new code

The 2009 code is out...here are some of the highlights!....

It Went into effect on October 10 / 2009..

Also, see disclaimer at bottom of this page..

Major items:

Table 17 and 18 (Size of Ground wire)

Lots of Fire alarm Changes

Any receptacle that a child can reach must be tamper proof, And Yes that means outside GFI's too!.

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Section 0

Electrical equipment - any apparatus, appliance, device, instrument, fitting, fixture, luminaire, machinery, material, or thing used in or for, or capable of being used in or for, the generation, transformation, transmission, distribution, supply, or utilization of electric power or energy, and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, includes any assemblage or combination of materials or things that is used, or is capable of being used or adapted, to serve or perform any particular purpose or function when connected to an electrical installation, notwithstanding that any of such materials or things may be mechanical, metallic, or non-electric in origin.

They added the Luminaire.

Hazardous location (see Appendix B) - premises, buildings, or parts thereof in which
(a)     an explosive gas atmosphere is present, or may be present, in the air in quantities that require special precautions for the construction, installation, and use of electrical equipment;
(b)     combustible dusts are present, or may be present, in the form of clouds or layers in quantities to require special precautions for the construction, installation, and operation of electrical equipment; or
(c)     combustible fibres or flyings are manufactured, handled or stored in a manner that will require special precautions for the construction, installation, and operation of electrical equipment.

They say pretty much the same thing but use the term "Special Precautions" It's easier to understand now.

Overload device - a device affording protection from excess current, but not necessarily short-circuit protection, and capable of automatically opening an electric circuit.

Removed some excess wording ( Either by fusing of metal or by electro-mechanical means)

Service box - an approved assembly consisting of an enclosure that can be locked or sealed, containing either fuses and a switch, or a circuit breaker, and of such design that it is possible to operate either the switch or circuit breaker to the open position by manual means when the box is closed (see Appendix B).

Removed Effectively can be locked and made it Can be locked and added Appendix B

Supply authority - any person, firm, corporation, company, commission, or other organization responsible for an electrical power distribution network that connects to a consumer's service (see Appendix B).
Added wording and Appendix B

Voltage -
Extra-low voltage - any voltage not exceeding 30 V.
High voltage - any voltage exceeding 750 V.
Low voltage - any voltage exceeding 30 V but not exceeding 750 V.

Changed the wording from "Above" to "Exceeding"

Section 2

2-122 (2) (e)     mineral-insulated cable, aluminum-sheathed cable, or copper-sheathed cable shall not be used with types of thermal insulation that are liable to have a corrosive action on the sheath.

Added Copper Sheathed Cable

2-302 Maintenance in hazardous locations
All electrical equipment installed in hazardous locations shall comply with Rule 18-012.
Got rid of duplicate information and put it on 18-012. which I will discuss later as a change

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2-306 Shock and arc flash protection (see Appendix B)
(1)     Electrical equipment such as switchboards, panelboards, industrial control panels, meter socket enclosures, and motor control centres that are installed in other than dwelling units and are likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized shall be field marked to warn persons of potential electric shock and arc flash hazards.
(2)     The marking referred to in Subrule (]) shall be located so that it is clearly visible to persons before examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance of the equipment.
Here We go guys! This rule now references CSA Z462 in Appendix B. At the present time, CSA Z462 is voluntary, and still remains voluntary unless the Amendments make mandatory. It Deals with ARC FLASH AND SHOCK Hazards, This is a VERY in depth subject and will be dealt with as another topic. For now, Z462 is a reference for assistance to determine your requirements. KEEP THIS ON YOUR MIND….IT IS GOING TO BE A HOT TOPIC WITH THE INSPECTORS !
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2-310 Entrance to, and exit from, working space (see Appendices B, G, and I)
(1)     Each room containing electrical equipment and each working space around equipment shall have unobstructed means of egress in compliance with the National Building Code of Canada.
Was "Suitable…now "Unobstructed". And now requires to be compliant with the building code.

