mike@standardsmichigan.com, Author at Standards Michigan

Wild Blueberry Pie

Even though it’s almost #Fall, it’s still so warm outside! To cool down this #NationalBlueberryPopsicleDay, ASTM F2520-20 specifies requirements for the design and function of refrigerators and freezers to keep our #BlueberryPopsicles nice and chilled. @ASTMIntl pic.twitter.com/L4wkVWbcDT

— ANSI (@ansidotorg) September 2, 2022

Grounding, Bonding, Earthing and all that

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70): Article 250 Grounding & Bonding

2026 Code Panel 5: Transcript of Proposed Changes

Electrical grounding is vital for safety and system protection. It provides a path for excess electrical current to safely dissipate into the earth, reducing the risk of electric shock, fire, and equipment damage. Grounding stabilizes voltage levels, ensuring the proper operation of electrical systems and devices. It also protects against electrical surges and lightning strikes by diverting harmful currents away from sensitive components. Overall, grounding enhances the safety, reliability, and performance of electrical installations, making it a fundamental practice in electrical engineering and construction.

In other words, without grounding, electric energy does no useful work. Today we review the grounding principles for exterior lightning protection and building interior telecommunication and audio-visual systems. Use the login credentials at the upper right our home page.

“Railroad Sunset” | Edward Hopper

Grounding protects buildings from lightning by providing a safe path for the immense electrical energy of a lightning strike to travel into the earth, thereby minimizing damage. Here’s how it works:

Lightning Rods: Metal rods placed on top of buildings intercept lightning strikes. These rods are connected to a network of conductors.
Conductors: These metal cables or strips carry the electrical charge from the lightning rod to the ground.
Grounding System: The conductors are connected to grounding rods buried deep in the earth, dispersing the electrical charge safely into the ground.

This system prevents lightning from passing through the building’s structure, reducing the risk of fire, structural damage, and electrical hazards.

“Rain in Charleston” 1951 Thomas Fransioli

Grounding in telecommunication systems is crucial for ensuring safety and operational reliability. Here’s how it works:

Surge Protection: Grounding helps protect telecommunication equipment from voltage surges caused by lightning strikes, power line faults, or switching operations. By providing a direct path to the earth, grounding allows excess electrical energy to be safely dissipated, preventing damage to sensitive equipment.
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Reduction: Proper grounding minimizes EMI, which can disrupt communication signals. By creating a common reference point for electrical potentials, grounding reduces noise and interference, ensuring clearer and more reliable signal transmission.
Safety: Grounding protects personnel from electrical shocks by ensuring that any fault currents are directed away from equipment and safely into the ground. This is particularly important in environments with high-power transmission equipment.
System Stability: Grounding stabilizes voltage levels within the system, preventing fluctuations that could cause equipment malfunctions or failures. This stability is crucial for maintaining consistent and reliable telecommunications services.

Overall, grounding enhances the safety, performance, and reliability of telecommunication systems by managing electrical faults, reducing interference, and protecting both equipment and personnel.

“Telegraph Poles with Buildings” | Joseph Stella (1917)

Grounding in audio systems is essential for ensuring high-quality sound output and preventing various types of electrical noise and interference. Here’s how it works:

Noise Reduction: Proper grounding minimizes hums and buzzes often caused by ground loops, which occur when different pieces of equipment are grounded at different points. By ensuring a common ground point, the potential differences that cause these loops are eliminated, leading to cleaner audio signals.
Shielding: Grounding provides a reference point for the shielding in audio cables, which helps to block external electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI). This shielding prevents unwanted noise from being introduced into the audio signal.
Safety: Grounding protects both the equipment and users from electrical shocks. In the event of a fault, the grounding system directs the fault current safely to the earth, reducing the risk of electric shock and equipment damage.
Signal Integrity: By maintaining a consistent ground potential, grounding helps preserve the integrity of audio signals. This ensures that the signals are transmitted and received accurately without degradation, resulting in better sound quality.
Equipment Protection: Proper grounding can protect sensitive audio equipment from power surges and static discharge, extending the lifespan and reliability of the components.

Overall, grounding is a fundamental practice in audio systems to ensure high-quality sound, protect equipment, and maintain safety for users.

The $7 Billion Stargate “Barn”

Saline Area Historical Society

“Whatever It Is, I’m Against It”

America demands art deco data centers https://t.co/4POJMy6Lui pic.twitter.com/uoxMuN1rnD

— Nick Krosse (@nkrosse) April 30, 2026

“Whatever It Is, I’m Against It”

How Stupid Would It Be to Put Data Centers in Space?

