410.62(C) Electric-Discharge and LED Luminaires.
Code Change Summary: Revisions were made to clarify how specific luminaires can be cord-connected.
Some luminaires are designed only to be cord-connected while others are permitted or allowed to be cord-connected.
There is a difference between cord-connected versus cord-and plug-connected.
“Cord-connected” doesn’t necessarily mean an attachment plug cap is involved. A cord-connected luminaire refers to a hard-wired installation with no attachment plug. A cord-and plug-connected luminaire has an attachment plug that mates with a receptacle.
In the 2017 NEC® revisions were made to make the section on cord-connected electric-discharge and led luminaires a bit easier to read. The previous code language was a bit tricky to understand but the new language seems to be a bit cleaner and easier to follow.
Some listed electric-discharge or led luminaires come from the factory with a cord-connection. They may or may not have an attachment plug. How they will be installed will dictate if an attachment plug will be required. Whichever method is used to connect the luminaire, one thing is common; the luminaire must be located directly below the outlet or busway, the cord must not be subject to strain or physical damage, and the cord must be visible for its entire length except at terminations.
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 2017 NEC® edition of NFPA 70.
2014 Code Language:
410.62(C) Electric-Discharge and LED Luminaires. A luminaire or a listed assembly shall be permitted to be cord connected if the following conditions apply:
(1) The luminaire is located directly below the outlet or busway.
(2) The flexible cord meets all the following:
- Is visible for its entire length outside the luminaire
- Is not subject to strain or physical damage
- Is terminated in a grounding-type attachment plug cap or busway plug, or is a part of a listed assembly incorporating a manufactured wiring system connector in accordance with 604.6(C), or has a luminaire assembly with a strain relief and canopy having a maximum 152 mm (6 in.) long section of raceway for attachment to an outlet box above a suspended ceiling
2017 Code Language:
410.62(C) Electric-Discharge and LED Luminaires. Electric discharge and LED luminaires shall comply with (1), (2), and (3) as applicable.
(1) Cord-Connected Installation. A luminaire or a listed assembly in compliance with any of the conditions in (a) through (c) shall be permitted to be cord connected provided the luminaire is located directly below the outlet or busway, the cord is not subject to strain or physical damage, and the cord is visible over its entire length except at terminations.
(a) A luminaire shall be permitted to be connected with a cord terminating in a grounding-type attachment plug or busway plug.
(b) A luminaire assembly equipped with a strain relief and canopy shall be permitted to use a cord connection between the luminaire assembly and the canopy. The canopy shall be permitted to include a section of raceway not over 150 mm (6 in.) in length and intended to facilitate the connection to an outlet box mounted above a suspended ceiling.
(c) Listed luminaires connected using listed assemblies that incorporate manufactured wiring system connectors in accordance with 604.100(C) shall be permitted to be cord connected.