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OSHA's New Electrical Intallation Regulations
4/6/2007
By John Klingler,
P.E.
Klingler Electrical Safety, LLC
On February
14, 2007 in the Federal Register, The Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it is revising the
general industry electrical installation standards found in
Subpart S of 29 CFR Part 1910:
"These are the first
changes to the electrical installation requirements in 25
years, so it is important the standard reflects the most
current practices and technologies in the industry. The
revised standard strengthens employee protections and adds
consistency between OSHA's requirements and many state and
local building codes which have adopted updated National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA) and National Electrical Code
provisions." ' Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary of
OSHA
Effective Date: This revision, 'final
rule', becomes effective August 13, 2007.
Affected
OSHA Regulations: This final rule revises OSHA's existing
standards for electrical installations contained in 1910.302
through 1910.308.
Basis of Changes: OSHA's
existing electrical installation standards in 1910.302 through
1910.308 are based on the 1979 edition of NFPA 70E Standard
for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, which matched the 1978
National Electrical Code (NEC). The new OSHA standards are
based on Part I of the 2000 edition of NFPA 70E, which match
the 1999 NEC.
Anticipated Impact: The changes
being implemented by OSHA will have little impact on companies
that comply with the current editions of the NEC when
completing electrical installations.
Grandfather
Clause: 'Most of the new (added) provisions contained in
the final rule only apply prospectively, to installations made
after the effective date of the final rule.'
- The new standard lists a few provisions that must be
complied with regardless of when the electrical systems and
equipment were designed or installed. OSHA states that these
requirements are so essential to employee safety that even
the oldest electrical installations must be modified, if
necessary, to comply.
- This list is unchanged from the 1981 standard except for
the following additional provisions:
- Prohibiting the use of grounding terminals or
grounding devices on receptacles, cord connectors, or
attachment plugs for purposes other than
grounding.
- Requiring documentation of areas designated as
hazardous (classified) locations.
- Requirements covering the zone classification
system.
- The new standard requires all installations built or
overhauled after March 15, 1972 to comply with all the
provisions of the new standard except for a few provisions
that are only applicable to installations built after 1981.
'Overhauled means to perform a major replacement,
modification, repair, or rehabilitation similar to that
involved when a new building or facility is built, a new
wing is added, or an entire floor is renovated.'
- The new standard has some provisions that are applicable
only to installations made after April 16, 1981. There are
no additions or deletions to these provisions; they remain
the same as in the existing (1981) OSHA standard.
- The new standard has other provisions that are
applicable only to installations made after August 13, 2007.
These provisions are based on changes made to the NEC
between 1978 and 1999.
What's Special about
1972 and 1981: On February 16, 1972 OSHA incorporated the
1971 NEC by reference.
- OSHA required all installations to comply with
approximately 16 requirements in the 1971 NEC regardless of
when they were built; however any installations made before
March 15, 1972 were Grandfathered from the remainder of the
1971 NEC.
- All electrical installations made between March 15, 1972
and January 16, 1981 had to comply with the entire 1971
NEC.
On January 16, 1981 OSHA revised its
electrical installation standard and based it on the 1979 NFPA
70E (which matched the 1978 NEC).
- Requiring all installations to comply with approximately
25 provisions of the new 1981 OSHA standard regardless of
when they were completed; however all installations
completed before 1972 were Grandfathered from the remainder
of the new provisions.
- All installations made, including major replacement,
modification, repair, or rehabilitation after March 15 1972
were required to comply with all the provisions of the new
1981 standard, except 11 specified provisions.
- All electric systems and equipment installed after April
16, 1981 had to comply with all the provisions of 1981 OSHA
electrical installation standard.
Other
Changes Planned: In the February 14, 2007 Federal
Register, OSHA stated it is also planning to update the
electrical safety-related work practices in 1910.331 through
1910.335. Although OSHA did not specify the planned changes,
it stated 'OSHA agrees that the latest editions (2004) of NFPA
70E provide improved protection to employees through better
electrical safety-related work practices. In particular, the
heightened focus on the hazards posed by electric arcs may
substantially reduce injuries and fatalities associated with
those hazards'.
About the Author>
John
Klingler, P.E. (email)
is the Manager of Klingler Electrical Safety, LLC. He provides
electrical safety training, including NFPA 70E and National
Electrical Code, and provides arc-flash hazard analyses and
electrical safety audits.
If you would like to know
more about this new OSHA electrical installation standard
contact the author at (812) 240-9134.
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