National Electrical Installation Standards

Standards as High as Your Own

 
?
Friday, July 16, 2021

Question:

Good Morning Code Friends!

We are having a debate in the office. Hopefully you can help with a neutral voice. Where in the NEC does is require everything to be listed by an NRTL?

Paul Hart

A

Answer:

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the question. The short answer is that the NEC does not require everything to be listed. Section 110.2 indicates that conductors and equipment covered by the NEC are acceptable only if approved. The term approved is defined in Article 100 as acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction. That said, most authorities having jurisdiction base their approvals on the use of listed electrical equipment. Section 90.7 provides information about qualified electrical testing laboratories that certify (list) electrical equipment. Note that some rules in the NEC specifically call out for equipment to be listed, such as Section 334.6 which requires Type NM and Type NMC cables and associated fittings to be listed. If you look at Article 376 covering Metal Wireways, there is not a requirement that wireways be listed. Note that the wireways do have to meet the construction specifications provided in Part III of Article 376.

ABOUT CQD: The Code Question of the Day (CQD) is NECA and ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Magazine’s flagship National Electrical Code (NEC®) public forum for the industry, sponsored by EATON. The daily distribution of Q&A generates a lively dialogue and shares relative Code-based practical responses.

SUBMIT YOUR CODE QUESTION: Click here to submit a question to for inclusion in an upcoming edition of the Code Question of the Day, or email codequestion@necanet.org

CHARLIE TROUT: Charles M. Trout, better known as Charlie, was a nationally known NEC® expert and author. He served on several NEC® technical committees and is past chairman of CMP-12. In 2006 Charlie was awarded the prestigious Coggeshall Award for outstanding contributions to the electrical contracting industry, codes and standards development, and technical training. Even though Charlie passed away in October of 2015, his work continues in spirit. NECA continues to maintain this question forum for its many subscribers in memory and recognition of all his significant contributions to making the NEC what it is today.

NECA STANDARDS: NECA publishes the National Electrical Installation Standards™ (NEIS™), a series of ANSI-approved performance and quality standards for electrical construction. NEIS can be purchased in the NECA Store in three formats: a printed or  PDF download of a standard or, as an  annual subscription service.

NECA SAFETY PRODUCTS & PUBLICATIONS: NECA produces electrical safety publications and products for the industry including jobsite safety guides, handbooks and resource kits. View a full listing of available resources and products »

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Unless the question requests a response based on a specific edition, all answers are based on the latest edition of NFPA 70® National Electrical Code®.

This correspondence is not a formal interpretation of the NEC® and any responses expressed to the questions are opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of NECA, NFPA, the NEC Correlating Committee any Code-making panel or other electrical technical committee. In addition, this correspondence is neither intended, nor should it be relied upon, to provide professional consultation or services. 

UPDATE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION PREFERENCES: Subscribe or Unsubscribe from this list.