For the entirety of March, and until April 9th, we focus on preparing response to proposed changes to the IEEE 2028 National Electrical Safety Code, and to prepare fresh new ideas for the 2029 NFPA National Electrical Code (where we have had tenure on technical committees since 1999 on behalf of the second largest building construction market in the United States).
Content normally scheduled for this time of year (which traditionally tracks the cultural calendar of educational settlements everywhere) will be accessible but our daily online meetings will start with work on those two standards. To join the “code-writing and vote-getting” use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
The National Electrical Safety Code is normally revised on a 5-year cycle to incorporate industry and technological changes while ensuring safety for utility workers and the public.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this schedule by delaying meetings, subcommittee reviews, public input processes, and collaboration due to lockdowns, remote work challenges, and resource strains.
As a result, the typical cycle extended to six years for the 2023 edition (from the 2017 edition), which was published in August 2022 and became effective February 1, 2023.
This adjustment allowed necessary time to complete revisions safely and thoroughly amid pandemic constraints.
The NFPA 99 Healthcare Facilities Code committee develops a distinct consensus document (i.e. “regulatory product”) that is distinct from National Electrical Code Article 517; though there are overlaps and gaps that are the natural consequence of changing technology and regulations. It is worthwhile reviewing the scope of each committee:
NFPA 99 Scope: This Committee shall have primary responsibility for documents that contain criteria for safeguarding patients and health care personnel in the delivery of health care services within health care facilities: a) from fire, explosion, electrical, and related hazards resulting either from the use of anesthetic agents, medical gas equipment, electrical apparatus, and high frequency electricity, or from internal or external incidents that disrupt normal patient care; b) from fire and explosion hazards; c) in connection with the use of hyperbaric and hypobaric facilities for medical purposes; d) through performance, maintenance and testing criteria for electrical systems, both normal and essential; and e) through performance, maintenance and testing, and installation criteria: (1) for vacuum systems for medical or surgical purposes, and (2) for medical gas systems; and f) through performance, maintenance and testing of plumbing, heating, cooling , and ventilating in health care facilities.
NFPA 70 Article 517 Scope: The provisions of this article shall apply to electrical construction and installation criteria in healthcare facilities that provide services to human beings. The requirements in Parts II and III not only apply to single-function buildings but are also intended to be individually applied to their respective forms of occupancy within a multi-function building (e.g. a doctor’s examining room located within a limited care facility would be required to meet the provisions of 517.10) Informational Note: For information concerning performance, maintenance, and testing criteria, refer to the appropriate health care facilities documents.
In short, NFPA 70 Article 517 is intended to focus only on electrical safety issues though electrotechnology complexity and integration in healthcare settings (security, telecommunications, wireless medical devices, fire safety, environmental air control, etc.) usually results in conceptual overlap with other regulatory products such as NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) and the International Building Code.
Several issues were recently debated by the Article 517 technical committee during the 2023 National Electrical Code Second Draft meetings
The conditions under which reconditioned electrical equipment be installed in healthcare settings; contingent on listing and re-certification specifics.
Relaxation of the design rules for feeder and branch circuit sizing through the application of demand factors.
Application of ground fault circuit interrupters.
“Rightsizing” feeder and branch circuit power chains (Demand factors in Section 517.22)
Patient care space categories
Independence of power sources (517.30)
There are, of course, many others, not the least of which involves emergency management. For over 20 years our concern has been for the interdependency of water and electrical power supply to university hospitals given that many of them are part of district energy systems.
We need to “touch” this code at least once a month because of its interdependence on other consensus products by other standards developing organizations. To do this we refer NFPA 99 standards action to the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee which meets online four times monthly in European and American time zones.
The transcript of NEC Article 517 Public Input for the 2023 revision of NFPA 70 is linked below. (You may have to register your interest by setting up a free-access account):
We break down NFPA 70 and NFPA 99 together and keep them on the standing agenda of both our Power and Health colloquia; open to everyone. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting.
Issues: [12-18, [15-97] and [16-101]
Contact: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Robert Arno, Josh Elvove, Joe DeRosier, Larry Spielvogel
First week of classes and it’s good to see our common room blackboards covered in math again! Welcome home to all our mathematicians! #harvardmathpic.twitter.com/Jm7OauGA6r
— Harvard Department of Mathematics (@HarvardMath) September 3, 2025
The central element in any educational space is the writing board; sometimes a “blackboard”, “chalkboard” or a “dry-erase board” — all used for teaching. During today’s session we survey the product and the installation standards with special attention to optics, illumination, mounting heights and distances.
EN 14434: Writing boards for educational institutions.The primary European standard specifically for school whiteboards and chalkboards. Covers safety requirements (no sharp edges, stable frames, non-toxic surfaces), magnetic performance, writability/erasure, durability, fire resistance, and hygiene (easy-to-clean surfaces).
