Notes on the New Canadian Electrical Code (1) Related issues,   (2) Effective dates of the New Electrical Code The new Canadian Electrical Code published by Canadian Standards Association, (CSA) became available in January 2006. However, before it can be used (enforced) in any Provincial or Territorial region in Canada it must first be adopted by the authority having jurisdiction in that region. That authority will first determine what amendments they will make to the new edition of the Electrical Code before they will adopt it for use in their region. This process takes time to complete. It is expected that some Provinces will be adopting the new Code in October. We plan to have the revised editions of Electrical Code Simplified Book 1 books available in time for the adoption of the new Code. We have prepared a new edition of Book 1 for those provincial areas where the Canadian Electrical Code is, or will be, adopted without provincial amendments or additions.  This new edition is called Electrical Code Simplified, NoAm Book 1.  See the Home page in this site. The new edition of Electrical Code Simplified Book 2 based on the 2006 Canadian Electrical Code, 20th Edition, is available now.       (3) Code Rules Rule 4-022(3)(b) - This Subrule in changed slightly in the new Code but it was not identified as having been changed. The old Rule required the service neutral to have an ampacity not less than that of a grounding conductor required by Rule 10-812. The new Rule was revised to refer to the size, not the ampacity of this conductor and it now refers to Rule 10-204(3). This represents a major change. The grounded conductor (usually this is also the neutral conductor) is no longer required to be the same size as the service grounding conductor.  In fact, the neutral conductor in some cases, is actually sized the same as a bonding conductor. This is clarified in the comments on Rule 10-204(3) in Electrical Code Simplified Book 2.   Rule 10-208 Grounding: Subrule (a) - says the neutral must be grounded at each building. This has nothing whatever to do with the question of livestock in the building. This is service neutral grounding and it is required at every building without exception. Subrule (b) does not apply to the grounded neutral, Note that it refers only, and specifically, to the non current carrying metal parts, such as the metal conduit, the metal outlet boxes etc.,but does not refer to the neutral conductor. This Subrule allows these non current carrying metal parts to be bonded back to the main service panel although it is difficult to see why anyone would want to do this. .Subrule (b) will permit a separate bonding conductor to be run with the supply conductors back to the main panel if the building is not used for livestock. This is strictly bonding of electrical equipment and if we provided this bonding conductor we would still be required to ground the neutral as shown on page 22, Section 10, in Electrical Code Simplified Book 2.  The point here is that in every case the neutral must be grounded at every building.   Rule 26-700(11) - There appears to be a problem with the parenthesis in this Subrule. The first part of the Subrule is quoted here to identify the problem. " Receptacles having CSA configuration 5-15R or 5-20RA installed within 1.5 m of sinks (wash basins complete with drain pipe), bathtubs or shower stalls shall be protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter of the Class A type except where the receptacle is"   The part in the short parenthesis in this Rule, modifies or clarifies the word or phrase directly in front of it. In this case it modifies or clarifies the word "sink" as it was intended to be understood for the purpose of this Rule. That is the normal grammatical significance of that parenthesis. The interpretation of this Rule, in it's present form, therefore, refers only to wash basins. The word "sinks" in this Rule is defined by the parenthesis as a wash basin, one which is complete with drain pipe. As it is written, this Rule does not affect a kitchen sink at all unless we can agree that the kitchen sink is a washbasin, however, the Code rules do not ever refer to a kitchen sink as a washbasin. To verify the explanation of a parenthesis as given above, check the use of that text tool throughout the Code. Wherever a parenthesis is used it's purpose is always to clarify the previous word or statement. This is true even where it is used in a Rule to identify which subrule the text is referring. For example, Rule 26-700 has many subrules, therefore a simple reference to Rule 26-700 is almost meaningless. We need clarification, a more precise identification of the particular part of that Rule we wish to talk about. To do this we use the brackets to enclose the specific subrule identification number or letter. When the reference is to Rule 26-700(11) it is specific; the parenthesis identifies the particular Subule we wish to deal with. The Appendix and the small Code booklet produced by CSA both point at what was intended by this Rule. I want to say this with great respect, where the Rule is vague and/or inconclusive, intent, can be used but where, as in this case, the grammatical construction is clear using normal interpreting methods, intent cannot, in my opinion, change or modify this Rule. It must be possible for anyone to read a Rule and understand it's meaning without having to search for the intent. Neither the Code booklet nor the Appendix can amend a Rule, they can only interpret the Rule as it is written.   I suggest this is a typo; that it was intended to read "within 1.5 m of sinks, wash basins (complete with drainpipe), bathtubs, or shower stalls shall be protected - - -. In this suggested, revised construction the parenthesis functions in the same way; it simply defines the word immediately in front of it. In this case it does not refer to the sink at all, it properly defines, or qualifies, which wash basins are included in the requirement. i.e., only those that are complete with a drain pipe. It appears to be a simple typographical error that can be corrected by relocating the parenthesis as noted above. When that change is made the Rule will require GFI protection not just for receptacles located near a washbasin but also for all plug outlets near a kitchen sink as illustrated below.    The corrected Rule would have the following affects on the plug outlets near a kitchen sink.

New Page April 30/06