Article 90

Introduction

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90.1 Purpose
Summary of Changes (A) Practical Safeguarding The purpose of this Code is
• 90.2(B): Added FPN providing information on utilities the practical safeguarding of persons and property from haz-
• 90.2(C): Added paragraph describing bracketed ards arising from the use of electricity.
references.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) is prepared by the
National Electrical Code Committee, which consists of a
Technical Correlating Committee and 19 code-making pan-
Contents els. The code-making panels have specific subject responsi-
90.1 Purpose bility within the Code. The scope of the National Electrical
(A) Practical Safeguarding Code Committee is as follows:
(B) Adequacy This committee shall have primary responsibility for
(C) Intention
documents on minimizing the risk of electricity as a
(D) Relation to Other International Standards
source of electric shock and as a potential ignition
90.2 Scope
source of fires and explosions. It shall also be responsi-
(A) Covered
ble for text to minimize the propagation of fire and
(B) Not Covered explosions due to electrical installations.
(C) Special Permission
90.3 Code Arrangement In addition to its overall responsibility for the National
90.4 Enforcement
Electrical Code, the Technical Correlating Committee is
90.5 Mandatory Rules, Permissive Rules, and Explanatory responsible for NFPA 70A, National Electrical Code Re-
Material quirements for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, and for
(A) Mandatory Rules correlation of the following:
(B) Permissive Rules
(C) Explanatory Material 1. NFPA 70B, Recommended Practice for Electrical
90.6 Formal Interpretations Equipment Maintenance
90.7 Examination of Equipment for Safety 2. NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Work-
90.8 Wiring Planning place
(A) Future Expansion and Convenience 3. NFPA 73, Electrical Inspection Code for Existing
(B) Number of Circuits in Enclosures Dwellings
90.9 Units of Measurement 4. NFPA 79, Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery
(A) Measurement System of Preference 5. NFPA 110, Standard for Emergency and Standby Power
(B) Dual System of Units Systems
(C) Permitted Uses of Soft Conversion 6. NFPA 111, Standard on Stored Electrical Energy Emer-
(D) Compliance gency and Standby Power Systems

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 90.2 Article 90 — Introduction
(B) Adequacy This Code contains provisions that are con-
sidered necessary for safety. Compliance therewith and
proper maintenance results in an installation that is essen-
tially free from hazard but not necessarily efficient, conve-
nient, or adequate for good service or future expansion of
electrical use.
FPN: Hazards often occur because of overloading of
wiring systems by methods or usage not in conformity
with this Code. This occurs because initial wiring did
not provide for increases in the use of electricity. An
initial adequate installation and reasonable provisions for
system changes provide for future increases in the use
of electricity.
Consideration should always be given to future expansion
of the electrical system. Future expansion might be unlikely
in some occupancies, but for others it is wise to plan an
initial installation comprised of service-entrance conductors
and equipment, feeder conductors, and panelboards that
allows for future additions, alterations, designs, and so on.
(C) Intention This Code is not intended as a design specifi-
cation or an instruction manual for untrained persons.
The NEC is intended for use by capable engineers and electri-
cal contractors in the design and/or installation of electrical
equipment; by inspection authorities exercising legal juris-
diction over electrical installations; by property insurance
inspectors; by qualified industrial, commercial, and residen-
tial electricians; and by instructors of electrical apprentices
or students.
(D) Relation to Other International Standards The re-
quirements in this Code address the fundamental principles
of protection for safety contained in Section 131 of Interna-
tional Electrotechnical Commission Standard 60364-1, Elec-
trical Installations of Buildings.
FPN: IEC 60364-1, Section 131, contains fundamental
principles of protection for safety that encompass protec-
tion against electric shock, protection against thermal
effects, protection against overcurrent, protection against
fault currents, and protection against overvoltage. All of
these potential hazards are addressed by the requirements
in this Code.
In addition to being the most widely adopted code for the
built environment in the United States, the NEC is also
adopted and used extensively in many foreign countries.
Section 90.1(D) makes it clear that the NEC is compatible
with international safety principles. Added as a Tentative
Interim Amendment (TIA) to the 1999 Code, this section
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calls attention to the fact that installations meeting the re-
quirements of the NEC are also in compliance with the
fundamental principles outlined in IEC 60364-1, Electrical
Installations of Buildings, Section 131. That TIA allowed
countries that do not have formalized rules for electrical
installations to adopt the NEC and by so doing to be fully
compatible with the safety principles of IEC 60364-1, Sec-
tion 131. The addition of 90.1(D) will promote acceptance
and adoption of the NEC internationally.
The NEC is an essential part of the safety system of
the Americas, and its future will be enhanced by increased
international acceptance.
90.2 Scope
(A) Covered This Code covers the installation of electrical
conductors, equipment, and raceways; signaling and com-
munications conductors, equipment, and raceways; and opti-
cal fiber cables and raceways for the following:
(1) Public and private premises, including buildings, struc-
tures, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and floating
buildings
(2) Yards, lots, parking lots, carnivals, and industrial substa-
tions
FPN to (2): For additional information concerning such
installations in an industrial or multibuilding complex,
see ANSI C2-2002, National Electrical Safety Code.
Requirements for locations such as these are found through-
out the Code. Specific items such as outside feeders and
branch circuits can be found in Article 225, grounding in
Article 250, surge arresters in Article 280, switches in Article
404, outside lighting in Article 410, transformers in Article
450, and carnivals in Article 525.
(3) Installations of conductors and equipment that connect
to the supply of electricity
Often, but not always, the source of supply of electricity is
the serving electric utility. The point of connection from a
premises wiring system to a serving electric utility system
is, by definition, referred to as the service point. The conduc-
tors on the premises side of the service point are, by defini-
tion, referred to as service conductors. (These definitions
are found in Article 100.) The requirements for service con-
ductors as well as for service-related equipment are found
in Article 230. Article 230 applies only where the source of
supply of electricity is from a utility.
Where the source of supply of electricity is not the
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serving electric utility, the source may be a generator, a
battery system, a solar photovoltaic system, a fuel cell, or
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 Article 90 — Introduction 90.2

