Xknob&Tube

I'm wiring my first new house since last summer. Are there any new codes I should be aware of other than these?

AFCI circuits
Tamper-proof receptacles
Ufer-ground

raider1

There are a lot of changes in the 2008 NEC that relate to home wiring. Here are a few that you didn't list:

1. 210.4(B) a common disconnecting means for all multiwire branch circuits.

2. 210.8(A)(2) & (A)(5) Exceptions 1 and 2 were delected, this means ALL 120 volt 15 and 20 amp receptacles installed in garages and unfinished basements must be GFCI protected.

3. 210.52(E)(3) requires balconies, decks and porches that are accessible from inside must have at least one receptacle installed.

4. 250.94 the intersystem bonding means now must have provisions for connection of at least three bonding conductors.

5. 334.80 has expanded the romex bundling to include bundling within thermal insulation

6. 338.10(B)(4)(a) requires that SER cable installed within a building for feeders and branch circuits must be sized from the 60 degree column in accordance with 334.80.

7. 310.15(B)(6) the ampacity chart for service and main power feeders has been clarified to show that it only applys to a single main power feeder that carrys the entire load of the dwelling.

These are just some of the changes that I could think of off the top of my head but there are many more.

Chris

kawaikfx400

weather resistant and tamper resistant plugs in outside plugs

anything that is not an appliance or GFI protected has to be arc fault.

tamper all over the house.

Any others i can think of, i'll let ya know. We only do residential for the most part.

Xknob&Tube

Multi-wire branch circuits cannot be used with arc-fault breakers anyway.
If I have a single receptacle for a freezer in the garage must it be GFI protected?
A single receptacle for a sump-pump in the basement?
Chris, I don't really understand 250-94. How does that affect a residential service (in english)?

Stickboy1375

They can if you buy a 2pole AFCI breaker.

Yes & Yes, but dont worry the freezer or the sump pump will still work.

leland

http://www.dora.state.co.us/electrical/

Welcome to the club!
Time to buy the book!!

__________________
"When one American is not worth the effort to be found, we as Americans have lost" (Rolling Thunder MA 1)

raider1

As Stickboy has pointed out there are 2 pole AFCI breakers.

Yes, a single receptacle for a freezer must now be GFCI protected, as well as a single receptalce in a unfinished basement for a sump pump.

As for 250.94. The 05 NEC required a way to bond telephone, CATV, and other systems to be installed at the electrical service. You could use a metal service conduit, or an exposed section of the grounding electrode conductor. But the 2008 NEC now requires that you install a ground bar with at least 3 terminals to either the meter enclosure, or on the wall next to the service disconnecting means and bonded to the service disconnecting means with a minimum of a #6 bonding wire.

Hope this helps.

Chris

Jim Port

Do you still need the intersystem bond terminals if the GEC is accessible?

You also need to install at least one communications outlet, even if there are not plans for a landline phone.

raider1

Yes, here is what the new section says:

250.94 Bonding for Other Systems.
An intersystem bonding termination for connecting intersystem bonding and grounding conductors required for other systems shall be provided external to enclosures at the service equipment and at the disconnecting means for any additional buildings or structures. The intersystem bonding termination shall be accessible for connection and inspection. The intersystem bonding termination shall have the capacity for connection of not less than three intersystem bonding conductors. The intersystem bonding termination device shall not interfere with opening a service or metering equipment enclosure. The intersystem bonding termination shall be one of the following:
(1) A set of terminals securely mounted to the meter enclosure and electrically connected to the meter enclosure. The terminals shall be listed as grounding and bonding equipment.
(2) A bonding bar near the service equipment enclosure, meter enclosure, or raceway for service conductors. The bonding bar shall be connected with a minimum 6 AWG copper conductor to an equipment grounding conductor(s) in the service equipment enclosure, meter enclosure, or exposed nonflexible metallic raceway.
(3) A bonding bar near the grounding electrode conductor. The bonding bar shall be connected to the grounding electrode conductor with a minimum 6 AWG copper conductor.

So you have 3 options, but each requires a bonding bar or set of terminals that permit at least 3 conductors to be connected.

Chris

Xknob&Tube

What is the best way you have found to install romex in exterior walls that are the styrofoam blocks/poly-steel?

leland

Before they insulate.

__________________
"When one American is not worth the effort to be found, we as Americans have lost" (Rolling Thunder MA 1)

Jim Port

Cut your grooves with a hot knife and secure with spray foam.

Xknob&Tube

The styrofoam is the insulation.

kawaikfx400

Are you talking about the new walls that come pre-insulated? I know those have pre drilled holes for NM. But im not particulaly sure exactly what your talking about? We havn't came across it. At least the brazilians havnt done it yet anyways... haha.

Xknob&Tube

I've wired one of these things and are about to do another. I was just wondering if someone had a better method than the hot knife.

http://www.polysteel.com/construction.htm

__________________
Cut your own wood and it will warm you twice

kbsparky

At least one jurisdiction that I know of is accepting 3 split-bolt bugs attached to your (#6 min) exposed section of the GEC.

The only problem I have with this is now it is more of a target to thieves, eyeballing the copper GEC, as well as those copper bugs attached to it.

leland

No Sh#t......... (must be what I'm doing wrong) Thats why you install before they install.

this is Called a "rough inspection" around here. If any insulation is installed before this inspection......... The insulators will have to do it twice.. three times, counting ripping it out.

Now has anyone else had this problem:

Inspector requireing derating? (mainly the blown in foam insulation)?
Beware, Itr's comming! 10s for your 20A ckt etc....

Had any problems with your phone/cable wires MELTING due to the HIGH heat of that stuff setting up?
Watch for that too.

__________________
"When one American is not worth the effort to be found, we as Americans have lost" (Rolling Thunder MA 1)

TxElectrician

Have only done a few of these and used an electric chain saw, never have tried a hot knife.

threewire

You might want to find out if your state or county has adopted the 2008 code yet.

Xknob&Tube

I never considered that. Probably a little messy but a narrow cut & fast which is nice. The fumes are pretty bad with the hot knife. I'll give it a try, thanks!

__________________
Cut your own wood and it will warm you twice