaborative Research Project- IEEE
Synergetic Design
Brent McKinney- NESC- APPA Subcommittee member
Arcing Flash/blast review with safety suggestions for design and
maintenance, Tim Crnko, Steve Dyrnes
516-2009 - IEEE Guide for Maintenance Methods on Energized Power
Lines

Evaluations

Please complete your evaluations.

Please ensure that your name on your certificate
appears as it does on your State PE license and
that your licenses number is correct before you
leave.
Most importantly, please share this information
with your fellow workers and always look for a
safer way to perform every task both work,
home and in-between.

30

IEEE

Your FWCS
PES/IAS
Chapter
thanks you for
attending.
Thomas Blair, P.E.
Senior Consulting Engineer
Tampa Electric Company
[email protected] or [email protected]

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