a combination of those sources. Requirements for such

sources of supply are found in Article 445 and Articles 700
through 702 for generators, Article 480 for storage batteries,
Article 690 for solar photovoltaic systems, and Article 692
for fuel cells. The associated delivery wiring requirements
are found in Chapters 2 and 3 (except Article 230) and in
Articles 700 through 702 for emergency, legally required,
and optional standby power system circuits.

Substation
(4) Installations used by the electric utility, such as office
buildings, warehouses, garages, machine shops, and rec- Generation control
and transmission Distribution
reational buildings, that are not an integral part of a and metering
generating plant, substation, or control center.
NEC does not apply.
Section 90.2(A), which was rewritten for the 2002 Code,
provides order and clarity concerning the portions of electric Garage
utility facilities covered by the NEC. [See 90.2(B) and the
related commentary for information on facilities and specific Office
building
lighting not covered by the NEC.] Exhibit 90.1 illustrates
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the distinction between electric utility facilities to which the

NEC does and does not apply. Warehouse
Industrial and multibuilding complexes and campus-
style wiring often include substations and other installations
Gym
that employ construction and wiring similar to those of elec-
tric utility installations. Although such nonutility installa-
tions are within the scope of the NEC, the NEC requirements
may not always be all-inclusive, for example, in clearances
of conductors or in clearances from buildings or structures Machine
shop
for nominal voltages over 600 volts. In such cases, the user
can find additional information in the National Electrical NEC applies to these buildings.
Safety Code (NESC), published by the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers, Inc., P.O. Box 1331, 445 Hoes Exhibit 90.1 Typical electric utility complexes showing examples
Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331. of facilities covered and not covered by the provisions of the
NEC.

(B) Not Covered This Code does not cover the following:
(1) Installations in ships, watercraft other than floating
buildings, railway rolling stock, aircraft, or automotive
vehicles other than mobile homes and recreational
vehicles
FPN: Although the scope of this Code indicates that the
Code does not cover installations in ships, portions of
this Code are incorporated by reference into Title 46,
Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 110–113.
The NEC does not specifically cover shipboard wiring. Title
46 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 110–113, how-
ever, does contain many specific NEC-referenced require-
ments. These requirements, which originated in the NEC,
are enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard. Installation require-
ments for floating buildings are covered in the NEC and are
found in Article 553.
(2) Installations underground in mines and self-propelled
mobile surface mining machinery and its attendant elec-
trical trailing cable
(3) Installations of railways for generation, transformation,
transmission, or distribution of power used exclusively
for operation of rolling stock or installations used exclu-
sively for signaling and communications purposes
(4) Installations of communications equipment under the
exclusive control of communications utilities located
outdoors or in building spaces used exclusively for such
installations
(5) Installations under the exclusive control of an electric
utility where such installations

