NFPA 70 is the National Electrical Code (NEC).

The NEC^® has a specific purpose and scope. It is critical to understand the purpose and scope of an NFPA publication in order to know if the publication even applies to the system being installed.

The purpose of the NEC^® has always been to protect people and property from hazards of using electricity. One thing the NEC^® was never intended for is to be an all-encompassing instruction manual or “how to” book for those new to the trade.

The NEC^® does NOT provide instruction on how to bend conduit, calculate the ampacity on the secondary side of a transformer, or determine the available fault current at an electric service. Principles such as basic electrical theory, solving series and parallel circuits, determining amps when watts and voltage are known, are all concepts learned in the process of transitioning from an electrical apprentice to a true electrician.

Below is a sample 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 latest NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.

90.1 Purpose.

90.1(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 and raceways for the following:

(1) Public and private premises, including buildings, structures, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and floating buildings

(2) Yards, lots, parking lots, carnivals, and industrial substations

(3) Installations of conductors and equipment that connect to the supply of electricity

(4) Installations used by the electric utility, such as office buildings, warehouses, garages, machine shops, and recreational buildings, that are not an integral part of a generating plant, substation, or control center