Riding the orbital data center wave

SpaceX and Google Are in Talks to Launch Data Centers in Orbit

International Zoning Code

Electricity

Electric Service Metering & Billing

Natural Gas

Natural Gas Transmission & Distribution

Traffic

7th Edition (2018): Geometric Design of Highways & Streets

Water

Standards March: Water

Noise

“Backup” Power Systems

Taxation

Tax-Free Bonds

Security

Secure perimeter management

Relata:

Dr. Gad Saad Named Global Ambassador for The Northwood Idea and Visiting Professor

Gad Saad (Northwood University Michigan) & Jordan Peterson (University of Toronto) discuss the intellectual intransigence in education settlements

The $7 Billion Stargate “Barn”

Quadrivium: Summer

Standards Kansas

ANSI Standards Action July 31, 2026 | Bulletin Board

“…in August in Mississippi there’s a few days somewhere about the middle of the month when suddenly there’s a foretaste of fall, it’s cool, there’s a lambence, a soft, a luminous quality to the light, as though it came not from just today but from back in the old classic times. It might have fauns and satyrs and the gods and—from Greece, from Olympus in it somewhere. It lasts just for a day or two, then it’s gone…” — William Faulkner

§

“A Break from the Harvest” | Julien Dupre (public domain)

Our use of the term “Educational Settlements” captures the self-contained energy of these places — kindergartens, classrooms, quads, dining halls, dorms, and nearby squares buzzing with student life amid broader higher-ed shifts like the “demographic cliff” (declining traditional enrollments), AI integration, skills-focused curricula, and financial pressures. (Related: Agora)

George Washington’s “Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation”

The Stanford Review: Marry Young

65% of the nation’s 3,100 counties—home to 28% of the U.S. population—had more deaths than births.

Our nation should be having more baby showers than funerals. pic.twitter.com/H7kPSCERUU

— Katie Miller (@KatieMiller) March 29, 2026

A Better Life: Lionel Shriver

Macdonald-Laurier Institute: How to Reverse Collapsing Birth Rates

MORE

Starting 2026 we will organize our weekly syllabi in a less structured but in a more time sensitive manner. Stay tuned.

100 years ago, the Supreme Court made it clear in Pierce v. Society of Sisters: raising children is the responsibility of parents, not the government.

100 years later, the Trump Administration remains committed to protecting parental rights. pic.twitter.com/yduXdLShty

— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) June 1, 2025

https://standardsmichigan.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=75791&action=edit#visibility

“…O chestnut tree;, great rooted blossomer,
Are you the leaf, the blossom or the bold?
O body swayed to music, O brightening glance,
How can we know the dancer from the dance?”

— Among Schoolchildren, 1933 William Butler Yeats

We sweep through the world’s three major time zones; updating our understanding of the literature at the technical foundation of education community safety and sustainability in those time zones 24 times per day. We generally eschew “over-coding” web pages to sustain speed, revision cadence and richness of content as peak priority. We do not provide a search facility because of copyrights of publishers and time sensitivity of almost everything we do.

Readings:

“The Advancement of Learning” Francis Bacon (1605)

“The Allegory of the Cave” 380 BCE | Plato’s Republic, Book VII

Thucydides: Pericles’ Funeral Oration

IEEE Access: Advanced Deep Learning Models for 6G: Overview, Opportunities, and Challenges | Xidian University

“Albion: The Origins of the English Imagination” (2002) Peter Ackroyd

“Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” Satoshi Nakamoto

“Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds” (1841) | Charles Mackay

Cognitive Science: An Introduction to the Study of Mind

“Kant’s Categorical Imperative” | Hillsdale College Introduction to Western Philosophy

“The Natural History of Stupidity” (1959) Paul Tabori

“The College Idea: Andrew Delbanco” Lapham’s Quarterly

Distributed Representations of Words and Phrases and their Compositionality | Google, Inc. et, al

Our daily colloquia are typically doing sessions; with non-USA titles receiving priority until 16:00 UTC and all other titles thereafter. We assume policy objectives are established (Safer-Simpler-Lower-Cost, Longer-Lasting). Because we necessarily get into the weeds, and because much of the content is time-sensitive and copyright protected, we usually schedule a separate time slot to hammer on technical specifics so that our response to consultations are meaningful and contribute to the goals of the standards developing organization and to the goals of stewards of education community real assets — typically the largest real asset owned by any US state and about 50 percent of its annual budget.

1. Leviathan. We track noteworthy legislative proposals in the United States 118th Congress. Not many deal specifically with education community real assets since the relevant legislation is already under administrative control of various Executive Branch Departments such as the Department of Education.

We do not advocate in legislative activity at any level. We respond to public consultations but there it ends.

We track federal legislative action because it provides a stroboscopic view of the moment — the “national conversation”– in communities that are simultaneously a business and a culture. Even though more than 90 percent of such proposals are at the mercy of the party leadership the process does enlighten the strengths and weakness of a governance system run entirely through the counties on the periphery of Washington D.C. It is impossible to solve technical problems in facilities without sensitivity to the zietgeist that has accelerated in education communities everywhere.

Michigan Great Lake Quilt

Michigan can 100% water and feed itself. Agriculture is its second-largest industry.

2. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

3. American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

4. Fast Forward

The Year Ahead 2026

5. Rewind

Retrodiction

Lights Out

6. Corrigenda

“The world will never starve for want of wonders;

but only for want of wonder.”