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 90.3 Article 90 — Introduction

a. Consist of service drops or service laterals, and asso-
ciated metering, or
b. Are located in legally established easements, rights-
of-way, or by other agreements either designated by
or recognized by public service commissions, utility
commissions, or other regulatory agencies having
jurisdiction for such installations, or
c. Are on property owned or leased by the electric
utility for the purpose of communications, metering,
generation, control, transformation, transmission, or
distribution of electric energy.
FPN to (4) and (5): Examples of utilities may include
those entities that are typically designated or recognized
by governmental law or regulation by public service/
utility commissions and that install, operate, and maintain
electric supply (such as generation, transmission, or dis-
tribution systems) or communication systems (such as
telephone, CATV, Internet, satellite, or data services).
Utilities may be subject to compliance with codes and
standards covering their regulated activities as adopted
under governmental law or regulation. Additional infor-
mation can be found through consultation with the appro-
priate governmental bodies, such as state regulatory
commissions, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
and Federal Communications Commission.
generally; Chapters 5, 6, and 7 apply to special occupancies,
special equipment, or other special conditions. These latter
chapters supplement or modify the general rules. Chapters
1 through 4 apply except as amended by Chapters 5, 6, and
7 for the particular conditions.
Chapter 8 covers communications systems and is not
subject to the requirements of Chapters 1 through 7 except
where the requirements are specifically referenced in Chap-
ter 8.
Chapter 9 consists of tables.
Annexes are not part of the requirements of this Code
but are included for informational purposes only.
The reference to ‘‘the introduction’’ is intended to include
Article 90 in the application of the Code. Chapters 1 through
4 apply generally, except as amended or specifically refer-
enced in Chapters 5, 6, and 7 (Articles 500 through 780).
For example, 300.22 (Chapter 3) is modified by 725.3(C)
and 760.3(B) and is specifically referenced in 800.133(D)
and 830.3(B). A graphic explanation of the NEC arrange-
ment, Figure 90.3, was added to the 2002 Code.

Chapter 1 — General
An FPN was added to the 2005 Code to clarify the use of
the word utility as used in 90.2(B)(4) and 90.2(B)(5). This Chapter 2 — Wiring and Protection Applies generally
explanatory information now provides the authority having to all electrical
Chapter 3 — Wiring Methods and Materials installations
jurisdiction a basis for judgment concerning this issue.
It is not the intent of 90.2(B)(5) to exclude the NEC as Chapter 4 — Equipment for General Use
an installation regulatory document. After all, the NEC is
fully capable of being utilized for electrical installations in
most cases, and 90.2(B)(5) does not pertain to areas where Chapter 5 — Special Occupancies
portions of the NEC could not be used. Rather, 90.2(B)(5) Supplements or modifies Chapter 6 — Special Equipment
Chapters 1 through 4
lists specific areas where the nature of the installation re-
quires specialized rules or where other installation rules, Chapter 7 — Special Conditions

standards, and guidelines have been developed for specific

uses and industries. For example, the electrical utility indus- Chapter 8 is not subject
to the requirements of
try uses the NESC as its primary requirement in the genera- Chapters 1 through 7 except
tion, transmission, distribution, and metering of electrical Chapter 8 — Communications Systems where the requirements are
specifically referenced in
energy. See Exhibit 90.1 for examples of electric utility Chapter 8.
facilities that may or may not be covered by the Code. Chapter 9 — Tables Applicable as referenced

Annex A through Annex G Informational only;