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ASTM F2957-13 (2021): Standard Specification for Whiteboards.American standard for dry-erase whiteboards. Defines requirements for surface gloss, erasability, stain resistance, scratch resistance, and color fastness.
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Some state level procurement and installation standards — Kansas and Connecticut, for example — are de facto standards for visibility, accessibility and mounting hardware.
Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
School stuff from reindeers to guest readers. We’re having a blast in 2nd grade! 🫶🏼 pic.twitter.com/TnRaWXHRC0
Our tenure in the 2026 National Electrical Code will result in at least a 10 percent reduction in the cost of building premise wiring — (mostly in the feeder power chain) — in healthcare facilities; based on the results of last month’s meeting of Code Making Panel 15.
Assuming electrical power infrastructure is 15 percent of in a $920 million facility like this (excluding interior moveable fixtures), that would have meant an approximate $14 million reduction in cost. That cost savings cannot be realized because it was designed to an earlier version of the National Electrical Code.
University of Michigan – Bell Telephone Laboratories – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract. A method is developed for representing any communication system geometrically. Messages and the corresponding signals are points in two “function spaces,” and the modulation process is a mapping of one space into the other. Using this representation, a number of results in communication theory are deduced concerning expansion and compression of bandwidth and the threshold effect. Formulas are found for the maximum rate of transmission of binary digits over a system when the signal is perturbed by various types of noise. Some of the properties of “ideal” systems which transmit at this maxmum rate are discussed. The equivalent number of binary digits per second for certain information sources is calculated.
Claude Shannon (30 April 1916 in Petoskey, Michigan, USA – 24 Feb 2001 in Medford, Massachusetts, USA) founded the subject of information theory and he proposed a linear schematic model of a communications system. His Master's thesis was on A Symbolic Analysis of Relay and… pic.twitter.com/d8q8og02oA
It’s actually good to see college kids on Spring Break drinking & socializing instead of playing video games alone in their room on a macrodose edible.
See the clip that caused your grandma to email me & call me a “disgusting person” here: pic.twitter.com/E00Xqx06Wy
“The Dressmaking Factory” 1914 | Charles Ginnar @Tate
Building inspection authority refers to the governmental power granted to building officials and inspectors to enforce building codes, conduct site visits, review plans, issue permits, and ensure construction complies with safety, structural, zoning, and environmental standards.
Its significance lies primarily in protecting public safety by identifying hazards, preventing structural failures, fire risks, and health threats from substandard work. This authority mandates minimum quality levels, reducing risks of collapses, injuries, or fatalities—lessons reinforced by historical disasters.
It promotes accountability among designers, builders, and owners, ensuring durability, energy efficiency, and accessibility while supporting sustainable urban development. By halting non-compliant projects or requiring fixes, inspectors safeguard communities, preserve property values, and minimize long-term costs from repairs or liabilities.
Ultimately, this regulatory framework upholds trust in the built environment, balancing innovation with life-protecting oversight for residents, workers, and the public.
Here are the primary **ANSI-accredited standards developers that develop and publish model building codes, related consensus standards for construction safety, inspection, structural integrity, energy efficiency, plumbing, fire safety, and similar areas incorporated into or referenced into public law:
– **International Code Council (ICC)** — Develops the International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), International Fire Code (IFC), and other model codes widely adopted for building inspection and enforcement, plus ANSI-approved standards.
Link: https://www.iccsafe.org
– **National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)** — Publishes NFPA 1 (Fire Code), NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), NFPA 5000 (Building Construction and Safety Code), and numerous fire safety/inspection standards referenced in building codes.
Link: https://www.nfpa.org
– **International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO)** — Develops the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC), key for plumbing/mechanical inspections.
Link: https://www.iapmo.org
– **ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)** — Develops ANSI/ASHRAE standards like 90.1 (Energy Standard for Buildings) and others for HVAC, energy, and indoor air quality, often referenced in codes.
Link: https://www.ashrae.org
– **ASTM International** — Produces thousands of material, testing, and performance standards (e.g., for construction materials and inspection methods) referenced in building codes.
Link: https://www.astm.org
– **American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)** — Develops ASCE 7 (Minimum Design Loads), ASCE 24 (Flood Resistant Design), and structural/inspection-related standards.
Link: https://www.asce.org
Building inspection authority, while essential for safety, can be abused through corruption, such as inspectors accepting bribes to approve substandard work, overlook violations, expedite permits, or ignore stop-work orders. Examples include cases in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Honolulu, where inspectors took cash, gifts, or favors to falsify approvals or fast-track processes, enabling unsafe or non-compliant construction.This abuse distorts fair competition, favors corrupt developers or connected parties, and erodes public trust in regulatory systems.