– G.K Chesterton, The Spirit of Christmas (1905)

Mike Anthony with colleagues since 1982 @ UM Ross School of Business Executive Dining Room

International Zoning Code

2025 Group B Proposed Changes to IZC | Complete Monograph for Changes to I-Codes (2630 pages)

National Association of County Engineers

The purpose of the code is to establish minimum requirements to provide a reasonable level of health, safety, property protection and welfare by controlling the design, location, use or occupancy of all buildings and structures through the regulated and orderly development of land and land uses within this jurisdiction.

CLICK IMAGE

Municipalities usually have specific land use or zoning considerations to accommodate the unique needs and characteristics of college towns:

Mixed-Use Zoning: Cities with colleges and universities often employ mixed-use zoning strategies to encourage a vibrant and diverse urban environment. This zoning approach allows for a combination of residential, commercial, and institutional uses within the same area, fostering a sense of community and facilitating interactions between students, faculty, and residents.
Height and Density Restrictions: Due to the presence of educational institutions, cities may have specific regulations on building height and density to ensure compatibility with the surrounding neighborhoods and maintain the character of the area. These restrictions help balance the need for development with the preservation of the existing urban fabric.
Student Housing: Cities with colleges and universities may have regulations or guidelines for student housing to ensure an adequate supply of affordable and safe accommodations for students. This can
include requirements for minimum bedroom sizes, occupancy limits, and proximity to campus.
Parking and Transportation: Given the concentration of students, faculty, and staff, parking and transportation considerations are crucial. Cities may require educational institutions to provide parking facilities or implement transportation demand management strategies, such as promoting public transit use, cycling infrastructure, and pedestrian-friendly designs.
Community Engagement: Some cities encourage colleges and universities to engage with the local community through formalized agreements or community benefit plans. These may include commitments to support local businesses, contribute to neighborhood improvement projects, or provide educational and cultural resources to residents.

This is a relatively new title in the International Code Council catalog; revised every three years in the Group B tranche of titles. Search on character strings such as “zoning” in the link below reveals the ideas that ran through the current revision:

Complete Monograph: 2022 Proposed Changes to Group B I-Codes (1971 pages)

We maintain it on our periodic I-Codes colloquia, open to everyone. ~~Proposals for the 2026 revision will be received until January 10, 2025.~~

2024/2025/2026 ICC CODE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE

We maintain it on our periodic I-Codes colloquia, open to everyone with the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

The City Rises (La città che sale) | 1910 Umberto Boccioni

“What Happens When Data Centers Come to Town”

Signs, Signs, Signs

Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015): This Supreme Court case involved a challenge to the town of Gilbert, Arizona’s sign code, which regulated the size, location, and duration of signs based on their content. The court held that the sign code was a content-based restriction on speech and therefore subject to strict scrutiny.
City of Ladue v. Gilleo (1994): In this Supreme Court case, the court struck down a municipal ordinance that banned the display of signs on residential property, except for signs that fell within specific exemptions. The court held that the ban was an unconstitutional restriction on the freedom of speech.
Metromedia, Inc. v. San Diego (1981): This Supreme Court case involved a challenge to a San Diego ordinance that banned off-premises advertising signs while allowing on-premises signs. The court held that the ordinance was an unconstitutional restriction on free speech, as it discriminated against certain types of speech.
City of Ladue v. Center for the Study of Responsive Law, Inc. (1980): In this Supreme Court case, the court upheld a municipal ordinance that prohibited the display of signs on public property, but only if the signs were posted for longer than 10 days. The court held that the ordinance was a valid time, place, and manner restriction on speech.
City of Boerne v. Flores (1997): This Supreme Court case involved a challenge to a municipal sign code that regulated the size, location, and content of signs in the city. The court held that the sign code violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, as it burdened the exercise of religion without a compelling government interest.

2029 National Electrical Code Panel 3

Electrical Safety Catalog

2029 Revision Calendar

Articles covered by CMP-3:

Article 206
Non-Power-Limited Remote-Control and Signaling Circuits | Article 300
General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials | Article 335
Instrumentation Tray Cable — formerly Article 727 | Article 720
Limited-Energy System Installations | Article 721
Limited-Energy Power Sources | Article 722
Limited-Energy Cables | Article 723
Raceways, Cable Routing Assemblies, and Cable Trays for Limited-Energy Systems | Article 724
Class 1 Power-Limited Remote-Control and Signaling Circuits | Article 725
Class 2 and Class 3 Power-Limited Circuits | Article 726
Class 4 Fault-Managed Power Systems | Article 728
Fire-Resistive Cable Systems | Article 760
Fire Alarm Systems | Article 772