(C) Special Permission The authority having jurisdiction
for enforcing this Code may grant exception for the installa-
tion of conductors and equipment that are not under the
exclusive control of the electric utilities and are used to
connect the electric utility supply system to the service-
entrance conductors of the premises served, provided such
installations are outside a building or terminate immediately
inside a building wall.
90.3 Code Arrangement
This Code is divided into the introduction and nine chapters,
as shown in Figure 90.3. Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 apply
4 2005 National Electrical Code Handbook
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not mandatory
Figure 90.3 Code Arrangement.
90.4 Enforcement
This Code is intended to be suitable for mandatory applica-
tion by governmental bodies that exercise legal jurisdiction
over electrical installations, including signaling and commu-
nications systems, and for use by insurance inspectors. The
authority having jurisdiction for enforcement of the Code
has the responsibility for making interpretations of the rules,
for deciding on the approval of equipment and materials,

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 Article 90 — Introduction
and for granting the special permission contemplated in a
number of the rules.
Some localities do not adopt the NEC, but even in those
localities, installations that comply with the current Code
are prima facie evidence that the electrical installation is
safe.
Section 90.4 advises that all materials and equipment
used under the requirements of the Code are subject to the
approval of the authority having jurisdiction. The text of
90.7, 110.2, and 110.3, along with the definitions of the terms
approved, identified (as applied to equipment), labeled, and
listed, is intended to provide a basis for the authority having
jurisdiction to make the judgments that fall within that partic-
ular area of responsibility.
The phrase ‘‘including signaling and communication
systems’’ was added to the 2002 Code to emphasize that,
indeed, these systems are also subject to enforcement.
By special permission, the authority having jurisdiction
may waive specific requirements in this Code or permit
alternative methods where it is assured that equivalent objec-
tives can be achieved by establishing and maintaining effec-
tive safety.
It is the responsibility of the authority having jurisdiction
to interpret the specific rules of the Code. This paragraph
empowers the authority having jurisdiction, using special
permission (written consent), to permit alternative methods
where specific rules are not established in the Code. For
example, the authority having jurisdiction may waive spe-
cific requirements in industrial occupancies, research and
testing laboratories, and other occupancies where the specific
type of installation is not covered in the Code.
This Code may require new products, constructions, or
materials that may not yet be available at the time the Code
is adopted. In such event, the authority having jurisdiction
may permit the use of the products, constructions, or materi-
als that comply with the most recent previous edition of this
Code adopted by the jurisdiction.
This paragraph of 90.4 permits the authority having jurisdic-
tion to waive a new Code requirement during the interim
period between acceptance of a new edition of the NEC and
the availability of a new product, construction, or material
redesigned to comply with the increased safety required by
the latest edition. It is difficult to establish a viable future
effective date in each section of the NEC because the time
needed to change existing products and standards, as well
as to develop new materials and test methods, usually is not
known at the time the latest edition of the Code is adopted.
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90.5
90.5 Mandatory Rules, Permissive Rules, and
Explanatory Material
(A) Mandatory Rules Mandatory rules of this Code are
those that identify actions that are specifically required or
prohibited and are characterized by the use of the terms
shall or shall not.
Section 90.5, which was revised and reorganized for the
1999 Code, clarifies that two distinctive types of rules are
stated in the Code. Mandatory rules, characterized by the
terms shall and shall not, are covered in 90.5(A).
(B) Permissive Rules Permissive rules of this Code are
those that identify actions that are allowed but not required,
are normally used to describe options or alternative methods,
and are characterized by the use of the terms shall be permit-
ted or shall not be required.
Permissive rules are simply options or alternative methods
of achieving equivalent safety — they are not requirements.
A close reading of permissive terms is important, because
permissive rules are often misinterpreted. For example, the
frequently used permissive term shall be permitted can be
mistaken for a requirement. Substituting ‘‘the inspector must
allow [item A or method A]’’ for ‘‘[item A or method A]
shall be permitted’’ generally clarifies the interpretation.
(C) Explanatory Material Explanatory material, such as
references to other standards, references to related sections of
this Code, or information related to a Code rule, is included in
this Code in the form of fine print notes (FPNs). Fine print
notes are informational only and are not enforceable as re-
quirements of this Code.
Brackets containing section references to another NFPA
document are for informational purposes only and are pro-
vided as a guide to indicate the source of the extracted text.
These bracketed references immediately follow the extracted
text.
