NFPA 70E Electrical Enclosure/Panel Codes 1

[wpyles]

I am in the process of importing an enclosure from Colombia. I want to know what NFPA 70E or other codes that will be inspected in order to be imported at the US Border?

 

[jraef]

There is no "code" enforcement at the borders. All they (Customs) are interested in is controlled substances (and I'm sure that coming from Colombia, yours will get a thorough investigation), trade restrictions and things of danger like firearms, explosives and hazardous materials. From a commercial standpoint, they will want specifics as to what it is so that they can charge any applicable tariffs, so you will want to engage a good customs agent to help you through the process of what to call your equipment as a mistake there can be costly. But this is not the place to discuss commercial issues.

The only place where code enforcement takes place is at the final destination and it is different state by state and even different again in larger cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. The "National Electric Code" (NEC), which is technically NFPA 70 (no E) is generally adopted by every state however, then some of them amend it by ADDING requirements; none of the states REMOVE any requirements as far as I know. But still, the NEC is not a design or construction code, it is primarily an installation code. Within it, there are generalized rules that require "listing" by 3rd parties, collectively called NRTLs, (Nationally Recognized Testing Labs). NRTLs themselves are often adopted state by state, but most use a list that is maintained by OSHA (the national Occupational Safety and Health Administration). You can see the list here. Among the NRTLs, UL is universally accepted and in fact most of the others just use UL test standards even if they charge less for the actual testing and listing. But there are many states where the NRTL requirement is not included.

One thing that you may have to deal with however is that the NEC requires industrial control panel equipment to clearly display an "SCCR" (Short Circuit Current Rating) on the outside before you can connect it to a power system. The rules for that are outlined in Article 409 of the NEC, and the testing / listing standards can be found in UL508A, Supplement SB.

Bottom line though, it is not the border that you must worry about with regards to "code" enforcement, it is the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) at the final destination.

As to NFPA 70E, that is not an enforceable code at all and it has little to do with equipment design requirements. It is simply a standard for safe workplace practices. OSHA requires that workplaces have safe electrical practices that help prevent death and injury from the dangers of Arc Flash and electrical shocks. The NFPA 70E supplement is widely regarded and accepted as a standard that employers can follow which will be accepted by OSHA as valid during an investigation following an accident. There are no NFPA 70E police. To that end, a small portion of the NFPA 70E allows for a lowering of the hazard Risk category (HRC) of certain tasks on equipment and thereby lower levels of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) while performing those tasks if the equipment being worked on has a certification that it is "Arc Resistant" clearly displayed on the outside. This ONLY affects tasks that would be preformed with the doors closed. But if this is a one-off piece of equipment, it is highly unlikely that you will want to spend the tens of thousands of dollars necessary to get it tested and certified as Arc Resistant. Nobody does this for anything beside major equipment like Switchgear and Motor Control Centers, they just let the end user deal with it on one-off pieces of equipment.

"Dear future generations: Please accept our apologies. We were rolling drunk on petroleum."
— Kilgore Trout (via Kurt Vonnegut)
For the best use of Eng-Tips, please click here -> faq731-376

 

[jraef]

Sorry, forgot to embed the link to OHSA's NRTL site.

http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/

"Dear future generations: Please accept our apologies. We were rolling drunk on petroleum."
— Kilgore Trout (via Kurt Vonnegut)
For the best use of Eng-Tips, please click here -> faq731-376

 

[wpyles]

Thanks,
Your answer was very helpful