Anyone wishing to export electrical systems—and thus control cabinets — to the United States or Canada should be sure to comply with the NFPA 70 (or NEC) safety standard. You can learn exactly what the NFPA 70 standard is in the following article.
What is NFPA 70?
NFPA 70, also known as the National Electrical Code (NEC), is a safety standard of the United States of America. The NEC is recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and is codified as ANSI/NFPA 70 in the codes and standards of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) . NFPA 70 / NEC, together with other standards, forms the safety standards for the export of control cabinets and electronic systems to the U.S.:
- UL 508A for control cabinets (industrial control panels)
- NFPA 79 (Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery) for industrial machinery
- NEC (National Electrical Code, NFPA 70) for on-site electrical installations
What does the NFPA 70 safety standard specify?
This standard is comparable to the DIN VDE 0100 series of standards published in Germany by the Association for Electrical, Electronic, and Information Technologies (VDE). The NFPA 70 safety standard specifies exactly how electrical installations and their parameters (operating voltages) must be designed, as well as the method of cable routing in the low-voltage range. The low-voltage range refers to electrical fuses, the electrical power supply, and NEMA plugs, which are widely used in North America. In contrast to the comparable DIN VDE 0100, there is a legal requirement in the United States that safety standards must be available free of charge and without copyright restrictions. The Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) is largely identical in content to the NEC.
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How are NEC and NFPA related?
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publishes detailed guidelines for the National Fire Codes (fire protection). The NEC is one of these important codes and is also published under the designation NFPA 70. This NFPA code is primarily used in the United States and is divided into nine chapters with several appendices. The U.S. explosion protection regulations can be found in Chapter 500. For several years now, the international explosion protection regulations IEC/EN 60079 have also been included (Chapter 505).
What is the significance of NEC and CEC in North America?
Although control cabinets and systems in many countries around the world are certified according to IEC standards, special safety standards apply in North America. Here , the NEC and CEC serve as the safety standards for electronic installations. As with all standards, these codes ensure that electrical procedures are safe and standardized. The NEC serves as the legal basis, which is implemented through the product standard for machine control cabinets (UL-508A) and the installation standard for the electronic equipment of machines (NFPA 79).
How are updates implemented at NEC?
NFPA 70 is updated every three years. It is important to note that not all U.S. states automatically use the latest version of the NEC, and each state has its own regulations. Currently, the NEC 2020 is the latest edition (as of 2022).
How do NEC/CEC and IEC differ?
IEC – Compliance with European Standards
In IEC countries, the manufacturer is responsible for compliance with standards and regulations and approves industrial switching equipment for distribution on its own responsibility. Devices and packaging bearing the CE marking comply with the EN (European Standard) and are subject to compliance with the IEC standard. This marking allows for unrestricted distribution within the European Union.
NEC/CEC – The Importance of OSHA and NRTLs
In the United States, the federal agency OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is responsible for federal occupational safety laws and, in accordance with the NEC, requires that electrical equipment and systems be certified by testing agencies known as Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs). The best-known of these testing agencies is Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Similar rules apply in Canada. There, all electrical devices covered by the CEC must be certified in accordance with CSA standards. In the U.S., the decision regarding approval therefore rests with a local authority. Since regulations in the various states may differ in addition to the NEC, the acceptance of electronic equipment is carried out by a local inspector who grants approval for the control cabinets. In most cases, electronic systems that have already been inspected by OSHA are approved without further requirements. For this reason, it is important to have the certification issued by the manufacturer.
Zusammenfassung
The nonprofit organization NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) was founded in 1896 and is dedicated to fire safety, electrical safety, and building safety. NFPA 70 is also known as the NEC (National Electrical Code) and, together with other standards, forms the safety standard for the export of control cabinets and electronic systems to the United States. To avoid import issues, it is important to have a valid NFPA 70 certification issued by the manufacturer. The NEC is updated every three years, and the varying regulations of individual states must be taken into account during the certification process.