A number of requirements in the NEC have been extracted
from other NFPA codes and standards. Therefore, a second
paragraph was added for the 2005 Code to prevent any
misunderstanding about the purpose of bracketed references
to other NFPA codes and standards — they are provided
only to indicate the section of the NFPA document from
which the material in the NEC was extracted. Although
NEC requirements based on extracted material are under the
jurisdiction of the technical committee responsible for the
particular document in which the extracted material resides,
this revision to 90.5(C) makes it clear that the NEC require-
ments stand on their own and that extracted material
5
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 90.6 Article 90 — Introduction
with bracketed references does not indicate that other NFPA
documents are adopted through reference.
Fine print notes (FPNs) do not contain statements of
intent or recommendations. They present additional supple-
mentary material that aids in the application of the require-
ment. In addition to explanatory material being in fine print
(small type), the material is further identified in the Code
by the abbreviation FPN preceding the paragraph. Fine print
notes are not requirements of the NEC and are not enforce-
able.
Footnotes to tables, although also in fine print, are not
explanatory material unless they are identified by the abbre-
viation FPN. Table footnotes are part of the tables and are
necessary for proper use of the tables. For example, the
footnotes at the end of Table 310.13 are necessary for the
use of the table and therefore are mandatory and enforceable
Code text.
Additional explanatory material is also found in the
annexes at the back of this handbook. Annex A is a reference
list of product safety standards used for product listing where
that listing is required by the Code. Annex B provides guid-
ance on the use of the general formula for ampacity found
in 310.15(C). Annex C consists of wire fill tables for conduit
and tubing. Annex D contains example calculations. Annex
E presents various tables showing fire resistance ratings for
Types I-V construction to correlate with the uses of Type NM
cable, Annex F contains cross-reference tables for Chapter 3
realignment with the 2002 edition, and Annex G contains
model administration and enforcement legislation.
FPN: The format and language used in this Code follows
guidelines established by NFPA and published in the
NEC Style Manual. Copies of this manual can be obtained
from NFPA.
This fine print note informs the user that a style manual is
available for the NEC. A style manual is basically a ‘‘how-
to’’ pamphlet for editors. The NEC Style Manual contains
a list of rules and regulations used by the panels and editors
who prepare the NEC. The NEC Style Manual, which was
revised for the 2002 edition of the Code, is available from
NFPA.
90.6 Formal Interpretations
To promote uniformity of interpretation and application of
the provisions of this Code, formal interpretation procedures
have been established and are found in the NFPA Regulations
Governing Committee Projects.
The procedures for implementing Formal Interpretations of
the provisions of the NEC are outlined in the NFPA Regula-
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tions Governing Committee Projects. These regulations are
included in the NFPA Directory, which is published annually
and can be obtained from the Secretary of the NFPA Stan-
dards Council. The Formal Interpretations procedure can be
found in Section 6 of the Regulations.
The National Electrical Code Committee cannot be re-
sponsible for subsequent actions of authorities enforcing the
NEC that accept or reject its findings. The authority having
jurisdiction is responsible for interpreting Code rules and
should attempt to resolve all disagreements at the local level.
Two general forms of Formal Interpretations are recognized:
(1) those that are interpretations of the literal text and (2)
those that are interpretations of the intent of the Committee
at the time the particular text was issued.
Interpretations of the NEC not subject to processing are
those that involve (1) a determination of compliance of a
design, installation, product, or equivalency of protection;
(2) a review of plans or specifications or judgment or knowl-
edge that can be acquired only as a result of on-site inspec-
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tion; (3) text that clearly and decisively provides the
requested information; or (4) subjects not previously consid-
ered by the Technical Committee or not addressed in the
document. Formal Interpretations of Code rules are pub-
lished in several venues, including necdigest娃, the NFPA
Electrical Section News segment found in the NFPA Journal,
in NFPA News, and in the National Fire Codes subscription
service and are sent to interested trade publications.
Most interpretations of the NEC are rendered as the
personal opinions of NFPA electrical engineering staff or of
an involved member of the National Electrical Code Com-
mittee because the request for interpretation does not qualify
for processing as a Formal Interpretation in accordance with
NFPA Regulations Governing Committee Projects. Such
opinions are rendered in writing only in response to written
requests. The correspondence contains a disclaimer indicat-
ing that it is not a Formal Interpretation issued pursuant to
NFPA Regulations and that any opinion expressed is the
personal opinion of the author and does not necessarily
represent the official position of NFPA or the National Elec-
trical Code Committee.
90.7 Examination of Equipment for Safety
For specific items of equipment and materials referred to in