Section 4

4-004 Ampacity of wires and cables (see Appendices B and I)
(1)     The maximum current that a copper conductor of a given size and insulation may carry shall be as follows:
(a)     single-conductor and single-conductor metal-sheathed or armoured cable, in a free air run, with a cable spacing not less than 100% of the larger cable diameter, as specified in Table 1;
(b)     One, two, or three conductors in a run of raceway, or 2- or 3-conductor cable, except as indicated in Subrule (1 )(d), as specified in Table 2;
(c)     four or more conductors in a run of raceway or cable, as specified in Table 2 with the correction factors applied as specified in Table 5C; and
(d)     single-conductor and 2-, 3-, and 4-conductor cables and single-conductor and 2-, 3-, and 4-conductor metal-armoured and metal-sheathed cables, in conductor sizes No. 1 /O AWG and larger, in an underground run, directly buried or in a raceway, as calculated by the method of IEEE 835.
(2)     The maximum current that an aluminum conductor of a given size and insulation may carry shall be as follows:
(a)      single-conductor and single-conductor metal-sheathed or armoured cable, in a free air run, with a cable spacing not less than 100% of the larger cable diameter, as specified in Table 3;
(b)     one, two, or three conductors in a run of raceway, or 2- or 3-conductor cable, except as indicated in Subrule (2)(d), as specified in Table 4;
(c)     four or more conductors in a run of raceway or cable, as specified in Table 4 with the correction factors applied as specified in Table 5C; and
(d)     single-conductor and 2-, 3-, and 4-conductor cables and single-conductor and 2-, 3-, and 4-conductor metal-armoured and metal-sheathed cables, in conductor sizes No. 1 /O AWG and larger, in an underground run, directly buried or in a raceway, as calculated by the method of IEEE 835.
(3)
(9)     Except as permitted by Subrule (10), where single conductors having a free air rating are run in contact with each other, the ampacity shall be corrected by applying the factors in Table 5B for up to four cables in contact, and by utilizing the ampacity of Table 2 or 4 where there are more than four in contact.
(10)   Notwithstanding Subrule (9), where not more than four non-jacketed single-conductor mineral-insulated cables are grouped together in conformance with Rule 4-008(3) and are installed on a messenger or as open runs with a maintained free air space of not less than 2.15 times the diameter of the largest cable contained within the group and adjacent groups or cables, the ampacity of each conductor in the group shall be permitted to be determined in accordance with Subrule (1 )(a) without applying the factors of Table 5B.

This (These) rules have had some cleaning up….Words instead of numbers (one was 1, two was 2 etc.) They added a clause (10) and re-numbered all the rest of the sub-rules. The major change is the addition of MI Cable (Mineral Insulated). If you run it on a messenger (Like Triplex) or maintain proper spacing, and group them as per 4-008(3) you don't have to derate it, with table 5B.

4-010 Uses of flexible cord
(1)     Flexible cord shall be of the types specified in Table 11 for each specific condition of use.
(2)     Flexible cord shall be permitted to be used for
(a)      electrical equipment for household or similar use that is intended to be (i)      moved from place to place; or
(ii)     detachably connected according to a Canadian Electrical Code, Part II Standard; and
(b)     electrical equipment for industrial use that must be capable of being moved from place to place for operation;
(c)      pendants;
(d)     wiring of cranes, hoists, passenger ropeways, and passenger conveyors;

Added 2 more permitted uses.
4-016 Flexible cord used in show windows or show cases
(1)   Flexible cord used in show windows or show cases shall, except for chain type luminaires, be of at least hard usage types.
Used to say "Chain Fixtures"

4-018 Equipment wire
(1)     Equipment wire shall be of a type specified in Table 11 for each specified condition of use.
(2)     Equipment wire used as luminaire wiring shall be not smaller than a No. 18 AWG copper conductor.
Replaced "fixture" with Luminaire. (Does anybody actually call light fixtures "Luminaires"?
Why yes nice lady…we will finish the sub-terrainian level of your home with our finest energy efficient single lamp earth friendly pure white keyless luminaires…………..

Section 6

6-102 Number of supply services permitted (see Appendices B and I)
Two or more supply services of the same voltage shall not be run to any building from the same system of any one supply authority, except that additional supply services shall be permitted for supplying

Appendix I clarifies that "same system" means the "same Transformer".

