Code Change Summary: Code language was added to recognize aluminum conductors.

For a great many years, this code section has remained unchanged. “Conductors normally used to carry current shall be of copper unless otherwise provided in this Code. Where the conductor material is not specified, the material and the sizes given in this Code shall apply to copper conductors”.

There has been a push for several years to recognize the fact that aluminum conductors are now safe. The way aluminum conductors are constructed now days is completely different than years ago when they were first created with a utility grade AA-1350 series aluminum alloy.

Since the 1987 NEC^®, aluminum conductors allowed by the NEC^® have been required to be an AA-8000 series aluminum alloy which is significantly different from the previously used AA-1350 aluminum conductors.

The main reason aluminum conductors are mostly used only for feeders is because of the increased cost of receptacles and switches that are suitable for termination of aluminum branch circuit conductors.

This code change is a step towards recognizing the fact that the aluminum conductors of today are just as safe as copper conductors.

Below is a preview of Article 110. See the actual NEC^® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2017 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.