Liebhaber NESC 2017 Changes

National Electrical Safety Code
2017 Changes
Danna Liebhaber
October 6, 2016
Who am I?
 Bonneville Power Administration

 NESC Main Committee
 NESC Subcommittee 4
 NESC Vice Chair – As of Sept 1
 IEEE WG Chair – Corona and Field Effects
NESC 2017 Changes 2

Disclaimers…
NESC 2017 Changes 3

Boring Stuff…
NESC 2017 Changes 4

NESC 2022 Edition Revision Schedule
15 July 2018 Final Date to submit change proposals
Subcommittees meet to consider change
Sept/Oct 2018 proposals and make initial recommendations
1 September 2019 Preprint is published
1 May 2020 Final date to submit comments
Subcommittees meet to consider comments and
Sept/Oct 2020 make final recommendations
Proposed revision of NESC submitted to NESC
Main Committee for letter ballot and concurrent
15 January 2021 ANSI public review
Submit to ANSI for recognition as and American
15 May 2021 National Standard
1 August 2021 Publication of 2017 NESC
NESC 2017 Changes 5

NESC Change Proposals
 All this information is found on page xvi – xvii in the 2017 code book
NESC 2017 Changes 6

Who Can Submit a Change Proposal?
 Substantially interested person

 Interested Organization
 NESC Subcommittee
 Member of the NESC Committee or its subcommittees
In other words pretty much anyone
NESC 2017 Changes 7

What to include in a Proposal?
 1 topic per submittal

– really only 1 rule unless the change directly affects another rule
 A statement, in NESC rule form, of the exact change, rewording, or new
material proposed.
 Name of the submitter
 Supporting comments
– These are important, why did you submit this proposal?
The change proposal will not be

accepted if these steps are not
followed
NESC 2017 Changes 8

Examples
NESC 2017 Changes 9

NESC 2017 Changes 10
Comment on a Change Proposal
NESC Subcommittee Actions
 Endorse the proposal as received

 Prepare a revision or addition for the NESC
 Refer the proposal to a technical working group
 Request coordination with other NESC Subcommittees
 Recommend Rejection

Next Steps
 Preprint with all Change Proposals and NESC Subcommittee Proposed

Actions are printed
 Comments are Submitted
 Subcommittees meet again to make final recommendations after
reviewing previous proposals and submitted comments
 Final recommendations are sent to the Main Committee for approval

Now for the good stuff…

Section 1
27 CPs and 35 Comments
Major revisions to Rule 010, Rule 011, and Rule 013 were
made based on CPs and subsequent Comments

010. Purpose
A. The purpose of the NESC is the practical safeguarding
of persons, and utility facilities, and affected property
during the installation, operation, and maintenance of
electric supply and communication facilities, under
specified conditions.
NOTE: NESC rules are founded upon the fundamental
principles used for safety of utility facilities, and the
NESC is globally accepted as good engineering
practice.

010. Purpose
B. NESC rules contain the basic provisions, under
specified conditions, that are considered necessary for
the safeguarding of:
1. The public,
2. Utility workers (employees and contractors) and,
3. Utility facilities,
4. Electric supply and communication equipment
connected to utility facilities, and
5. Other facilities or premises adjacent to or containing
utility facilities.

013. Application
B. Existing installations
3. For structures that currently do not comply with Rule
013B3, if adding a new item, or replacing or rearranging
existing items would not in itself, either (1) create a
structural, clearance, or grounding non-conformance, or
(2) worsen an existing non-conformance, then the addition,
replacement, or alteration may be performed prior to
correcting existing non-compliance items.
For existing non-compliance items, see Rules 214A4 and
A5. (See IR 548)

Section 2.
Definitions of special terms
Definitions for supply space and communication space and

a drawing depicting where these spaces are usually located
on overhead line structures were added to this section.
Also added to this section are definitions for communication

equipment, wind spans and weight spans and drawings
detailing the spans.

Section 2.
Definitions of special terms
Definitions for sag, initial sag and final sag were

revised and all of the other variations of sag
(apparent sag, apparent sag at the midpoint of a
span, etc. were deleted since they are no longer
used in the Code.
Definitions rural districts, urban districts, and

fireproofing were also deleted since they are no
longer used in the code.

Section 9
Grounding Methods

092C Messenger Wires and Guys
Exception added for 4 grounds in each mile in

areas of extreme terrain or water crossings that
prevents the grounding interval from being
achieved.