Chapter 9 Tables

Top 10 Issues

Issue	Summary
1. Consistency of Code Language	Standardize terminology throughout the NEC by eliminating inconsistent wording, duplicate phrases, and varying expressions that describe the same technical concepts.
2. Compliance with the NEC Style Manual	Many proposals seek removal of redundant requirements already addressed elsewhere in the Code, resulting in a cleaner, more concise document.
3. Restoring Lost Requirements	Numerous submitters argue that important technical provisions disappeared during recent article reorganizations and should be restored.
4. Article Organization	Improve article formatting, numbering, and overall structure to make the NEC easier to navigate and maintain.
5. Emerging Technologies	Expand the Code to better accommodate fault-managed power, battery energy storage, portable power systems, EV-based power sources, hydrogen technologies, and new circuit classifications.
6. Installation Clarification	Clarify requirements for raceways, wet locations, roof decks, cable trays, conductor spacing, barriers, and other installation practices.
7. Installer Safety & Reliability	Enhance electrical safety through improved wiring practices, better physical protection, stronger cable support requirements, and fewer failure points.
8. Definition Ownership	Assign definitions to the Code-Making Panels having primary technical expertise to improve long-term consistency and maintenance.
9. Coordination with Other Standards	Improve harmonization between the NEC and companion standards such as UL, ANSI, NFPA 79, and hazardous-location requirements.
10. Reducing Complexity	A recurring objective is to simplify the NEC by reducing duplication, improving readability, and making the Code easier for installers, inspectors, designers, trainers, and licensing authorities to use.

The Public Inputs demonstrate a broad desire to make the National Electrical Code more consistent, technically complete, better coordinated with related standards, and easier to understand without compromising electrical safety. Many proposals emphasize restoring requirements inadvertently lost during recent reorganizations while preparing the Code to accommodate rapidly emerging electrical technologies.

Mike recommends these issues as priority for the Joint IEEE IAS/PES committee

Atul Arunkumar Shenoy, P.E., SMIEEE is Mike Anthony’s Alternate on CMP-3

Susan Newman Scearce is the Chairperson for CMP-3

Ω

2029 Public Input Submittals CMP-3

N.B. Public Input No. 2633-NFPA 70-2026 [ Global Input ] PDF Page 6, regarding re-organization of the NEC into below 1000 V and above 1000 V.

Noteworthy proposal concepts:

Cable trays interfering with HVAC ductwork and fire sprinkler lines. Parallel cable tray feasibility
Difficulty accessing lighting fixtures and fire alarm components for maintenance.
Potential violation of plenum clearance and airflow requirements. Some cable trays in plenums reportedly contain non-plenum-rated cables, which is a fire code violation.
Document flags this as a high-priority remediation item before any LED lighting retrofit proceeds.
Existing security wiring (CCTV, access control, intrusion detection) is a mix of old analog coax and early Cat 5 cables.
Many runs exceed recommended length for reliable video transmission. Frequent signal degradation and reliability complaints.
Security cables are sharing overcrowded cable trays with power-limited lighting control wires and fire alarm cabling.
Risk of electromagnetic interference (EMI) noted due to proximity to higher-voltage lines.
Plenum space constraints make it difficult to add new IP-based security cameras without major reorganization.
Current security wiring cannot support newer high-resolution IP cameras or PoE+ powered devices.
Several editorial proposals by Mike Holt. (He’s generally correct on clarity improvements that he needs for educational purposes)

Ω

For discussion next meeting, when we march through all proposals of interest to IEEE:

When electricians work in ceiling plenums above hallways while students pass below, several serious hazards emerge. Tools, screws, cable scraps, or ceiling tiles can fall, causing head injuries or slips. Disturbed dust, fiberglass, or potential asbestos particles may rain down, creating respiratory risks.
Live electrical work on lighting or cable trays raises shock/fire dangers if a fault occurs or debris shorts circuits. Open plenums can compromise fire-rated barriers, allowing smoke or flames to spread rapidly in an emergency.
Noise and visual distractions increase trip hazards for students. Without full barricades, lockout/tagout, and proper fall protection, these overhead activities expose young people to preventable injury. Scheduling work after hours or using full corridor closures is essential.
Power-limited (Class 2) cabling operates at low voltage (<60V DC) with current/power caps (~100VA), dramatically reducing shock and fire risks. Installation is simpler and cheaper—no conduit or heavy mechanical protection needed in many cases, allowing flexible routing. LEDs run cooler and more efficiently with remote drivers, improving lifespan and energy savings. Easier maintenance and safer for retrofits.
Severe distance and power limits due to voltage drop and 100W/5A caps require multiple drivers or shorter runs. Higher upfront costs for specialized power supplies. Potential reliability issues from more connection points. Less suitable for high-power or long-distance applications compared to line-voltage wiring.

