W (20h Codes & Integrated Systems _— Safety Your Business —_Lighting Standards ([sestionfintegrated- ([seclion/satery) (Jeecton/your- (Rection/lig /section/codes- systems) business, standards) Codes & Standards (/section/codes-standards) Special-Purpose GFCls Related Video prenet Ears Panes ee no EE 2 ae (/ecmagslive/2021-nfpa-70e- ‘major-changes) 2021 NFPA 70E Major Changes Share (https://www.eemag.c — live/2021-ntpa- T Te-major= We use cookies on this site to enhance changes), your user experience Jim Phillips gives a By clicking the Accept button, you agree to us rundown of the major ’ changes for the 2021 NFPA doing so. In 70E Accept No, thanks =By Mark C. Ode (/contributing-authors/mark-c-ode) I recently taught a 2014 National Electrical Code (NEC) class at an industrial facility in Fort Wayne, Ind., where an attendee asked about special-purpose ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCls) with trip levels above the normal 4-6 milliampere (mA) trip threshold level. | told him that the definition of GFCI in the 2014 NEC only recognizes a Class A device. | also explained that ground-fault protection for personnel were normally 15 and 20A, single-phase, 120-volt (V) receptacl or circuit breakers providing personnel protection. In addi Hold him that | would research the issue further and prov) Related Stories ie more information at a later date. The following informatiopnigs://www.ecmag,com/section/codes- the result of this research. Sf The first mention of a GFCI is in Section 680-4(g) of the 1968 NEC, covering underwater lighting fixtures supplied directly from a branch circuit or by a transformer that would "perform reliably under any likely combination of fault conditions so that there is no shock hazard” to a person! “Compliance with this requirement shall be assured by one of the following: (1) The design and construction of the fixtures; or (2) The use of a ground-fault circuit interrupter.” The definition of a GFC| was much the same then as it is in th 2014 NEC, except a Class A device was not mentioned in| 1968 NEC. In the 1968 NEC, GFCls had a trip-threshold le ‘of 20 mA due to the high level of leakage that existed on standards/examining-blackouts-where- fault) Codes & Standards (section/codes-standards) © Sep 15, 2027 E ining Where is the fault? ([section/codes: stan xam blackouts-where- fault), many swimming-pool circuits and were later referred to adhtinswyw.ecmaa.com/section/codes. Class B GFCIs. UL 943 Is the standard tor GFUIs, and any referencapd Ga Soa kisd BA TRIE MEST EMRE during thestgraberlsigperieneeout Feb. 1, 2006. The trip thresholnia- Rig ti RECLAEBIER HAHA? ABH a aber at 20 MA thanygiiges A device at 4-6 mA that additional safety procedures should have been provided involving an assured systeaneinadiesprotected circuit. quate-ventilation- Tazardous) Codes & Standards (/section/codes-standards) © Sep 15, 2021 Combustible-Gas- Detection Systems: Inadequate ventilation inaThe definition in Article 100 of the 2014 NEC for a GFCI is as follows: A device that is intended for the protection of personnel and functions to de-energize a circuit or a portion of the circuit within an established period of time when a current to ground exceeds the values established for a Class A device. An informational note located directly below this definition states that Class A GFCls trip when the current to ground is 6 mA or higher and do not trip when the current to ground is less than 4 mA. Currently, all GFCI devices cove by the NEC are within the 4-6 mA range. Section 555.3 dc require the main overcurrent protective device that suppli marina to have ground-fault protection that doesn't excee.. 100 mA with that trip threshold considered to be more ground-fault protection of equipment than personnel protection, although some protection could apply to personnel swimming in the water around the marina dock if On Dec. 18, 2000, Underwriters Laboratories announced the requirements for additional classes of GFCls, called special purpose GFCls. The special-purpose GFCI category is for applications where equipment grounding is provided by the NEC or where the voltage is greater than 150V. Specialty GFCls trip when the current to ground has a value of 15 to 20 mA. Since the trip threshold can be at or above where a person could normally let go, people touching the protected equipment and ground must have a low-impedance and reliable equipment grounding path that is in parallel with the person's body and relies on the equipment grounding parallel paiirforiecyo proieciion. Tie reliability circuit could be demonstrated b round monitorin Use cookies on thissite fo enha nee system jaurascreipensnes"s path between the service and the bagi Ay HRATRSREBP SL Ipsreaeeig, resi stance in the yeu agreets us grounding path occurs, the circuit will ie grounding e opened by the ground monitoring system. Double insulation of electrical equipméngisaapiner meigahentide’ {his purpose. hazardous (classified) locati Cee onlcodes standards/combustibl gas-detection- inadequate- thttps://www.ecmag.com/section/codes- standards/requirements-special- occupancies-strengthened-bonding- hazardous-locations) Codes & Standards (/section/codes-standards) © Sep 15, 2021 Requirements for | Occupancies: Strengthened bonding in hazardous locations ([section/codes- standards/requirement: special-occupancies- strengthened- bonding-hazardous- locations)These special-purpose GFCI devices are classified based on voltage and the quality of the equipment grounding path. A Class C is intended for circuits not in excess of 300V AC. A Class D is intended for circuits with one or more conductors over 300V to ground with a reliable ground path to ensure the voltage across the body will not exceed 150V. A Class E is similar to a Class D but has a conventional equipment grounding system or has double insulation, however, the GFCI device opens very quickly before the current has a magnitude and duration of current through the body that exceeds the limits for ventricular fibrillation. Tags: Code Applications (/tags/code-applications) About the Author (https://www.ecmag.com/contributing- Pp: 9. 9: WaluselssaRibs-eeeihis site to enhance your user experience By clicking the Accept button, you agree to us Sta¥iiférmed Join our Ne siete No, thanksHaving trouble finding time to sit down with the latest issue of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR? Don't worry, we'll come to you. Sign up and Get Connected More Stories From Codes & Standards (https://www.ecmag.com/section/codes- (https://www.ecmag.com/section/codes- (https://s standards/examining-blackouts-where- standards/combustible-gas-detectio1 standarc fault) systems-inadequate-venti wzardous) eccupan Codes & Standards (/section/codes- Codes & Standards (/section/codes- hadgrdor q standards) standards) Sep 15, 2021 Combustible-Gas-Detection Systems: Inadequate ventilation in a hazardous {glass ied) location [section/codes- standards/combustible- gas-detection-systems- i ats=vent n= We use cookies on this site to your user experience By clicking the Accept button, you agree to us doing so. Nexterset No, thanksCodes & Standards (/section/codes-standards) Feb 26, 2015 Always Moving Forward (/section/codes- standards/always-moving-forward), Wayne D. Moore (/contributing-authors/wayne-d-moore) | If you spend any amount of time in our industry, you are well aware that all codes and standards change, usually on a three-year timetable. When dealing with fire alarm or mass notification systems, you need to stay abreast of not only the National Electrical... Read the Article >> Electrical Contractor Newsletters + About Us (/about-us) Media Kit Having trouble finding time to sit down with Digital Editi (/magazine/media- the latest issue of ELECTRICAL igital Edition it (https://www.ecmagdigital.com/ecmag) CONTRACTOR? 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