094B Made Electrodes
094B1 - Stainless steel ground rods now

included in non-ferrous metal category
094B2 –
– The different types of grounding electrodes in
this Rule are considered to be equivalent
– The Exception for “other dimensions and
configurations” with a qualified engineering
study is now applicable to all types of
electrodes.
– There is a new Working Group to look at
materials and dimensions of ground rods.

096C Multi-Grounded Systems
There is a new Exception on grounding intervals

for water crossings and for extreme terrain
There is also an Exception on the grounding
intervals where removing the cable jacket is
only to install a ground to meet this
requirement

PART 1
Supply Stations

NESC 2017 Significant Changes
Sections 10-19
Electric Supply Stations
• Section 11 – Protective Arrangements in Electric

Supply Stations
• Clarifications as to where the Safety Sign
must be located on the Substation Fence.
(See Drawing)
• No other fences may be located within 6 feet
of the substation fence without concurrence
of the substation owner. (See Photo)

Sections 10-19
• Fig 110-3. Safety sign locations on a fenced substation (Rule 110A).
Figure from McGraw Hill’s NESC 2012 Handbook used with permission of Marne and
Associates, Inc. and the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. © 2012

Sections 10-19
• Rule 110A1
 Photo submitted with NESC CP 4572 by Allen Clapp

PART 2
Overhead Lines

Clearances (SC 4)

130 CPs Accepted

Guy Insulators
Existing Rules
Rule 215C4a – 2012 NESC:
– Insulator(s) shall be positioned so as to limit the
likelihood of any portion of an anchor guy, including
any conductive components of the insulator(s),
becoming energized within 2.45 m (8ft) of the ground
level in the event that the anchor guy becomes slack or
breaks below the lowest guy insulator.
Rule 215C4b – 2012 NESC

– Insulators shall be positioned so as to limit the
likelihood of any portion of an anchor guy becoming a
conductive path between: (1) and energized conductor
or rigid live part and (2) a conductor of another circuit,
rigid live part, or equipment in event that anchor guy
becomes slack or breaks below the lowest guy
insulator.

Rule 215C4a
2012 Code
Energized lines Guy Insulator

or parts area
A Performance Rule
Guy insulator shall be positioned

such that no portion of the anchor
guy, including any conductive
components of the guy insulator, can
Anchor Guy
become energized within 8 ft of the
ground level when the anchor guy
becomes slack or breaks below the
lowest guy insulator
Provided by Mickey
Gunter

Rule 215C4a
2012 Code
Energized lines Guy Insulator

or parts area
A Performance Rule
Guy insulator shall be positioned

such that no portion of the anchor
guy, including any conductive
components of the guy insulator, can
Anchor Guy
become energized within 8 ft of the
ground level when the anchor guy
becomes slack or breaks below the
lowest guy insulator
Provided by
Mickey Gunter

Energized lines
Energized Anchor Guy
or parts area Rule 215C4a
2012 Code
Top of anchor guy above guy

insulator could be energized only 8’
from the ground when the anchor
guy becomes slack or breaks below
the lowest guy insulator
Provided by
Mickey Gunter

Change Proposal 4701 Accepted as Modified
Guy Insulators
Rule 215C2a for 2017 NESC Requires

Anchor Guys to be Effectively Grounded
– Not a new Code requirement
– The installation of guy insulators is an
exception to the grounding rule
Exception 2 to Rule 215C2a:
– Guy insulators shall be positioned so as to
limit the likelihood of any portion of an anchor
guy becoming energized within 2.45 m (8 ft)
of the ground level in the event that the
anchor guy becomes slack or breaks.

2017 Major Changes to Guy Insulators
Redefined How To Consider Clearances if
Guy Wire Were to Break
From:
….in the event that the anchor guy becomes
slack or breaks below the lowest guy insulator.
TO:
in the event that the anchor guy becomes slack
or breaks.

2017 Major Changes to Guy Insulators
Removed the Specific Requirement
Related to Voltage Transfer on the Guyed
Structure:
– Insulators shall be positioned so as to limit the
likelihood of an anchor guy becoming a conductive path
between: (1) an energized conductor or rigid live part
and (2) a conductor of another circuit, rigid part, or
equipment in the event that the anchor guy becomes
slack.
SC Requested and Received Comments

from the Communication Industry
– Voltage transfer concerns addressed by work rules and
need not be addressed in Rule 215.

