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January 31, 2020

INSPECTOR PERSPECTIVE

IECRM contractors, NECA members, and state and local electrical inspectors recently held their monthly meeting to discuss National Electrical Code issues, interpretations, and implications for inspectors who assist electrical contractors in multiple jurisdictions in Colorado.

IECRM wants to help keep their electrical contractors informed so we post the field problems and updates that were discussed in each meeting.

Field problems updates:

Question: Are jurisdictions enforcing listed transition fittings?

Answer: Those jurisdictions in attendance have been informing contractors of the installation discrepancies and listing violations. Some have even begun issuing correction notices for these listing violations and fitting discrepancies. There are three important considerations to be made in regards to transition fittings, as follows.

  1. Mechanical strength of the connection. All raceways shall be continuous per NEC 300.10 and 300.12, a loose fitting can result in the separation of a raceway exposing single current-carrying conductors.
  2. Electrical continuity of raceway for its entire length (including all fittings). This should be considered for redundancy grounding, or when a metallic raceway is used as an equipment grounding conductor as permitted by 250.118.
  3. Thread compatibility. There are two major types of threads, national pipe thread or NPT, which has a slight taper to the 60-degree thread angle, and national standard free-fitting straight mechanical pipe thread or NPSM which has no taper to the 60-degree thread angle. NPSM threads will not seal properly when used with an NPT female end (such as threaded hubs and threaded entries for enclosures, boxes and conduit bodies). This is especially true for threaded hubs, boxes, enclosures and conduit bodies with a NEMA design rating approved for damp and wet locations as these are NPT female ends designed for use with NPT male ends resulting in more surface contact between male and female ends. More surface contact between fittings assures a moisture impervious connection that will not fail due to prolonged damp and wet location exposure. NPSM male ends utilized with these threaded hubs, boxes, enclosures, and conduit bodies will result in less surface contact between male and female ends and eventual failure from moisture entering the threads and causing corrosion.

In conclusion, the consensus was the mixing of NPSM to NPT has been standard installation practice for a long time and refusing to accept such assemblies overnight is an unfair practice and should slowly be integrated through jurisdictions with leniency. Links have been included for more information on the topic below.

http://iaeimagazine.org/magazine/2012/07/16/transitioning-between-raceways/

http://www.ecmag.com/section/codes-standards/fittings-hubs

Question: Are jurisdictions verifying all wiring methods around pool areas as described in the 2017 NEC article 680.14, have been listed and identified for use in such areas?

Consensus: Yes.

If you are an IECRM contractor member interested in attending these monthly IECRM/NECA sponsored meetings for state and local electrical inspectors, please contact Paul Lingo, IECRM Training Director, [email protected], 303.853.4886.

IECRM Self-Pay Tuition Policy

 

Self-pay students who are employed with a member company must register and pay through the member company using the IECRM Flashpoint Enrollment Portal/Process in order to qualify for member rates.

Self-pay students that are employed with a member company but that do not register and pay through the member will be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


Self-pay students who are employed with a member company and require a payment plan will not qualify for the member rate and will be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


Self-pay students who do not work for a member company will continue to be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


To maximize association/membership benefits, ALL member companies are encouraged to register and pay for all enrolled apprentices utilizing internal payment arrangements and processes between employer and employee.


We value our IECRM members and apprentice community. We encourage all apprentices to be enrolled in the four-year apprenticeship program, earning, and learning their way toward Journeyworker licensure. We encourage all members to utilize the member discount for tuition, books and applicable fees to ensure the long-term support and success of the next-generation electrician.


(Payment Plans are available, please reference the Self Pay Payment Plan Policy.)


Self-Pay Payment Plan Policy


We offer the following arrangements for students that are unable to pay in full at the time of registration.


● Self-pay students will be charged the non-member rate.
● A 50% down payment of total semester tuition, books and applicable fees are due at registration.
● Remaining balance can be divided up to 3 additional monthly payments ($10.00 processing fee applies on each installment)
● All payments that are declined will incur a $20.00 NSF fee.

 

We encourage all students who are employed with a member company to work with their employer to register and pay through the IECRM Flashpoint Enrollment Portal/Process. This will ensure the student is paying the lowest possible rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.