this Code, examinations for safety made under standard
conditions provide a basis for approval where the record is
made generally available through promulgation by organiza-
tions properly equipped and qualified for experimental test-
ing, inspections of the run of goods at factories, and service-
value determination through field inspections. This avoids
the necessity for repetition of examinations by different ex-
aminers, frequently with inadequate facilities for such work,
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 Article 90 — Introduction
and the confusion that would result from conflicting reports
on the suitability of devices and materials examined for a
given purpose.
It is the intent of this Code that factory-installed internal
wiring or the construction of equipment need not be in-
spected at the time of installation of the equipment, except
to detect alterations or damage, if the equipment has been
listed by a qualified electrical testing laboratory that is recog-
nized as having the facilities described in the preceding
paragraph and that requires suitability for installation in
accordance with this Code.
FPN No. 1: See requirements in 110.3.
FPN No. 2: Listed is defined in Article 100.
FPN No. 3: Annex A contains an informative list of
product safety standards for electrical equipment.
Testing laboratories, inspection agencies, and other organiza-
tions concerned with product evaluation publish lists of
equipment and materials that have been tested and meet
nationally recognized standards or that have been found
suitable for use in a specified manner. The Code does not
contain detailed information on equipment or materials but
refers to products as ‘‘listed,’’ ‘‘labeled,’’ or ‘‘identified.’’
See Article 100 for definitions of these terms.
NFPA does not approve, inspect, or certify any installa-
tions, procedures, equipment, or materials, nor does it ap-
prove or evaluate testing laboratories. In determining the
acceptability of installations or procedures, equipment, or
materials, the authority having jurisdiction may base accep-
tance on compliance with NFPA or other appropriate stan-
dards. In the absence of such standards, the authority may
require evidence of proper installation, procedures, or use.
The authority having jurisdiction may also refer to the listing
or labeling practices of an organization concerned with prod-
uct evaluations that is able to determine compliance with
appropriate standards for the current production of listed
items.
Annex A contains a list of product safety standards used
for product listing. The list includes only product safety
standards for which a listing is required by the Code. For
example, 344.6 requires that rigid metal conduit, Type RMC,
be listed. By using Annex A, the user finds that the listing
standard for rigid metal conduit is UL 6, Rigid Metal Con-
duit. Because associated conduit fittings are required to be
listed, UL 514B, Fittings for Cable and Conduit, is found
in Annex A also.
90.8 Wiring Planning
(A) Future Expansion and Convenience Plans and speci-
fications that provide ample space in raceways, spare race-
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90.9
ways, and additional spaces allow for future increases in
electric power and communication circuits. Distribution cen-
ters located in readily accessible locations provide conve-
nience and safety of operation.
The requirement for providing the exclusively dedicated
equipment space mandated by 110.26(F) supports the intent
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of 90.8(A) regarding future increases in the use of electricity.
The phrase ‘‘and communications circuits’’ was added for
the 2005 Code to point out the importance of considering
communications circuits when planning future needs. Elec-
trical and communications distribution centers should con-
tain additional space and capacity for future additions and
should be conveniently located for easy accessibility.
Where electrical and communications distribution
equipment is installed so that easy access cannot be achieved,
a spare raceway(s) or pull line(s) should be run at the initial
installation, as illustrated in Exhibit 90.2.
(B) Number of Circuits in Enclosures It is elsewhere
provided in this Code that the number of wires and circuits
confined in a single enclosure be varyingly restricted.
Limiting the number of circuits in a single enclosure
minimizes the effects from a short circuit or ground fault
in one circuit.
These limitations minimize the heating effects inherently
present wherever current-carrying conductors are grouped
together. See 408.35 for restrictions on the number of over-
current devices on one panelboard.
90.9 Units of Measurement
(A) Measurement System of Preference For the purpose
of this Code, metric units of measurement are in accordance
with the modernized metric system known as the Interna-
tional System of Units (SI).
According to a recent report titled ‘‘A Metric for Success’’
by the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST), most U.S. industries that do business abroad are
predominantly metric already because of global sourcing of
parts, service, components, and production. However, quite
a few domestic industries still use U.S. Customary units.
The NIST report warns that domestic industries that ignore
global realities and continue to design and manufacture with
nonmetric measures will find that they risk increasing their
costs. Nonmetric modular products (the building construc-
tion industry uses great quantities of modular parts) and those
that interface with outside industry products are especially
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 90.9 Article 90 — Introduction