Additional Guy Change Proposals
217 C. Protection and marking of guys

– Several Change Proposals and Comments
– Issue focused on adequate guy wire marking
in areas exposed to pedestrian traffic
• What is a pedestrian traffic area?
– When multiple guy wires are involved
• How many must be marked?
Added Note to 217C1(a):
– NOTE: There is no intent to require markers at all
anchor guy locations. (CP4453)

Table 232-1
Service Drop Clearances over Residential
Driveways and Yards
16’ is the Basic Clearance Over a Driveway

– Footnote 13 permits a reduction to 15’
– Footnote 7 permits a reduction to 12’
• Dependent on “height of the house”
Footnote 7 was Revised to:
Where the height of a residential building does not permit its
service drop(s) to meet these values, Where vehicles exceeding
8 ft in height are not normally encountered nor reasonably
anticipated, service drop(s) the clearances over residential
driveways only may be reduced to the following:
No Change in Clearances

Table 232-1
Service Drop Clearances over Residential
Driveways and Yards
Footnote 13 was Revised to:

Where this construction crosses over or runs along (a)
alleys, non-residential driveways, or parking lots not
subject to truck traffic, or (b) residential driveways, this
clearance may be reduced to 15 ft.
These Revisions to Table 232-1

– Removed the house height as the factor for
reduced clearances
– Made the land use under the service drop, the
vehicle height the factor to consider when
reducing the clearances.

Strength and Loading (SC 5)

Re-format Rule 241.C. At Crossings
241. Application of grades of construction to different situations
2012 version
2017 version

Re-format Rule 241.C. At Crossings
241. Application of grades of construction to different situations
2012 version
2017 version
Same Words
Easier to Comprehend

Revise Table 242-1
Grades of Construction Applications
• Table reorganized for clarity

• Use of Grade N clarified for communication and supply service drops

2012
Table 242-1

2017 Table 242-1

Rule 250C: Add Wind Return Period

Rule 250C: Add Wind Return Period
NOTE: The commentary to ASCE 7-2005 indicates that

these wind speeds represent a 50-to-90 year mean
recurrence interval.

“Clarification”
Determining Gust Response Factor
Clarifies using “span length” to determine GRF
Previously stated as “design wind span”

Clarify when ice is applied
Rule 250D
…………
Add ice to: Do not add ice to:

Wires Structure
Conductors Other supported facilities
Cables
Messengers

Add Temperature Map Figures 250-4
For Rule 250D
To Be Used
With 250D
Extreme Ice &
Concurrent Wind

New ASCE Reference
Extreme Wind Map Figures 250-2
2012 NESC
ASCE 7-05
Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures
2017 NESC
ASCE 74-10
Guidelines for Electrical Transmission Line Structural Loading
Same Map
Newly revised ASCE standard

New ASCE Reference
Extreme Ice Map Figures 250-3
Final Action: Accept
2012 NESC
ASCE 7-05
2017 NESC
ASCE 7-10
Same Map
New Edition of ASCE 7

Longitudinal Capability Rule 252.C.6

Aeolian Vibration – Rule 261H.1.b

Aeolian Vibration – Rule 261H.1.b

Insulators – New Rating System
Old Line Post ratings:

Rating equal to average
Lowest no less than 85% of average
New Line Post ratings:

Rating = Minimum of all insulators

Insulators – New Rating System
Old Transmission Suspension ratings:

1.2 standard deviations
New Transmission Suspension ratings:

3.0 standard deviations

Exception Added
Insulator Factory Tests Rule 274

Insulators
CP Intention:
Introduce Load factors (LRFD)
Adjust allowable stresses
Mostly equivalent insulator applications
Introduce Classes: Distribution & Trans
Different allowables for Rule 250B vs 250C, D

Insulators: Table 253-1 Load Factors

Insulators Table 277-1




Nonceramic Table 277-1 cont’d

Table 277-1 cont’d



FN 3: This percentage shall be supplied by the manufacturer.

PART 3
Underground Lines

Grounding rules for primary voltage cables
The revisions will allow grounding and bonding

at locations where the concentric neutral is
normally accessible (pad mounted equipment or
manhole) nearest to the required grounding
interval, 1,320 feet, or 660 feet and 1,000 feet
if the random rules apply.
The rules requiring pad mounted equipment and
any above ground conductive devices or ducts
to be effectively grounded were not changed
except to add the requirement that conductive
handhole covers on nonconductive lighting poles
are to be effectively grounded.

