NECA Announces New Study, Standard

Staff -- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 3/1/2005

The National Electrical Contractors Assn. has announced plans to continue a study of possible techniques for protecting ground-based personnel and equipment involved in line construction. The group also announced publication of a new standard that defines appropriate procedures for commissioning building electrical systems.

The Transmission and Distribution Worksite Shock Prevention research program, led by NECA's Electrical Contracting Foundation, is scheduled to run through 2006. In the second phase, now underway, researchers will field test protective techniques identified from literature reviews, current standards and NECA-member line constructors. The effort is intended to lead to training materials and installation standards outlining worksite protection.

The group's new National Electrical Installation Standard (NEIS), NECA 90–2004, "Recommended Practice for Commissioning Building Electrical Systems," steps away from the general product-based approach of other NEIS publications to look across multiple electrical installation processes, and defines the commissioning process.