Page@NFPA Archives - Page 5 of 13

oklahoma state cows food student farm sunday saturday

cows animals michigan state food student 1921

AnimalScienceImpact berry college student animal farm EDU 1919

Facilities-Impact berry college georgia students animal agri 1921 sunday

University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment farm student animal 1921

Warsaw University of Life Sciences students horse farm poland 1926

Many land grant colleges and universities are stewards of agricultural facilities that require reliable electrical power that is safe and sustainable for livestock and animal habitat for sporting.

FREE ACCESS: 2023 National Electrical Code

The premise wiring rules for hazardous university owned buildings have been relatively stable. Electrical professionals are guided by:

Farm Load Calculations of Part V of Article 220,
Corrosion mitigation with appropriate specification of power chain wiring
Stray voltage and the equipotential plane
Interactivity with regulated utility power sources.

Public response to the First Draft of the 2026 National Electrical Code will be received until August 28, 2024. We coordinate our approach to the entire NFPA electrical suite with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee which meets 4 times monthly. We typically refer to previous transcripts of technical committee actions to inform any changes (improvements) that we propose, if any.

2026 National Electrical Code Workspace

We maintain this issue on the standing agenda of our Power and Nourriture (Food) colloquia. Feel free to join us with the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

More:

2028 National Electrical Safety Code

Stray Voltage: Sources and Solutions

University of Nebraska: G87-845 Electrical Systems for Agricultural Buildings (Recommended Practices)

Cornell University Agricultural Safety and Health Program

Mike Holt

Fred Hartwell

National Safety Council (22 deaths by electrocution on farms per 100,000 in 2017)

National Agricultural Safety Database

Pool, Fountain, Agriculture & Water Infrastructure Electrical Safety

2026 National Electrical Code Workspace

“The Bathing Pool” / Hubert Robert (French, 1733–1808) / Gift of J.P. Morgan

Education communities have significant assets tied up in swimming pools, immersion pools, fountains, hydro-therapy installations (in hospitals and athletic training facilities) and flood control facilities (in congested, non-permeable parts of urban campuses) we have been keeping an eye on leading practice discovery for these installations in the 2020 National Electrical Code.

With electrical safety — i.e. shock protection — as the focus of this post*, the relevant parts of the 2020 NEC reside in Articles 680 and 682 are described below:

Article 680 applies to the construction and installation of electrical wiring for, and equipment in or adjacent all swimming, wading, therapeutic and decorative pools, fountains, hot tubs, spas and hydromassage bathtubs, whether permanently installed or storable, and to metallic auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, filters, and similar equipment. The term body of water used throughout Part I applies to all bodies of water covered in this scope unless otherwise amended.

Article 682 applies to the installation of electrical wiring for, and the equipment in and adjacent to, natural or artificially made bodies of water not covered by other articles in the NEC, such as, but not limited to aeration ponds, fish farm ponds, storm retention basins, treatment ponds and irrigation (channel facilities. Water depths may vary seasonally or be controlled.

When the 2020 NEC is released there will be hundreds (more like thousands) of experts who make their living on each NEC revision fanning out across the globe able and ready to interpret, advise and train. We are not primarily a code training enterprise but we do get down into the weeds of electrical safety technical discussion where leading practice discovery discussion is recorded:

~~2020 NEC Article 680-682 Public Input | Pages 240 – 501~~

~~2020 NEC Articles 680-682 First Draft Report | Page 59 – 152~~

~~2020 NEC Articles 680-682 Public Comment Report~~

~~2020 NEC Articles 680-682 Second Draft Final Ballot~~

Transcripts superseded. We refer to the 2026 Workspace linked at the top of this page.

We find interest in corrosion control, water bottle fill stations, water heating technologies, LED illumination as well as the usual editorial, correlation and concepts movement between articles. From these transcripts it should also be plain that grounding and bonding practice, GFCI protection, luminaire location and wiring, corrosion management continue to be of primary interest in electrical safety assurance. Related safety concepts appear in NFPA 70B and NFPA 70E. Anything having to do with water; or the areas around water, are regions of elevated risk.

alamance-building-2560x800 elon university fountain north carolina summer water needs attribution 1917 719

Berry-College-Cascade-Nozzles-Waterfalls-1 roman fountains needs attribution 1921 719

USC International Accelerator Program carolina swimming pool facebook 1921 721

Legacy_Fountain_of_Florida_State_University wiki 1921 719

Tanner_Fountain_Harvard_University_-_IMG_9014-1-1921-721

Hamamatsu Technical High School pool international 1919 719

UA - Universitat d'Alacant Universidad de Alicante spain international fountain facebook cover 1920 721

We are happy to discuss electrical safety standards any day at 11 AM Eastern time and host a monthly breakout teleconference dedicated to Electrical Power Safety in education facilities. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting. We also collaborate closely with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee which meets online four times monthly in European and American time zones.