Rule 354. Random separation – Separation less than
12 inches from underground structures or cables
354D3. Insulating jacketed grounded neutral supply cable

Each phase conductor of a multi-grounded supply
system operating above 300 V to ground and having
an overall insulating jacket shall have an effectively
grounded copper concentric conductor meeting all of
the following requirements:
a. A conductance not less than one half that of the

phase conductor.

384. Grounding and bonding
C. Bonding should be provided between all
aboveground metallic supply and communications
enclosures that are separated by a distance of 1.8 m
(6 ft) or less. For the purpose of this rule, pole
grounds are not required to be bonded to the
communication enclosure.
The following note was added to the rule.
NOTE: This rule does not prohibit bonding
communication metallic enclosures to supply pole
grounds, provided all affected parties are in
agreement.

PART 4
Work Rules

Work Rules for the Operation of Electric Supply
and Communications Lines and Equipment
2017 edition
– Reconcile existing rules with FED-OSHA revisions
• Rule 410.3 on arc hazard
- New information addressing hand, head, feet protection
- New information for dc systems
- New information on 480V arc-in-a-box test results
• Rule 420K on fall protection

- Fall protection to be used at elevated locations above 4 ft.
- Appropriate equipment to limit free fall to 2 ft.
- Anchorages must support 3000 lb-force
- Employees to visually assess anchorages

Work Rules for the Operation of Electric Supply
and Communications Lines and Equipment
2017 edition (continued)

• Minimum Approach Distances (MAD)
- Revise Table 431-1 (Communication)
- Revise Rule 441
- Adds rule specific definition for “reach”/”extended reach”
- Revise rules for voltages above 72.5kV
- Revise default Table 441-1 (Supply)
- Add new Tables 441-2, 441-3, 441-4 (‘T’ has been calc’d)
- Retain/renumber existing Tables 441-2, 441-3, 441-4
• Minimum clearances for open air gap

- New Table 444-1 for supply stations and OH lines

Last Thoughts…
NESC Workshop October 18-19, 2016

NESC MOOCs
NESC App

Questions?

Liebhaber NESC 2017 Changes

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Liebhaber NESC 2017 Changes

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

National Electrical Safety Code

 Bonneville Power Administration

NESC 2017 Changes 2

NESC 2017 Changes 3

NESC 2017 Changes 4

NESC 2017 Changes 5

NESC 2017 Changes 6

 Substantially interested person

In other words pretty much anyone

NESC 2017 Changes 7

 1 topic per submittal

The change proposal will not be

NESC 2017 Changes 8

NESC 2017 Changes 9

 Endorse the proposal as received

NESC 2017 Changes 13

 Preprint with all Change Proposals and NESC Subcommittee Proposed

NESC 2017 Changes 14

NESC 2017 Changes 15

NESC 2017 Changes 16

NESC 2017 Changes 17

NESC 2017 Changes 18

NESC 2017 Changes 19

Definitions for supply space and communication space and

Also added to this section are definitions for communication

NESC 2017 Changes 20

Definitions for sag, initial sag and final sag were

Definitions rural districts, urban districts, and

NESC 2017 Changes 21

39 CPs and 38 Comments

NESC 2017 Changes 22

Exception added for 4 grounds in each mile in

NESC 2017 Changes 23

094B1 - Stainless steel ground rods now

NESC 2017 Changes 24

There is a new Exception on grounding intervals

NESC 2017 Changes 25

45 CPs and 52 Comments

NESC 2017 Changes 26

• Section 11 – Protective Arrangements in Electric

NESC 2017 Changes 27

• Fig 110-3. Safety sign locations on a fenced substation (Rule 110A).

NESC 2017 Changes 28

 Photo submitted with NESC CP 4572 by Allen Clapp

NESC 2017 Changes 29

NESC 2017 Changes 30

300 CPs and 199 Comments

NESC 2017 Changes 31

Rule 215C4b – 2012 NESC

NESC 2017 Changes 32

Energized lines Guy Insulator

Guy insulator shall be positioned

NESC 2017 Changes 33

Energized lines Guy Insulator

Guy insulator shall be positioned

NESC 2017 Changes 34

Top of anchor guy above guy

NESC 2017 Changes 35

Rule 215C2a for 2017 NESC Requires

NESC 2017 Changes 36

NESC 2017 Changes 37

SC Requested and Received Comments

NESC 2017 Changes 38

217 C. Protection and marking of guys