Section 8

8-104 Maximum circuit loading (see Appendix B)
(4)     Where a fused switch or circuit breaker is marked for continuous operation at 100% of the ampere rating of its overcurrent devices, the continuous load as determined from the calculated load shall not exceed
(a)      100% of the rating of the circuit where the ampacity of the conductors is based on Column 2, 3, or 4 of Table 2 or 4; or
(b)     85% of the rating of the circuit where the ampacity of the conductors is based on Column 2, 3, or 4 of Table 1 or 3.

(5)     Where a fused switch or circuit breaker is marked for continuous operation at 80% of the ampere rating of its overcurrent devices, the continuous load as determined from the calculated load shall not exceed
(a)     80% of the rating of the circuit where the ampacity of the conductors is based on Column 2, 3, or 4 of Table 2 or 4; or
(b)     70% of the rating of the circuit where the ampacity of the conductors is based on Column 2, 3, or 4 of Table 1 or 3.

Both rules dropped "Service Box and Panelboard" because it is already covered in Appendix B. This is a sore point with me because I can't understand why CSA would allow something to be rated less than continuous to begin with? A 100 amp breaker should be safe at 100 amps continuously.….

8-304 Maximum number of outlets per circuit (see Appendix I)
(1)     There shall be not more than 12 outlets on any 2-wire branch circuit, except as permitted by other Rules of this Code.
(2)     Such outlets shall be considered to be rated at not less than 1 A per outlet, except as permitted by Subrule (3).
(3)     Where the connected load is known, the number of outlets shall be permitted to exceed 12, provided that the load current does not exceed 80% of the rating of the overcurrent device protecting the circuit.
(4)       Where fixed multi-outlet assemblies are used, each 1.5 m or fraction thereof of each separate and continuous length shall be counted as one outlet, but in locations where a number of electrical appliances are likely to be used simultaneously, each 300 mm or fraction thereof shall be counted as one outlet.

There is no change in this rule, however in appendix I they did clarify a couple things.:
Subrule (2) can be applied in all occupancies
Subrule (2) can not be used for voltage drop calculations. For example, if you have 2 plugs, you cant use 2 amps in a voltage drop calculation. You still need to use the unknown load at 12 amps.

Section 10

OK Then….. first lets talk about a few things. A SYSTEM is any source of power. It is the incoming power from hydro. It is also things like UPS's, Generators, Transformers, Solar power etc…. It is anything that is the origin of new power. Remember that after a transformer, you have created a new system because the secondary is only Magnetically Coupled to the primary and has no reference to ground until you provide it.
Also remember that the SYSTEM GROUND is the only real GROUND. All the other wires we call ground wires are actually BOND wires which bond things to the System Ground.

10-204 Grounding connections for alternating-current systems (see Appendix B)
(1)     When a consumer's service is supplied by an alternating-current system that is required to be grounded in accordance with Rule 10-106(1), the system shall
10-106 says if it's not over 150 volts to ground, or if it has a neutral.
(a)     be connected to a grounding conductor at the transformer or other source of supply;
So you must connect it to the main system ground at the source. Transformer, ups, generator etc…
(b)     be connected to a grounding conductor at each individual service, with the connection made on the supply side of the service disconnecting means either in the service box or in other service equipment; and
Your Ground has to be on the supply side. Not on the load side. It must be made IN the Service equipment! No Split bolts on the wire outside the box! (Remember this is system ground--Not bonds. Bonds can still be split bolted such as the bond to an ump box can still be split bolted to the system grounding conductor)
(c)     except as provided for in Rule 10-208, have no connection between the grounded circuit conductor on the load side of the service disconnecting means and the grounding electrode. The "Neutral" gets grounded on the line side ONLY!
(2)     Where the system is grounded at any point, the grounded conductor shall
(a)     be run to each individual service; you have to run the ground to every individual service. At this point, it now turns into a bonding conductor.
(b)     have a minimum size as specified for bonding conductors in Table 16;
(c)     also comply with Rule 4-022 where it serves as the neutral; and
(d)     be included in each parallel run where the service conductors are run in parallel.
(3)     Notwithstanding Rule 12-108, the size of the system grounded conductors in each parallel run shall be permitted to be smaller than No. 1/0 AWC.