Issue: [16-102]

Category: Electrical, Risk Management, Water,

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Kane Howard

*We leave the technical specifics of footcandle distribution to another, future post.

LEARN MORE:

2017 NEC changes for electrical safety in swimming pools

2020 NEC Changes (All Articles)

Campus Bulk Electrical Distribution

College and university campuses distribute electric energy in tranches of 10 to 250 megawatts; typically at voltages above 1000 VAC and are generally regarded as load-side services (or regulated utility customers). Two fairly stable sections of the National Electrical Code set the standard of care for these systems — Part III of Article 110 and Article 495.

We will examine them during today’s High Voltage Electric Service colloquium.

FREE ACCESS: 2023 National Electrical Code

We collaborate closely with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee which meets online 4 times per month in European and American time zones. Ahead of the August 2024 public comment deadline we will examine transcripts of technical action on this topic:

2026 National Electrical Code Workspace

Reconditioned Electrical Equipment

We have been following an international conversation on the safe and effective application of reconditioned electrical equipment (RCEE) for the better part of ten years now. Threads of the conversation originating in consensus documents developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission, the CSA Group, the National Association of Electrical Equipment and Medical Imaging Manufacturers (NEMA) and others. The safe and practical application of reconditioned electrical equipment — though not necessarily economical — is debated in detail in the National Electrical Code (NEC); a document in which we have advocated for the education facilities industry since 1993.

Not all electrical equipment is suitable for reconditioning but enough of it can such that specification of RCEE significantly lowers #TotalCostofOwnership for the $300 billion education facilities industry in the United States; the primary goal of Standards Michigan and its 50-state affiliates. According to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the following RCEE is suitable:

Industrial and commercial panel boards
Low and medium voltage power circuit breakers
Low and medium voltage replaceable link fuses
Low voltage switchgear
Manual and magnetic controllers
Medium voltage switchgear
Metallic conduit, tubing, raceways and fittings
Motor control centers
Motors
Switchboards
Uninterruptible Power Supply Equipment

The length of this list is a topic upon which good minds disagree; especially internationally. Whether or not the largest non-residential building construction market in the United States (with new construction running at a clip of $80 billion annually) takes advantage of developments in technology that help manufacturers effectively “re-cycle” the largest components of a building power chain is a discussion for another day. The IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee drills down into details of this nature and is now soliciting comment on the proposed actions of IEEE SCC-18; the IEEE committee which, by charter, is aligned with user-interests in the US standards system. As we explain in our ABOUT, the general public — and even many industry insiders — are not aware of the economic consequences to all industries when regulatory products are written only by incumbent interests.

Suffice to say that even if the US education facilities industry does not apply RCEE to reduce the cost of a new building (by about 1 percent) its competitors internationally will and are.

The 2020 NEC is nearing the completion of its revision cycle. A milestone was completed in early November when all of the 20-0dd technical committees in San Diego. Dozens of breakout task groups are forming to sort through public response to proposed changes to the 2017 NEC which will become the 2020 NEC this time next year. Proposals regarding RCEE landed on the agenda of nearly all 20-odd NEC technical committees. Standards Michigan has tenure in Code Making Panel 1, the committee with oversight about how all other technical committees determine the safe and practical application of RCEE.

Cutting to the chase then, linked below is the first of several transcripts that track CMP-1 debate:

NFPA 70 National Electrical Code Workspace

Admittedly, very technical stuff. Few will pay attention to these specifics until something bad happens (perhaps six years from now) so, to avoid something bad happening, we pay attention to it now. We always collaborate with IEEE JTC/PES/IAS and IEEE E&H Committee which meets online twice every month.

university of mississippi medical center aerial 1922 721

florida international university aerial 1921 721

Carnegie_Mellon_University_as_seen_from_the_Cathedral_of_Learning aerial 1921 721 featured aerial

university of maine aerial 1921 721 featured fall

loyola university chicago aerial 1921 721

Issue: [16-102]

Category: Electrical, #SmartCampus

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Robert G. Arno, Neal Dowling, James R. Harvey, Richard Robben

Readings / Evaluating Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment

Appliances

Most sanitation technologies are driven by electrical power — motors, pumps. heating and cooling elements, etc. The trajectory of product innovation, installation and maintenance practices are guided by electrical power capacity and availability.

Article 422 of the National Electrical Code covers safe wiring practices and is on the front end of new revision cycle. Comments on Public Input for the 2026 Revision will be received until 28 August 2024

2026 National Electrical Code Workspace

Las lavanderas (1883) (Museo Nacional de Cataluña) de Joaquín Vayreda (español, 1853-1903)

Landscape Lighting

Luminaires receive operating energy at voltage ranges from 120V to 600V AC. For safety and aesthetic reasons — in gardens or inside stairway balustrades or bollards, for example — low voltage lighting is preferred. The illumination of the pathway, for example, reduces risk to the community far more than the risk voltage presents. These installations typically operate at 12 to 50 volts direct current. Manufacturers bear much of the electrical safety burden; assuming the Owner installs and maintains the system correctly.