Exhibit 90.2 A residential dis-

tribution system showing spare
raceways or pull lines that Spare raceways or pull lines
allow for future circuits and from electrical service panel
and communications center
loads for both electrical and to accessible attic space
communications systems.
--``,`,,,,,,,,,`,``,,``,,,`,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

Junction Raceway
boxes or pull
Unfinished Finished lines
utility area basement area
Service
panel

Communications
center

vulnerable to the added costs of adapting to a metric environ-
ment.
Metric standards are beginning to appear in the domestic
building construction industry because our national stan-
dards are being harmonized with international standards.
The National Electrical Code is an important building con-
struction standard and moves another step in the metric
direction.
(B) Dual System of Units SI units shall appear first, and
inch-pound units shall immediately follow in parentheses.
Conversion from inch-pound units to SI units shall be based
on hard conversion except as provided in 90.9(C).
Hard conversion is explained in FPN No. 1 following
90.9(D). Calculations to convert measurements from inch-
pound units to metric units must be made using hard conver-
sion. The hard-conversion method is mandatory except for
trade sizes [e.g., raceway sizes in Table 300.1(C)], extracted
material (e.g., class and zone measurements from other
NFPA documents), and safety calculations (e.g., minimum
distances taken from Table 110.31).
Example
Using the hard-conversion method, determine the equivalent
metric conversion for 24 in., generally the minimum cover
requirements for direct burial cables and conductors in non-
specific locations taken from row 1 of Table 300.5.
Solution
Step 1.
25.4 mm
24 in. ⳯ ⳱ 609.6 mm
1 in.
Step 2. Because the calculation is being performed as a hard
conversion, the 609.6 mm dimension may be changed, and
the selected equivalent cover requirement is 600 mm.
For the 2005 Code as well as the 2002 Code, the mea-
surements of 600 mm and 24 in. appear in Table 300.5 for
the minimum cover requirements for direct burial cables and
conductors in nonspecific locations. For the 1999 NEC, the
selected SI unit of measure was required to be 609.6 mm.