Public Inputs Relevant to School and College Facilities

Campus Facility	Relevant Issue	Why It Matters
Student Health Centers, Medical Schools & Campus Hospitals	Improved protection of underground feeders, raceways, and wiring methods, together with replacement of conductors damaged by water, fire, corrosion, or severe physical impact.	Enhances electrical reliability for healthcare occupancies where continuous operation is essential.
Athletic Stadiums & Arenas	Improved protection of underground services, direct-buried conductors, warning ribbons, and raceways.	Supports reliable electrical service for stadium lighting, scoreboards, concessions, and outdoor utility infrastructure.
Temporary Athletic & Campus Events	Recognition of modern portable power sources, including battery energy storage systems and portable fuel cells, in addition to traditional generators.	Useful for commencement ceremonies, concerts, athletic tournaments, festivals, and temporary event power.
Research Laboratories	Expanded wiring methods for hazardous (classified) locations, including ITC-HL cable installations.	May affect university research laboratories, pilot plants, engineering facilities, and chemical research buildings.
Residence Halls & Classroom Buildings	Improved protection against concealed wiring damage caused by nails, screws, and furring strips during construction and renovation.	Helps reduce wiring damage during frequent campus remodeling and maintenance projects.
Campus Utility Infrastructure	Clarifications involving direct boring, underground raceways, service feeders, and warning ribbon installation.	Relevant to the large underground electrical distribution systems commonly found on university campuses.

Although these proposals would benefit campus infrastructure, the CMP-3 transcript contains very little discussion directed specifically at educational occupancies. Topics such as healthcare facilities (Article 517), stadium emergency systems, data centers, laboratories as occupancies, residence halls, libraries, and central utility plants largely fall within the jurisdiction of other NEC Code-Making Panels such as CMP-1 and CMP-15 where Mike has been a Principal or Alternate for IEEE.

April 29, 2026

At the request of IEEE Joint IAS/PES Standards Michigan, Mike Anthony moved to CMP-3 from CMP-15.

Articles Under CMP 3

Article 300 — General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials
Article 335 — Instrumentation Tray Cable (in some references for the 2029 cycle)
Article 590 — Temporary Installations (being relocated/renumbered in the 2026 cycle, e.g., potentially to Article 140 in Chapter 1, as temporary wiring is not treated as a special occupancy)
Article 720 — Limited-Energy System Installations (new/general article covering wiring methods for limited-energy systems)
Article 721 — Limited-Energy Power Sources
Article 722 — Limited-Energy Cable (covers cables for power-limited, fault-managed, etc.)
Article 723 — Raceways, Cable Routing Assemblies, and Cable Trays for Limited-Energy Systems (newly created in the 2026 cycle)
Article 725 — Class 2 and Class 3 Remote-Control, Signaling, and Power-Limited Circuits
Article 726 — Class 4 Fault-Managed Power Circuits and Equipment
Article 727 — Instrumentation Tray Cable
Article 728 — Fire-Resistive Cable Systems
Article 760 — Fire Alarm Systems (power-limited and non-power-limited portions)

CMP 3 also handles associated content in: Chapter 9 — Tables, including Tables 11(A) & (B) and Tables 12(A) & (B) (related to conductor properties and other supporting tables for the above topics).

Notes on Changes and Scope
CMP 3 focuses on general wiring rules, cable types, raceways/trays for low-energy applications, and signaling/communications-related wiring (distinct from higher-power utilization equipment or special occupancies handled by other panels).
In the 2026 NEC cycle, there has been significant reorganization of Chapter 7 to consolidate limited-energy systems under articles like 720–726 (and related ones), moving away from older structures. This includes new articles for raceways/cable trays specific to limited-energy systems and adjustments to scopes for clarity.
Article 206 (Non-Power-Limited Remote-Control and Signaling Circuits) appears in some 2026-related references as newly designated or relocated material handled in this area.
Temporary installations (Article 590) are transitioning out of “special” categories in restructuring efforts.

During today’s sessions of the IEEE E&H Committee and our own we will prepare draft proposals relevant to the safety and sustainability agenda of the USA education facility industry. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

Brown University Electrical Design Criteria | Information Technology Resources Policy

International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators

Posted December 20, 2025

The University of Michigan has supported the voice of the United States education facility industry since 1993 — the second longest tenure of any voice in the United States. That voice has survived several organizational changes but remains intact and will continue its Safer-Simpler-Lower Cost-Longer Lasting priorities on Code Panel 3 in the 2029 Edition.

Today, during our customary “Open Door” teleconference we will examine the technical concepts under the purview of Code Panel 3; among them:

Article 206 Signaling Circuits

Article 300 General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials

Article 335 Instrumentation Tray Cable

Article 590 Temporary Installations

Chapter 7 Large sections of limited energy cabling for signaling and information technology

Chapter 9 Conductor Properties Tables 11A & B, Tables 12A&B

Public Input on the 2029 Edition will be received until April 9, 2026.

2026 Code Panel 3 First Draft Transcript

2026 Code Panel 3 Second Draft Transcript

Since the lifespan of educational buildings make the building core and shell susceptible to multiple changes not typically associated with commercial buildings, additional pathways should be placed in areas where the core and shell components of the facility are likely to re-main for extended periods of time
It is recommended that all areas of an educational building have wireless coverage unless prohibited

Current Issues & Recent Research

“The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena,

it will make more progress in one decade

than in all the previous centuries of existence.”