Faster than anyone will expect, interior building lighting will morph into low voltage systems because 1) the lower energy supply required by LED luminaires will make it possible to pipe that energy through low voltage cabling systems, 2) the pace of innovation we see in information and communication technologies will use those cabling systems for greater control of illumination systems.

We see these trends tracking in two sections of the 2020 National Electrical Code:

Article 300 Wiring Methods (Table 300.5)

Article 411 Low-Voltage Lighting

CLICK HERE for Free Access to the current 2023 Edition.

Comments on Public Input for the 2026 Revision will be received until 28 August 2024. Use workspace linked below:

2026 National Electrical Code Workspace

CMP-9 Article 300

CMP-9 Public Input with Committee Response

CMP-18 Article 411

CMP-18 Public Input with Committee Response

Apart from integrating a new definition of “extra low voltage” into the NEC, Article 411 is a relatively quiet part of the NEC. Not so with Article 300 which is of great consequence to wiring manufacturers, among others.

Transylvania University Kentucky

We coordinate our advocacy in all education community electrotechnologies with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee which meets online 4 times monthly in both European and American time zones. We maintain low voltage lighting on the standing agenda of our Power and Bucolia colloquia. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.

Issue: [NFPA Workspace]

Category: Power, Illumination, Bucolia

Colleages: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey (University of Michigan), Kane Howard, Glenn Keates (Michigan State University), George Zsissis (University of Toulouse)

Dynamic Exit Signs

Dynamic exit signs are a type of emergency exit signage that uses active illumination and changes in light to draw attention to the nearest exit in case of an emergency. Unlike traditional exit signs that use static or passive lighting to indicate exit locations, dynamic exit signs incorporate lighting systems that respond to specific environmental conditions or power outages, which can help to guide people to safety more efficiently.

There are several types of dynamic exit signs, including:

Photoluminescent exit signs: These signs absorb and store light energy from ambient sources, such as room lighting or sunlight, and then glow brightly in the dark when the power goes out.
LED exit signs: These signs use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to create animated or flashing signs that can better catch people’s attention.
Electroluminescent exit signs: These signs use electrically charged phosphors to produce a bright, uniform light source that can be more visible in low-light or smoke-filled environments.

Overall, dynamic exit signs are designed to enhance visibility and guide people to safety during an emergency, and they can be an important part of an overall emergency preparedness plan.

More

International Building Code: Chapter 10 Means of Egress

Life Safety Code: Chapter 7 Means of Egress

National Electrical Code: Article 700 Emergency Systems

Life Safety Code

Emergency and Standby Power Systems

Code for Fire Protection of Historic Structures

This content is accessible to paid subscribers. To view it please enter your password below or send mike@standardsmichigan.com a request for subscription details.

Facilities Life Safety Director Professional Qualifications

“Incendie à Rome 18 July 64 AD” 1785 Hubert Robert

Issue: [16-142]

Category: Public Safety, Human Resources

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Joe DeRosier, Josh Evolve, Marcelo Hirschler

Guide for Safe Confined Space Entry and Work

Plymouth State University | Grafton County New Hampshire

Guide for Safe Confined Space Entry and Work

This guide supplements existing confined space regulations, standards, and work practices by providing additional guidance for safe confined space entry and work. References are provided throughout the guide and annexes to direct the reader to other regulations and standards or other content that might be applicable.

This guide provides the following:

Information to identify, evaluate, assess, and then eliminate, mitigate, or control hazards that are present or that may occur during entry into or work in and around confined spaces.

Information on how to understand confined space safety and safeguard personnel from fire, explosion, and other health hazards that are uniquely associated with confined spaces.

Information regarding training, qualifications, and competencies required for personnel responsible for confined space hazard identification, hazard evaluation, and hazard control for personnel who work in and around confined spaces.

Information on confined space rescue best practices.

Information concerning confined space hazards and safety practices that are applicable to all types of confined spaces.

Information regarding hazards adjacent to confined spaces that might affect the safe conditions necessary for entry and work in a confined space.

This guide provides criteria for eliminating, mitigating, or controlling hazards in the confined space design phase.

Category Archives: @NFPA

Farm Electrical Power

Pool, Fountain, Agriculture & Water Infrastructure Electrical Safety

Campus Bulk Electrical Distribution

Reconditioned Electrical Equipment

Appliances

Landscape Lighting

Dynamic Exit Signs

Code for Fire Protection of Historic Structures

Facilities Life Safety Director Professional Qualifications

Guide for Safe Confined Space Entry and Work

DIRECTIONS