10-206 Grounding connections for different systems at a facility (see Appendix B)
(1)     Where, in addition to the system supplying the consumer's service as described in Rule 10-204, one or more different systems conforming to Rule 10-106(1) exist at a facility,
(a)     each different system shall be connected to a separate grounding conductor (i)      at the transformer or other source of supply; or (ii)     at the first switch controlling the system.
Rule (2) just says you can tie 2 systems to the same lugs either where they meet or at the service equipment.
(2)     Notwithstanding Subrule (1), where the conductor to be grounded from each of two such systems terminates at a common tie point, a single connection to a grounding conductor shall be permitted to be made
(a)     at the tie point; or
(b)     at the service equipment if one of the systems supplies the consumer's service.

Rule (3) just says if you have a small tranny of 1000 VA or less, then you can just consider the Bond to ground as the system ground for that tranny. You can use the enclosure or the bond wire for this.
(3)     Notwithstanding Rules 10-802 and 10-806, where a circuit is required to be grounded and is supplied from a source having a rated output of 1000 V"A or less, the grounding connection shall be permitted to be made to
(a)     the metal enclosure of the power supply, provided that the enclosure is connected to a bonding conductor; or
(b) The bonding conductor within the enclosure.

10-402 Fixed equipment, specific

(3)     All non-current-carrying metal parts of luminaires (Was Light Fixtures) and associated equipment that could become energized shall be bonded to ground if they are
(a)     exposed; or
(b)     not exposed, but in contact with exposed metal parts.

10-406 Non-electrical equipment (see Appendix B)
(1)     The following metal parts of non-electrical equipment shall be bonded to ground:
(a)     frames and tracks of electrically operated cranes;
(b)     the metal frame of a non-electrically driven elevator car to which electric conductors are attached;
(c)     hand-operated metal shifting ropes or cables of electric elevators; AND
(d)     metal enclosures such as partitions, grille work, etc., around equipment carrying voltages in excess of 750 V between conductors; and
(e)     tower and station structures of passenger ropeways, passenger conveyors, or material ropeways. Subrule (e) has been added
(2)     Where a metal water piping system is installed in a building supplied with electric power and is not used as a grounding electrode required by Rule 10-700,

10-804 Material for bonding conductors
The bonding conductor for equipment and metal raceways and enclosures for conductors shall be one of the following:
(f)     the sheath of aluminum-sheathed cable or copper-sheathed cable, except that if the sheath is used in underground runs or in locations where materials having a deteriorating effect may come in contact with the metal, corrosion-resistant protection suitable for the corrosive conditions encountered shall be provided; or (g)    other metal raceways or cable armour as provided for in Rule 10-618.

Just some wording cleanup.

10-808 Installation of equipment bonding conductors
(1)The bonding conductor for equipment shall be permitted to be spliced or tapped, but such splices or taps shall be made only within boxes, except in the case of open wiring where they shall be permitted to be made externally from boxes and shall be covered with insulation.
(2)Where more than one bonding conductor enters a box, all such conductors shall be in good electrical contact with each other by securing all bonding conductors under bonding screws, or by connecting them together with a solderless connector and connecting one conductor only to the box by a bonding screw or a bonding device , and the arrangement shall be such that the disconnection or removal of electrical equipment fed from the box will not interfere with or interrupt the bonding continuity.
This is some cleanup again. It used to say "receptacle, fixture or other device"

10-812 Grounding conductor size for alternating-current systems and for service equipment (see Appendix B)
(1)     The size of the grounding conductor for a grounding electrode consisting of a continuous metallic public water system or other interconnected electrode systems that may provide multiple metallic paths back to the source shall be selected from Table 17.
(2)     The size of the grounding conductor for other types of grounding electrodes shall be not smaller than No. 6 AWG.

This is a complete rule re-write. It still uses table 17 for water lines and such, but part 2 says it has to be #6 minimum for anything else. (Ground rods, plates, ufer etc)
NOTE!!! The last code was amended to use the old code table 17.so we had to add a table into our code books. That is gone now nd we use the table as it is written. .

That is as far as i have done so far.... Sorry for the delays.

Always check these rules yourself and read your code book and ammendments. These are my personal interpertations and as such should not be relyed on as correct.

Thanks... Les.