2 Hour 2020 NEC Review Chapters 1, 8 & 9

This class presents every significant change to Chapter 1 General and Chapter 8 Communication Systems made to the 2020 National Electrical Code®. Chapter 1 is comprised of two Articles: Article 100 that covers Definitions and Article 110 that provides the general requirements for electrical installations. These are two core Articles that affect every phase of electrical work. Chapter 8 holds a similar role when it comes to Communication Circuits.

The class begins with an overview of the changes to NEC-2020, followed by a survey of five significant code-wide changes, a look at the four new Articles added for 2020, and a discussion of the revised Scope of the NEC in Article 90. Thirteen new or revised definitions from Chapter 1 are reviewed, including Equipotential Plane, Free Air. Grounded Conductor, Island Mode, and Reconditioned. This is followed by a look at significant changes to four general requirements, including 110.12 Mechanical Execution of Work, 110.14 Terminal Connection Torque, 110.22 Identification of Disconnecting Means, and Spaces About Electrical Equipment.

A video provides a useful overview of the substantial overhaul of Chapter 8. A review of seven changes drawn from Articles 800 & 805 follows, providing details on the repurposing of Article 800 for General Requirements and the reorganizations and revisions for the Sections moved or added to the new Article 805. The class concludes with two changes to Article 840 on increasingly important Premises-Powered Broadband Communications Systems: 1) Circuits Leaving the Building and 2) Powering Communications Equipment over Communications Cables and a quick look at the one change made to the Tables in Chapter 9.

Each change presented in the class is accompanied by a thoroughgoing discussion of what the change means and the reason it was installed in the Code. The goal is to express every change in clear language, to focus on how the changes should be applied by a working electrician, and to provide the resources to explore the change more fully for those who wish to do so.