We all rely on electricity every day. We take for granted that buildings are wired for electricity, making it easy to use countless devices that dictate many aspects of our lives.
Yet, that wiring has to be installed, and the way it is installed matters. In fact, many governments, from the federal to local level, have strict guidelines that dictate how wiring is installed, who can do it, and how they should protect themselves in the process.
While covering every set of regulations would be a major undertaking, many governments draw inspiration from two specific guides: the NEC and the NFPA e70.
What Is the NFPA?
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States. The organization does international work trying to lay out safety guidelines for many scenarios that relate to fire danger and personal risk.
Among those guidelines are the NEC (more on that in the next section) and the NFPA e70. The e70 is a set of guidelines that focus on worker safety in electrical environments. It demonstrates best practices, proper equipment, techniques, and more that protect workers who regularly install or maintain indoor electrical devices.
Emphasis rests with “indoor” settings. Different guidelines exist for line workers and other electrical settings, but for indoor work (such as wiring a light switch), the e70 is a leading guide that protects electricians and other workers.
What Is the NEC?
The National Electric Code (NEC) is another guideline set and maintained by the NFPA. It is regularly updated, and it outlines best practices to make electrical wiring and devices as safe as reasonably possible for indoor settings.
The NEC itself is not codified into law or governed by any official body. It is made entirely by the NFPA.
That said, the NEC is regularly referenced and cited by state and local governments when making their own regulations for electrical safety.
In general, the NEC serves as an effective guide for building codes and related safety regulations across the country.
How Do They Compare?
While both the e70 and NEC are written and maintained by the NFPA, they serve different purposes.
The NEC focuses on wiring and devices. The goal is to arrange electricity in a building in a way that minimizes fire and shock risk. If everything is designed, installed, and maintained according to the NEC, then risks of fire and other dangers should be minimized.
The NEC protects anyone who works or lives in a building that has electrical wiring.
Meanwhile, the NFPA e70 focuses on worker safety. There will be some crossover in recommendations between each guide, but the e70 looks more at worker behavior when dealing with indoor electrical systems.
The NEC is more or less a guide for states and local governments when they write their building codes.
As for the e70, it is often referenced by OSHA, but it is not as widely used for all worker safety regulations. It remains one of the best references for anyone who works with electricity, and in most cases, following the e70 will help workers exceed minimum safety requirements.
