Ensuring electrical safety means protecting standards development
NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code® (NEC) is revised and published every three years through an established standards-making system that features dedicated participation by technical committee members who annually contribute hundreds of hours to diligently ensuring the integrity of the process, and by extension the Code itself. From the methodical, time-tested review and consideration of myriad public inputs and comments to the research and learnings from tragedies - these rigorous undertakings collectively contribute to making sure that the NEC continually meets the electrical safety needs of society across countless environments.
At the NFPA Technical Meeting held in Boston a few weeks ago, significant proposed changes to the 2023 edition of the NEC were the result of more than 4,000 public inputs submitted during the first draft stage process. These inputs generated major proposed changes in the second draft, with key areas of focus including systems and equipment over 1,000 volts; worker safety; minimum size branch circuits; GFCI requirements for specific appliances; kitchen island receptacles; cannabis production facilities; and cybersecurity.
Yes, these processes and procedures reflect business as usual. But they are emblematic of so much more.
The NEC has served as the premier electrical code since it was first published in 1897, a year after the launch of NFPA itself. Used by every state in the US and around the globe, the NEC continues to evolve, keeping pace with society’s needs and demands at every turn.
Newer requirements within the Code that cover emerging technologies like energy storage systems (ESS) and photovoltaics are just a couple of examples of its critical value and relevance in our ever-changing world. And the ways in which we deliver the NEC have continued to evolve. Along with free online access to the code, LiNK®, the NFPA digital tool that delivers dynamic access to the NEC, allows for even wider usage and implementation of its requirements.
In essence, the NEC serves as an essential element of society’s safety infrastructure, ensuring that electricity operates across all environments with an expected level of safety that few people ever consider. In fact, the world depends so greatly on the continuous, ubiquitous, and safe functioning of electricity that it is downright unthinkable to imagine what would happen if associated levels of safety were compromised in any capacity.
But what if the NEC and the process by which it’s developed and delivered is threatened? That’s not a hypothetical question. It’s a real one that we must contend with.
As I stated at the opening general session of the NFPA Conference & Expo® and have addressed in previous communications, the private standards development model is, in fact, under attack. Within that attack on the system itself is a threat to the safety that our codes and standards have delivered for 125 years. NFPA is challenged by a vocal minority who have the erroneous view that standards, once incorporated by reference, should lose their copyright protection. They argue that if a governmental body decides to incorporate a standard into law or regulation to help with public safety, then the standard immediately is open for anyone to take, copy and distribute – even start a commercial business by offering them to the public – without any compensation to NFPA. This is a very misguided view. First, NFPA is committed to public access to its standards. As most of you are already aware, NFPA already offers free online access to all its standards. Second, retaining copyright protection is essential so that we can continue to offer safety benefits that are of enormous benefit to businesses, government, and the public.
Without standards, you wouldn’t have the benefit of collective expertise that helps all of us in our daily job. The continued assault by special interests on copyright protection threatens the ability of NFPA and organizations like us to fund our important work and will lead to a disjointed hodgepodge of safety standards in the U.S. and around the world.
The NEC and all it does to keep the word safe from electrical hazards is no exception to these threats.
We simply cannot afford to have today’s levels of safety jeopardized by the erroneous wants of a small group of individuals whose only goal is to disrupt the current system with no plan for what would take its place.
I firmly believe that these efforts come from a lack of understanding or ignorance on what it truly takes to develop and deliver codes and standards that effectively protect the public. That’s why it’s incumbent on all of us in the world of fire and life safety to remain vigilant in reinforcing the full value and impact of the existing process.
By extension, all of us who recognize the integral role the NEC plays in our professional and personal lives - and the dangers presented if our ability to continue delivering it become compromised in any way - must proactively support this time-tested system for its invaluable impact on lives and property, and the process by which it and all our other standards are developed.
The risk of not doing so is too great for all of us.