— Nikola Tesla

MPSC Case U-21990 In the Matter of the Application of DTE Electric Company for Approval of Special Contracts

Restore NESC Cross-Reference to the Front End of the NEC

Electrical Power System Research

NFPA Electrical Standards Landing Page Ω NFPA Standards Council Ω NFPA Fire Safety Landing Page

ASHRAE Landing Page | ASTM Electrical & Electronics | IES Illumination

Draft IEEE Paper Abstracts | Mike Anthony Short Biography | Electrotechnology OEMS

IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee Recent Meeting Minutes

Michigan Stadium Scoreboard Tour | March 18

NEC & NESC Crosswalk

Ω

IEEE Southeastern Michigan Section Welcome August 2024

IEEE & SWE Student Tour of Michigan Stadium Scoreboard | April 2024

IEEE SEM Student Activity 2025

Trending

Electrical Power System Research

NFPA Electrical Standards Landing Page Ω NFPA Standards Council Ω NFPA Fire Safety Landing Page

ASHRAE Landing Page | ASTM Electrical & Electronics

Draft IEEE Paper Abstracts | Mike Anthony Short Biography | Electrotechnology OEMS

We examine the proposals for the 2028 National Electrical Safety Code; including our own. The 2026 National Electrical Code where sit on CMP-15 overseeing health care facility electrical issues should be released any day now. We have one proposal on the agenda of the International Code Council’s Group B Committee Action Hearings in Cleveland in October. Balloting on the next IEEE Gold Book on reliability should begin.

“Tomorrow’s Girls” | Donald Fagan

Policy:

OUTERNET: Crossing over data gap using cubesats

Department of Energy Portfolio Analysis & Management System

Department of Energy Building Technologies Office

FERC Open Meetings | (Note that these ~60 minute sessions meet Sunshine Act requirements. Our interest lies one or two levels deeper into the technicals underlying the administrivia)

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission	Federal Communication Commission	Michigan Public Service Commission

December 2025 Open Meeting	December 18 Open Meeting	December 5 Open Meeting
	August 7 Open Meeting
July 24 Open Meeting	July 25 Open Meeting
June 16 Open Meeting	January 22: Newly Appointed FCC Chairman Announces Staff Changes	June 12 Open Meeting
May 15 Open Meeting		May 15 Open Meeting
April 17 Open Meeting		April 24 Open Meeting
March 20 Open Meeting
February 20 FERC Open Meeting		March 3 Open Meeting
January 16 FERC Press Conference		February 27, 2025 Open Meeting

January 23: NARUC Congratulates New FERC, FCC and NRC Chairs

January 22: Newly Appointed FCC Chairman Announces Staff Changes | Related: Falsus in uno, Falsus in omnibus

January 6: City of Ann Arbor Postpones Phase II Study to Municipalize DTE Energy distribution grid

January 27, 10 AM Low-Income Energy Policy Board Meeting: Michigan Public Service commission

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: January 16, 2025 Open Meeting

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Notice of Request for Comments (Posted November 25, 2024)

Interregional Transfer Capability Study: Strengthening Reliability Through the Energy Transformation Docket No. AD25-4-000

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission | November 21, Open Meeting

Press Conference

Michigan Public Service Commission Meetings

Michigan Public Commission Meeting February 27, 2025

MPSC DTE CMS Electric Power Reliability Case No. U-21305

Michigan Electrical Administrative Board Meeting February 13, 2025

FCC Open Meeting | November 21

[Mike Anthony Opinion] on the gales of innuendo against limited federal government voices in federally financed National Public Radio

National Infrastructure Advisory Council: Addressing the Critical Shortage of Power Transformers to Ensure Reliability of the U.S. Grid

H.R. 9603 (September 16): To amend the Federal Power Act to prohibit the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from issuing permits for the construction or modification of electric transmission facilities in a State over the objection of the State, and for other purposes.

Technical: (Also Electrical Power System Research)

Empower Pre-Trained Large Language Models for Building-Level Load Forecasting

Uptime Institute (via NEXT DC) : AI Inference in the Data Center

Majorana Nanowires for Topological Quantum Computing

Linearized Data Center Workload and Cooling Management

Oxford Researchers Discovered How to Use AI To Learn Like A Genius

Lex Fridman: DeepSeek, China, OpenAI, NVIDIA, xAI, TSMC, Stargate, and AI Megaclusters

IEEE: Experts Weigh in on $500B Stargate Project for AI

IEEE: AI Mistakes Are Very Different Than Human Mistakes . We need new security systems designed to deal with their weirdness

High-Performance Tensor Learning Primitives Using GPU Tensor Cores

Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York

Causes and Consequences of Widespread Power Blackout Across Taiwan on 3 March 2022: A Blackout Incident Investigation in the Taiwan Power System

Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei City, Taiwan

First Draft Proposals contain most of our proposals — and most new (original) content. We will keep the transcripts linked below but will migrate them to a new page starting 2025:

Electrical Safety

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-1

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-2

Public Input Report CMP-3

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-4

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-5

Public Input Report CMP-6

Public Input Report CMP-7

Public Input Report CMP-8

Public Input Report CMP-9

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-10

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-11

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-12

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-13

Public Input Report CMP-14

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-15

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-16

Public Input Report CMP-17

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-18

N.B. We are in the process of migrating electric power system research to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers bibliographic format.

