NFPA 70E 2024 Code Changes
Term Changes:
Electric Shock:
Electric Shock vs Shock Wave…the term “electric shock” replacing “shock” where appropriate to differentiate between when shock is specific to hearing or lung protection boundaries as in a shock wave.
Protectors:
The term “leather” was removed from use in gloves to allow for the acceptance of other protective, alternative materials that are now acceptable for use.
Scope:
Each article section within the Standard contains a scope which provides an overview of the content addressed within the section.
Article 110.2(B)
Normal Operation of Electrical Equipment
“Normal Operating Condition” has replaced with “Normal operation of electrical equipment” to specifically include the permissible scenarios for electrical equipment that is properly rated to handle the available fault current. This requires that the available fault current information should be readily accessible, listed on the manufacturer’s electrical information label and on circuit breakers.
Identification of Impending Failure:
Includes the important example of electrical equipment that has been exposed to water.
Article 110.3 Job Safety Planning: Strengthening Electrical Safety
“6. An emergency response plan”
Includes a new addition, “6. An emergency response plan,” which lists required information in order to conduct comprehensive job safety planning.
- Completion by a Qualified Person –
- Documentation
- Includes of the following information:
- Description of the Job and Individual Tasks:
- Identification of Electrical Hazards:
- Electrical Shock Risk Assessment
- Arc Flash Risk Assessment
- Work Procedures, Special Precautions, and Energy Source Controls: Includes the newly added requirement for an Emergency Response Plan (ERP).
Article 120.5 (A)(1) Locating Sources: New Informational Note
This addition emphasizes the importance of locating the supply sources when establishes an electrically safe working condition.
New Informational Note:
“Locating sources of supply could included identifying situations where a neutral conductor continues to carry current after phase conductors have been de-energized.”
Note: Illustrative Example:
An example of a light ballast from a 277-volt three-phase multi-wire branch circuit is considered. In this example, the neutral conductor continues to carry current after the phase conductors have been de-energized.
130.5 Arc Flash Risk Assessment
(B) Estimate of Likelihood of Severity Information Note 2 of 130.7(C)(15)(b) Direct Current (dc) Equipment
This note considers that closed doors may not contain all of the energy released in an arc flash incident (previously, this not appeared in the dc section only) and must considered applicable to all arc flash risk assessments.
130.5 (C) Estimate the likelihood of an Arc Flash Incident
This table has changed column heading “Equipment Condition” to “Operating Condition” to make permissible the normal operating conditions in 110.4(D).
130.5 (G) Incident Energy Analysis Method
This section adds an informational note that changes by the utility provider (such as a change to the transformer size, modification to protective devices or their settings) can directly affect the rate at which protective device will operate.
130.5 (H) Equipment Labeling
This new addition requires that labels shall be of sufficient durability for their environment to main their readability.
130.7(C) Personal Protective Equipment (1) General Information Note 1 of the 2021 edition of NFPA 70E
Text revies to “noncontact capacitive test instrument(s) or a permanently installed metering device(s)” to reflect advances in technical monitoring equipment. The 1,000V limitation was removed, as a risk may be present at systems operation below 1,000V.
130.7(C) Personal Protective Equipment (5) Hearing Protection
The text was modified to remove the term “working” from “whenever within the arc flash boundary”, since being present within the boundary is a potential hearing hazard, whether working or not.
Table 130.7(C)(15)(b) Arc Flash PPE Categories for dc Systems
The table levels were revised from 100 to 250Vdc to 150V and ≤ 600Vdc as recent test data shows a minimal probability of sustaining an arc for less than 125Vdc.