90.1 & 2 NEC Scope, Use and Application.
Code Change Summary: The scope, intended use, and application of the NEC® has been updated.
Throughout the NEC®, the very beginning .1 section of each code article is reserved for the scope of the article. For some reason, the scope of the entire NEC® has been Section 90.2 for a great many years.
Section 2.2.1 of the NEC® Style manual states that “each article shall have a scope, which shall be the first section of the article”.
Section 90.2 in previous editions of the NEC® was titled “Scope” but there was no actual scope provided. This section may have been titled “Scope”, but it rolled straight into what the NEC® covered or didn’t cover and never provided any sort of actual scope of what the article was about.
In the 2023 NEC®, the scope of Article 90 has been relocated to 90.1 to align with the NEC® Style manual. New language was added to the beginning of 90.1 to provide an actual scope of the article.
Now, according to Section 90.1, Article 90 covers the use, application, arrangement, and enforcement of the NEC®. It also covers the expression of mandatory, permissive, and nonmandatory text, provides guidance on equipment examination and wiring planning, and specifies the use and expression of measurements.
Additionally, Section 90.2 has now been appropriately titled “Use and Application” but retains much of the same language previously appearing in Section 90.1 pertaining to practical safeguarding, adequacy, and relation to other standards.
Below is a preview of the NEC®. See the actual NEC® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2023 NEC® edition of NFPA 70.
2020 Code Language:
90.1 Purpose
(A) Practical Safeguarding. The purpose of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity. This Code is not intended as a design specification or an instruction manual for untrained persons.
90.2 Scope.
(A) Covered. This Code covers the installation and removal of electrical conductors, equipment, and raceways; signaling and communications conductors, equipment, and raceways; and optical fiber cables for the following:...
2023 Code Language:
N 90.1 Scope. This article covers use and application, arrangement, and enforcement of this Code. It also covers the expression of mandatory, permissive, and nonmandatory text, provides guidance on the examination of equipment and on wiring planning, and specifies the use and expression of measurements.
90.2 Use and Application.
(A) Practical Safeguarding. The purpose of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity. This Code is not intended as a design specification or an instruction manual for untrained persons.