Recap of the May meetings of the Industrial & Commercial Power Systems Conference in Las Vegas. The conference ended the day before the beginning of the 3-day Memorial Day weekend in the United States so we’re pressed for time; given all that happened.

~~We can use our last meeting’s agenda to refresh the status of the issues.~~

~~IEEE E&H Draft Agenda 28 May 2024~~

~~On site conference agenda:~~

~~IEEE E&H Conference Agenda 21 May 2024~~

NESC & NEC Cross-Code Correlation

We typically break down our discussion into the topics listed below:

Codes & Standards:

While IAS/I&CPS has directed votes on the NEC; Mike is the only I&CPS member who is actually submitting proposals and responses to codes and standards developers to the more dominant SDO’s — International Code Council, ASHRAE International, UL, ASTM International, IEC & ISO. Mike maintains his offer to train the next generation of “code writers and vote getters”

Performance-based building premises feeder design has been proposed for the better part of ten NEC revision cycles. The objective of these proposals is to reduce material, labor and energy waste owed to the branch and feeder sizing rules that are prescriptive in Articles 210-235. Our work in service and lighting branch circuit design has been largely successful. A great deal of building interior power chain involves feeders — the network upstream from branch circuit panels but down stream from building service panel.

Our history of advocating for developing this approach, inspired by the NFPA 101 Guide to Alternative Approaches to Life Safety, and recounted in recent proposals for installing performance-based electrical feeder design into the International Building Code, appears in the link below:

Access to this draft paper for presentation at any conference that will receive it — NFPA, ICC or IEEE (or even ASHRAE) will be available for review at the link below:

Toward Performance-Based Building Premise Feeder Design

NFPA 110 Definitions of Public Utility v. Merchant Utility

NFPA 72 “Definition of Dormitory Suite” and related proposals

Buildings:

Renovation economics, Smart contracts in electrical construction. UMich leadership in aluminum wiring statements in the NEC should be used to reduce wiring costs.

Copper can’t be mined fast enough to electrify the United States

Daleep asked Mike to do a Case Study session on the NEC lighting power density change (NEC 220-14) for the IAS Annual Meeting in October. Mike agreed.

Exterior Campus & Distribution:

Illumination. Gary Fox reported that IEEE 3001.9 was endorsed as an ANSI accredited standard for illumination systems.

2024-ICPSD24-0012 PERMANENT DESIGN OF POWER SYSTEMS Parise

This paper details primary considerations in estimating the life cycle of a campus medium voltage distribution grid. Some colleges and universities are selling their entire power grid to private companies. Mike has been following these transactions but cannot do it alone.

Variable Architecture Multi-Island Microgrids

District energy:

Generator stator winding failures and implications upon insurance premiums. David Shipp and Sergio Panetta. Mike suggests more coverage of retro-fit and lapsed life cycle technicals for insurance companies setting premiums.

Reliability:

Bob Arno’s leadership in updating the Gold Book.

Mike will expand the sample set in Table 10-35, page 293 from the <75 data points in the 1975 survey to >1000 data points. Bob will set up meeting with Peyton at US Army Corps of Engineers.

Reliability of merchant utility distribution systems remains pretty much a local matter. The 2023 Edition of the NESC shows modest improvement in the vocabulary of reliability concepts. For the 2028 Edition Mike submitted several proposals to at least reference IEEE titles in the distribution reliability domain. It seems odd (at least to Mike) that the NESC committees do not even reference IEEE technical literature such as Bob’s Gold Book which has been active for decades. Mike will continue to propose changes in other standards catalogs — such as ASTM, ASHRAE and ICC — which may be more responsive to best practice assertions. Ultimately, improvements will require state public utility commission regulations — and we support increases in tariffs so that utilities can afford these improvements.

Mike needs help from IEEE Piscataway on standard WordPress theme limitations for the data collection platform.

Mike will update the campus power outage database.

Healthcare:

Giuseppe Parise’s recent work in Italian power grid to its hospitals, given its elevated earthquake risk. Mike’s review of Giuseppe’s paper:

Harvard Business School: Journal of Healthcare Management Standards

Mike and David Shipp will prepare a position paper for the Harvard Healthcare Management Journal on reliability advantages of impedance grounding for the larger systems.

The Internet of Bodies

Forensics:

Giuseppe’s session was noteworthy for illuminating the similarity and differences between the Italian and US legal system in handling electrotechnology issues.

Mike will restock the committee’s library of lawsuits transactions.

Ports:

Giuseppe updates on the energy and security issues of international ports. Mike limits his time in this committee even though the State of Michigan has the most fresh water international ports in the world.

