New Articles in the 2020 NEC

By: Amy Bonilla | Oct 30, 2019

There will be four new article additions to the 2020 NEC:

1. Article 242 Overvoltage Protection
2. Article 311 Medium Voltage Conductors and Cable
3. Article 337 Type P Cable
4. Article 800 General Requirements for Communications Systems

Article 242 – Overvoltage Protection

The new article 242 will cover the installation and requirements for overvoltage protection as well as overvoltage protective devices.  Much of the information in this article was moved from Articles 280, Surge Arresters Over 1000 Volts, and 285, Surge-Protective Devices, 1000 Volts or Less.  Equipment needs to be protected against overvoltage in accordance with the article that covers the type of equipment or location.

Part I. General.

Part II. Surge-Protective Devices, 1000 Volts or Less.

Part III. Surge Arresters, Over 1000 Volts.

Article 311 – Medium Voltage Conductors and Cable

The new article 311 will include the installation, construction, and ampacities for medium voltage conductors and cable (Type MV).   Previously covered in different articles (310 and 328), the information has been combined into one new article.

Part I. General.

Part II. Construction Specifications.

Part III. Installation.

Part IV. Ampacities.

Article 337 – Type P Cable

New article 337 covers Type P cable.  In the past, Type P cable was allowed in certain applications, but there was no specific article in the NEC for this cable.  Type P cable is “a factory assembly of one or more insulated flexible tinned copper conductors, with associated equipment grounding conductor(s), with or without a braided metallic armor and an overall nonmetallic jacket.” The new article covers the use, installation, and construction specifications for this cable which is flexible, rugged, and used in oil and gas well drilling installations or other adverse conditions.

Part I. General

Part II. Installation

Part III. Construction Specifications

Article 800 – General Requirements for Communications Systems

Article 800 has been introduced to cover general requirements that were previously found in articles 800, 820, 830, and 840.  This article replaces redundant requirements found in each of the articles during past code cycles and covers “communications circuits, community antenna television and radio distribution systems, and premises-powered broadband communications systems.”  The article clarifies general requirements that can be modified by other articles in Chapter 8 (805, 820, 830, or 840).

Part I. General

Part II. Wires and Cables Outside and Entering Buildings

Part III. Grounding Methods

Part IV. Installation Methods Within Buildings

Part V. Listing Requirements

The article that was previously 800 – Communications Circuits – was moved to become article 805.

Along with these new articles, there have been hundreds of other changes introduced in the 2020 NEC.  To learn more about some of the most relevant and important changes, register for a Code Update course today!