215.10 Ground-Fault Protection of Equipment.
Code Change Summary: A new exception was added for temporary feeders from a standby generator.
Since 1999, NEC® Section 210.15 has required ground-fault protection of equipment (GFPE) for each feeder disconnect rated 1000 amperes or more and installed on solidly grounded wye electrical systems of more than 150 volts to ground, but not exceeding 600 volts phase-to-phase. This mainly applies in 277/470-volt Wye electrical systems.
GFPE is a Class B device that protects electrical equipment from low-level ground faults and does not provide protection for personnel like a Class A GFCI device provides.
In the 2020 NEC®, a proposal was made to provide some leniency for temporary feeder installations from a generator to a facility during repair, maintenance, or emergencies. Now, temporary feeders without ground-fault protection are permitted for the time period necessary but shall not exceed 90 days.
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 2020 NEC® edition of NFPA 70.
2017 Code Language:
215.10 Ground-Fault Protection of Equipment. Each feeder disconnect rated 1000 amperes or more and installed on solidly grounded wye electrical systems of more than 150 volts to ground, but not exceeding 600 volts phase-to-phase, shall be provided with ground-fault protection of equipment in accordance with the provisions of 230.95.
Informational Note: For buildings that contain health care occupancies, see the requirements of 517.17.
Exception No. 1: The provisions of this section shall not apply to a disconnecting means for a continuous industrial process where a nonorderly shutdown will introduce additional or increased hazards.
Exception No. 2: The provisions of this section shall not apply if ground-fault protection of equipment is provided on the supply side of the feeder and on the load side of any transformer supplying the feeder.
2020 Code Language:
215.10 Ground-Fault Protection of Equipment. Each feeder disconnect rated 1000 amperes or more and installed on solidly grounded wye electrical systems of more than 150 volts to ground, but not exceeding 600 volts phase-to-phase, shall be provided with ground-fault protection of equipment in accordance with 230.95.
Informational Note: For buildings that contain health care occupancies, see 517.17.
Exception No. 1: This section shall not apply to a disconnecting means for a continuous industrial process where a nonorderly shutdown will introduce additional or increased hazards.
Exception No. 2: This section shall not apply if ground-fault protection of equipment is provided on the supply side of the feeder and on the load side of any transformer supplying the feeder.
Exception No. 3: If temporary feeder conductors are used to connect a generator to a facility for repair, maintenance, or emergencies, ground-fault protection of equipment shall not be required. Temporary feeders without ground-fault protection shall be permitted for the time period necessary but shall not exceed 90 days.