A PROPOSED GUIDE FOR THE ENERGY PLAN AND ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF A PORT

Other:

Proposals to the 2028 National Electrical Safety Code: Accepted Best Practice, exterior switchgear guarding, scope expansion into ICC and ASHRAE catalog,

Apparently both the Dot Standards and the Color Books will continue parallel development. Only the Gold Book is being updated; led by Bob Arno. Mike admitted confusion but reminded everyone that any references to IEEE best practice literature in the NFPA catalog, was installed Mike himself (who would like some backup help)

Universities with Quantum Computing Facilities

Papers in Process:

Impedance Grounding Papers 1 and 2 with David Shipp. Previous Discussion:

https://ieeetv.ieee.org/channels/ieee-region-events/uc-berkeley-s-medium-voltage-grounding-system

Over Coffee and Beers:

Mike assured Christel Hunter (General Cable) that his proposals for reducing the 180 VA per-outlet requirements, and the performance-base design allowance for building interior feeders do not violate the results of the Neher-McGrath calculation used for conductor sizing. All insulation and conducting material thermal limits are unaffected.

Other informal discussions centered on the rising cost of copper wiring and the implications for the global electrotechnical transformation involving the build out of quantum computing and autonomous vehicles. Few expressed optimism that government ambitions for the same could be met in any practical way.

Are students avoiding use of Chat GPT for energy conservation reasons? Mike will be breaking out this topic for a dedicated standards inquiry session:

GPT Power Grid

Education & Healthcare Facility Electrotechnology Committee

Workspace IEEE 1366: Guide for Electric Power Distribution Reliability Indices

Largest U.S. Electric Utility Companies Ranked by Generation Capacity For IEEE 493 update we seek outage data from the 100 largest campus power system experts.

Landscape & Horticulture Services

Keiser University College of Golf & Sport Management

Federal regulations that apply to the landscaping of education communities are fairly stable; though land use issues tend to be capricious. Some federal regulations deal with fair trade in the purchase of landscaping materials; others deal with chemical safety; still others deal with personal protective equipment for works.

The federal government recognizes three major segments of this industry:

Landscape Design and Consultation

Landscape Installation and Maintenance

Tree Pruning and Arboriculture

For worker safety we consult the Occupational Safety and Health Administration home page:

Landscaping and Horticultural Services

From time to time we find Notices and Proposed Regulations — or notices of state-level adaptations of federal regulations — whistling across our radar. When they are meaningful and contribute to lower cost we will post the commenting opportunity.

The following voluntary American National Standards Institute (ANSI) titles may be applicable to the landscaping and horticultural units in education communities. Compliance with ANSI standards does not ensure compliance with OSHA policy, although the requirements of some ANSI standards have been adopted within OSHA standards. This list is provided for reference use only.

A10.14, Requirements for Safety belts, Harnesses, Lanyards, Lifelines, and Drop Lines for Constructional and Industrial Use
A14.1, Ladders – Portable Wood – Safety Requirements
A14.2, Ladders – Portable Metal – Safety Requirements
A14.5, Stepladders and Platform Ladders, Aluminum Magnesium, Fiberglass Ladders
A92.2, Vehicle-Mounted Elevating and Rotating Aerial Devices
A300, Tree Care Operations – Tree, Shrub and Other Woody Plant Maintenance – Standard Practices
B30.5, Mobile and Locomotive Truck Cranes
B71.1, Powered Lawn Mowers and Garden Tractors
B71.3, Snow Throwers
B71.4, Commercial Turf Type Equipment
B71.6, Shredders and Grinders
B71.8, Tillers
B175.1, Gasoline Powered Chain Saws, Safety Requirements
B175.2, Blowers
B175.3, Trimmers and Brushcutters
Z41, Protective Footgear Requirements
Z87.1, Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection Devices
Z89.1, Personnel Protection – Protective Headgear for Industrial Workers – Requirements
Z133.1, Arboricultural Operations Safety
Z308.1, Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits
Z359.1, Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems, and Components

"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory" - Dr. Seuss

"Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow" - Anita Desai

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart” ― Rainer Maria Rilke

ESNd_xJWkAU3afp harvard university student spring massachusetts 1921

Rice University texas tree student facebook timeline 1923 721

University of Pretoria facebook cover international africa trees their spring our winter 1921 721

University_of_Washington_Quad,_Spring_2007 1923 721

University of Kentucky october facebook cover tree student 1921 721

EPswDjXX4AE_ivt oklahoma university tree student best spring 1918

We maintain all related best practice literature on the standing agenda of our periodic Bucolia teleconferences during which time we sort through proposed regulations, organize a response to them. War stories always welcomed. Stories about successes even more welcomed. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting.

Workspace / OSHA

Fontaines

Water fountains enhance campus outdoor settings by creating serene, inviting spaces that promote relaxation and social interaction. Their gentle sounds of flowing water reduce stress, mask noise, and foster a calming atmosphere conducive to study or reflection.

Aesthetically, fountains serve as focal points, adding elegance and visual appeal to courtyards or green spaces. They attract students, faculty, and visitors, encouraging gatherings and community engagement. Environmentally, fountains can support local ecosystems by providing water for birds or plants.

Well-maintained, they symbolize a campus’s commitment to beauty and sustainability, enriching the outdoor experience and enhancing the overall campus ambiance.