by Brianna Crandall — August 10, 2011—IEEE, “the world’s largest professional association advancing technology for humanity,” has announced the availability of its new National Electrical Safety Code (NESC)—2012 Edition. Produced exclusively by IEEE, the NESC provides practical guidance to help safeguard employees and the public when electrical supply and communications lines are installed, operated and maintained, including overhead and underground electrical supply lines, telephone or cable and TV lines, and signal and power installations for railroads.
The NESC covers a broad range of areas from storage batteries, transformers and conductors to switchgear, circuit breakers, physical clearances, cable terminations, safety warning signs, and protective clothing for workers installing electrical equipment. For example, its clearance rules outline the minimum distances between electric transmission wires and the ground, and structures such as buildings and trees.
IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) has published the NESC for 40 years, and says the Code is used today throughout the United States and in more than 100 countries. The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of over 900 active standards and more than 500 standards under development. Full details of the revisions made in the 2012 edition can be found at the IEEE National Electrical Safety Code Web page.