8 2005 National Electrical Code Handbook

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 Article 90 — Introduction
The 2005 Code (as well as the 2002 Code) permits much
more latitude for the final selected dimension, and so the
equivalent minimum cover requirement of 600 mm is a more
practical solution. Basically, a hard conversion permits a
change in a dimension or allows rounding up or down to
better fit the physical constraints of the installation.
(C) Permitted Uses of Soft Conversion The cases given
in 90.9(C)(1) through (C)(4) shall not be required to use hard
conversion and shall be permitted to use soft conversion.
(1) Trade Sizes Where the actual measured size of a prod-
uct is not the same as the nominal size, trade size designators
shall be used rather than dimensions. Trade practices shall
be followed in all cases.
Metric trade sizes (metric designators) of conduits were
added in the 1996 Code as fine print notes in each raceway
article. Since the 2002 Code, these metric designators appear
in the Code text, preceding the trade size equivalents, in the
raceway articles.
For example, in 350.20(A) of this Code, the size require-
ment is stated as follows: ‘‘LFMC smaller than metric desig-
nator 16 (trade size 1/2) shall not be used.’’ In 351-5(a) of
the 1999 NEC, the size requirement was stated as follows:
‘‘Liquidtight flexible metallic conduit smaller than 1/2-in.
electrical trade size shall not be used.’’
This change does not reflect a technical change but
rather provides acceptable language to both domestic and
international users of the NEC. For ease of use, in Table 4
of Chapter 9, metric designators are separate columns.
(2) Extracted Material Where material is extracted from
another standard, the context of the original material shall
not be compromised or violated. Any editing of the extracted
text shall be confined to making the style consistent with
that of the NEC.
(3) Industry Practice Where industry practice is to express
units in inch-pound units, the inclusion of SI units shall not
be required.
The following examples illustrate conversions from U.S.
Customary units to SI units. Example 1 shows the process
of converting a dimension from feet to meters, where safety
is a concern. Table 110.31 contains minimum permitted dis-
tances from a fence to a live part for voltages 601 and greater.
Example 1 calculates the equivalent metric conversion for
10 ft using the minimum distance of 10 ft in Table 110.31
where the measurement is from a fence to a live part from
601 volts to 13,799 volts.
National Electrical Code Handbook 2005
Copyright National Fire Protection Association
Provided by IHS under license with NFPA
90.9
Example 1
Determine the equivalent metric conversion for 10 ft where
the calculation could have a negative impact on safety, such
as the minimum distance of 10 ft given in Table 110.31,
and where the measurement is from a fence to a live part
from 601 volts to 13,799 volts.
Solution
Step 1. 0.3048 m
10 ft ⳯ ⳱ 3.048 m
1 ft
Step 2. Round up the calculation to 3.05 m, because a dis-
tance less than 3.048 could have a negative impact on safety.
The answer, 3.05 m, matches the minimum distance in Table
110.31 from a fence to a live part from 601 volts to 13,799
volts.
Because safety is a concern for this conversion calcula-
tion, the original Code distance (the U.S. Customary units
for this example) remains the shortest permitted distance.
The final metric equivalent ends up slightly larger. The exact
difference is of no practical concern, however, because 0.2
mm is less than 1/32 in. From a practical point of view, a
variance of 1/32 in. in a length of 10 ft is insignificant.
Example 2
Using the soft-conversion method, determine the equivalent
--``,`,,,,,,,,,`,``,,``,,,`,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
metric conversion for 30 in. where the calculation could
have a negative impact on safety, such as a 30 in. minimum
horizontal working space requirement in the rear of equip-
ment that requires access to nonelectrical parts according to
110.26(A)(1)(a).
Solution
Step 1. 25.4 mm
30 in. ⳯ ⳱ 762 mm
1 in.
Step 2. Do not round off the calculation, because even a
slight reduction in the original distance could have a negative
impact on safety. The answer is 762 mm, which matches
the minimum distance of 110.26(A)(1)(a) for a minimum
horizontal working space.
(4) Safety Where a negative impact on safety would result,
soft conversion shall be used.
(D) Compliance Conversion from inch-pound units to SI
units shall be permitted to be an approximate conversion.
Compliance with the numbers shown in either the SI system
or the inch-pound system shall constitute compliance with
this Code.
FPN No. 1: Hard conversion is considered a change in
dimensions or properties of an item into new sizes that
might or might not be interchangeable with the sizes
used in the original measurement. Soft conversion is
considered a direct mathematical conversion and involves
9
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 90.9 Article 90 — Introduction

a change in the description of an existing measurement Commentary Table 90.1 Conversions Using the Hard-
but not in the actual dimension. Conversion Method
FPN No. 2: SI conversions are based on IEEE/ASTM
SI 10-1997, Standard for the Use of the International
U.S. Soft Hard
System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System.
Customary Conversions, Conversions, Equivalent U. S.
Units SI Units SI Units Customary Units
Commentary Table 90.1 offers some examples of the hard-
12
⁄ in. 12.7 mm 13 mm 0.51 in.
conversion process. U.S. Customary units were used in the
34
⁄ in. 19 mm 19 mm 0.75 in.
1993, 1996, and 1999 Code and were still valid for the 2002
1 in. 25.4 mm 25 mm 0.98 in.
Code. Soft-conversion SI units were used in the 1996 and
4 in. 102 mm 100 mm 3.94 in.
1999 Code. The hard-conversion SI units, which were added 12 in. 305 mm 300 mm 11.81 ft
to the 2002 Code, were listed with their equivalent U.S. 2 ft 610 mm 600 mm 1.97 ft
Customary units. The equivalent U.S. units are given only 3 ft 914 mm 900 mm 2.95 ft
to show the small variance between customary units and the 6 ft 1.83 m 1.8 m 5.91 ft
hard-conversion units. 15 ft 4.57 m 4.5 m 14.76 ft
Warning signs that state specific clearances, such as
required in 513.10(B), permit distance measurements in ei-
ther inch-pound units or metric units.
--``,`,,,,,,,,,`,``,,``,,,`,`-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

10 2005 National Electrical Code Handbook

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