National Electrical Code Guidelines

The NEC is a safe wiring standard written by the National Fire Protection Association.

The National Electrical Code is the U.S. standard for electrical wiring and electrical equipment. The codes are written by the National Fire Protection Association, and while they are not mandated under U.S. law, they are commonly adopted as state laws.

NFPA

The National Fire Protection Association was established in 1896 to help reduce the burden of fire and other hazards. According to the organization's website, it "develops, publishes and disseminates more than 300 consensus codes and standards" with the goal of reducing fire and related hazards. The organization has more than 75,000 individual members worldwide, as of 2011.

Creating Codes

The NFPA's codes are based on consensus and are constantly under review and subject to revision. Suggestions for changes or updates to the code are made by a number of specialty committees with a total membership of more than 7,000 professionals with a wide range of backgrounds and areas of expertise.

Obtaining the Code

Copies of the NEC code are available to anyone who wants them. They are available through the organization's website for $85 as of 2011; bookstores that sell electrical or construction books will likely also carry them. The NFPA website also offers other NFPA publications as well as educational and training material.

References

• Nfpa.org: About NFPA
• Nfpa.org: Code Development Process
• Nfpa.org: How Codes and Standards are Developed

Resources

• Nfpa.org: NFPA Catalogue
• Nema.org: Adoption of the National Electrical Code