More critically, it limits economic development by inflating costs (e.g., bribes add 10-30% to projects), causing delays from bureaucratic extortion or backlogs exploited for payoffs, deterring legitimate investment, and misallocating resources toward sub-optimal or risky builds.Corruption in permitting and inspections discourages foreign and domestic developers, slows urban growth, reduces infrastructure quality, and hampers long-term competitiveness. In booming markets, it exacerbates inefficiencies, diverts funds from productive uses, and ultimately stifles job creation and sustainable expansion.
Meet Cameron, a Buildings & Inspections Academy grad & a Building Inspector for the City of Cincinnati. He is proud of the work he does to make sure buildings are up to code & ensure housing is safe and sanitary.
Today we get down in the weeds to examine the point of common coupling between a building and a telecommunication service provider. In many cases the TSP is the university itself.
TIA-758-C (2021) Customer-Owned Outside Plant Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard. Covers direct-buried cable, conduit systems, duct banks, handholes, manholes, burial depths, warning tape, backfill, and route planning.→ Includes minimum bend radii, pulling tensions, separation from power, and environmental protection.Applies to copper, coaxial, and optical fiber in underground pathways.
TIA-590-B (2015) Standard for Physical Location and Protection of Below-Ground Fiber Optic Cable Plant. Focuses on fiber optic underground protection.→ Specifies burial depths, marker tape, locator wires, armored vs. non-armored cable, and risk mitigation (e.g., flood zones).
Higher education settlements often require a more diverse approach to designing and implementing ICT systems than that of a typical commercial building. First of all, educational settlements are frequently one building. That means not only does the ICT infrastructure need to meet the varying demands of a specific building, but multiple buildings must all be integrated into one cohesive design.
In an environment of providing multifunctional spaces within one building, it is common to find a combination of commercial, industrial, data center, health care and entertainment environments within just a few buildings; hence our preference for the word “settlements” over the more widely used word “campus”.
ANSI/TIA-568-C series: Telecommunications Cabling Standards. Specifies the requirements for various aspects of structured cabling systems, including cabling components, installation, and testing.
TIA-569-B: Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces. Provides guidelines for the design and installation of pathways and spaces for telecommunications cabling.
TIA-606-B: Administration Standard for Commercial Telecommunications Infrastructure. Specifies administration practices for the telecommunications infrastructure of commercial buildings.
Our inquiry cuts across the catalogs of several other standards developers:
NEC (National Electrical Code). NEC Article 800 specifically addresses the installation of communications circuits and equipment.
ISO/IEC 11801: Information technology — Generic cabling for customer premises. Defines generic telecommunications cabling systems (structured cabling) used for various services, including voice and data.
IEEE 802.3: Ethernet Standards. Defines standards for Ethernet networks, which are commonly used for data communication in buildings.
UL 497: Protectors for Paired Conductor Communications Circuits. Addresses requirements for protectors used to safeguard communications circuits from overvoltage events.
GR-1089-CORE: Electromagnetic Compatibility and Electrical Safety. Published by Telcordia (now part of Ericsson), this standard provides requirements for the electromagnetic compatibility and electrical safety of telecommunications equipment.
FCC Part 68: Connection of Terminal Equipment to the Telephone Network. Outlines the technical requirements for connecting terminal equipment to the public switched telephone network in the United States.
Local building codes and regulations also include requirements for the installation of telecommunication service equipment.
TIA recently collaborated with @CanEmbUSA to host a thought-provoking discussion on Building Trusted Global Networks Together. We left the event feeling confident that through collaboration and innovation, we can unlock the full potential of the connected world! pic.twitter.com/Bei2FeW38X
All school districts, colleges, universities and university-affiliated health care systems have significant product, system, firmware and labor resources allocated toward ICT. Risk management departments are attentive to cybersecurity issues. All school districts, colleges, universities and university-affiliated health care systems have significant product, system, firmware and labor resources allocated toward ICT.
The Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI) is a professional association supporting the advancement of the ICT community. This community is roughly divided between experts who deal with “outside-plant” systems and “building premise” systems on either side of the ICT demarcation point. BICSI standards cover the wired and wireless spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety & security, project management and audio & video technologies. Its work is divided among several committees:
BICSI has released for public review a new consensus document that supports education industry ICT enterprises: BICSI N1 – Installation Practices for Telecommunications and ICT Cabling and Related Cabling Infrastructure. You may obtain a free electronic copy from: standards@bicsi.org; Jeff Silveira, (813) 903-4712, jsilveira@bicsi.org.
Comments are due November 19th.
You may send comments directly to Jeff (with copy to psa@ansi.org). This commenting opportunity will be referred to IEEE SCC-18 and the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee which meets 4 times monthly in American and European time zones and will meet today. CLICK HERE for login information.
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwBpic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
