Terms | page 8- 11

Grounding Electrode

A device that establishes an electrical connection to the earth.

Ground-Fault Current Path

An electrically conductive path from the point of a ground fault on a wiring system through normally non-current-carrying conductors, equipment, or the earth to electrical supply source.

Ground-Fault Protection of Equipment

A system intended to provide protection of equipment from damaging line-to-ground fault currents by operating to cause a disconnecting means to open all ungrounded conductors of the faulted circuit. This protection is provided at current levels less than those required to protect conductors from damage through the operation of a supply circuit overcurrent device.

Grounding Conductor, Equipment (EGC)

The conductive path(s) that provides a ground-fault current path and connects normally non-current-carrying metal parts of equipment together and to the system grounded conductor or to the grounding electrode conductor, or both.

Controller

A device or group of devices that serves to govern, in some predetermined manner, the electric power delivered to the apparatus to which it is connected.

Cutout Box

An enclosure designed for surface mounting that has swinging doors or covers secured directly to and telescoping with the walls of the enclosure.

Dead Front

Without live parts exposed to a person on the operating side of the equipment.

Demand Factor

The ratio of the maximum demand of a system, or part of a system, to the total connected load of a system or the part of the system under consideration.

Device

A unit of an electrical system, other than a conductor, that is intended to carry or control but not utilize electric energy.

Electric Sign

A fixed, stationary, or portable self- contained, electrically operated and/or electrically illuminated utilization equipment with words or symbols designed to convey information or attract attention.

Enclosed

Surrounded by a case, housing, fence, or wall(s) that prevents persons from accidentally contacting energized parts.

Enclosure

The case or housing of apparatus, or the fence or walls surrounding an installation to prevent personnel from accidentally contacting energized partsor to protect the equipment from physical damage.

Grounding Electrode Conductor

The conductor used to connect the grounding electrode(s) to the equipment grounding conductor, to the grounded conductor, or to both, at the service, at each building or structure where supplied by a feeder(s) or branch circuit(s), or at the source of a separately derived system.

Guarded

Covered, shielded, fenced, enclosed, or

otherwise protected by means of suitable covers,

casings, barriers, rails, screens, mats, or platforms to

remove the likelihood of approach or contact by persons

or objects to a point of danger.

Guest Room

An accommodation combining living,

sleeping, sanitary, and storage facilities within a

compartment.

Guest Suite

 An accommodation with two or more

contiguous rooms comprising a compartment, with or

without doors between such rooms, that provides living,

sleeping, sanitary, and storage facilities.

Handhole Enclosure

An enclosure identified for use in underground systems, provided with an open or closed bottom, and sized to allow personnel to reach into, but not enter, for the purpose of installing, operating, or

maintaining equipment or wiring or both.

Hermatic Refrigerant Motor-Compressor.

A combination consisting of a compressor and motor,

both of which are enclosed in the same housing, with no

external shaft or shaft seals, with the motor operating in

the refrigerant.

Hermetically Sealed [as applied to Hazardous

(Classified) Locations]

Equipment sealed against the

entrance of an external atmosphere where the seal

is made by fusion, for example, soldering, brazing,

welding, or the fusion of glass to metal.

FPN: For further information, see ANSI/ ISA-12.12.01-2013,

Nonincendive Electrical Equipment for Use in Class I and

II, Division 2, and Class III, Divisions 1 and 2 Hazardous

(Classified) Locations.

Hoistway

Any shaftway, hatchway, well hole, or

other vertical opening or space in which an elevator or

dumbwaiter is designed to operate.

Hybrid System

A system comprised of multiple

power sources. These power sources could include

photovoltaic, wind, micro-hydro generators, engine-

driven generators, and others, but do not include electric

power production and distribution network systems.

Energy storage systems such as batteries, flywheels,

or superconducting magnetic storage equipment do

not constitute a power source for the purpose of this

definition. The energy regenerated by an overhauling

(descending) elevator does not constitute a power

source for the purpose of this definition.

Identified (as applied to equipment)

Recognizable as suitable for the specific purpose, function, use,

environment, application, and so forth, where described

in a particular Code requirement.

In Sight From (Within Sight From, Within Sight)

Where this Code specifies that one equipment shall

be “in sight from,” “within sight from,” or “within

sight,” and so forth, of another equipment, the specified

equipment is to be visible and not more than 15 m

distant from the other.

Industrial Control Panel

An assembly of two or more components consisting of one of the following:

(1) power circuit components only, such as motor controllers, overload relays, fused disconnect switches,and circuit breakers;

(2) control circuit components only, such as push buttons, pilot lights, selector switches, timers, switches, and control relays;

(3) a combination of power and control circuit components. These

components, with associated wiring and terminals,

are mounted on, or contained within, an enclosure or

mounted on a subpanel. The industrial control panel does not include the controlled equipment.

Information Technology Equipment (ITE)

Equipment and systems rated 1000 volts or less, normally found

in offices or other business establishments and similar

environments classified as ordinary locations, that

are used for creation and manipulation of data, voice,

video, and similar signals that are not communications

equipment as defined in Part 1.0.1 and do not process

communications circuits as defined in 8.0.1.2.

Innerduct

A nonmetallic raceway placed within a

larger raceway.

Interactive Inverter

An inverter intended for use in

parallel with an electric utility to supply common loads

that may deliver power to the utility.

Interactive System

An electric power production system that is operating in parallel with and capable of delivering energy to an electric primary source supply system.

Interrupting Rating

The highest current at rated

voltage that a device is intended to interrupt under

standard test conditions.

Intersystem Bonding Termination

A device that provides a means for connecting intersystem bonding

conductors for communications systems to the

grounding electrode system.

Intrinsically Safe Apparatus

Apparatus in which all the circuits are intrinsically safe.

Intrinsically Safe System [as applied to Hazardous

(Classified) Locations]

An assembly of interconnected

intrinsically safe apparatus, associated apparatus, and

interconnecting cables, in that those parts of the system

that may be used in hazardous (classified) locations are

intrinsically safe circuits.

Isolated (as applied to location)

Not readily accessible to persons unless special means for access are used.

Kitchen

An area with a sink and permanent provisions

for food preparation and cooking.

Labeled

Equipment or materials to which has been

attached a label, symbol, or other identifying mark of an

organization that is concerned with product evaluation,

that maintains periodic inspection of production of

labeled equipment or materials, and by whose labeling

the manufacturer indicates compliance with appropriate

standards or performance in a specified manner.

Lighting Outlet

An outlet intended for the direct

connection of a lampholder, a luminaire (lighting

fixture), or a pendant cord terminating in a lampholder.

Lighting Track (Track Lighting)

A manufactured assembly designed to support and energize luminaires that are capable of being readily repositioned on

the track. Its length can be altered by the addition or

subtraction of sections of track.

Listed

Equipment, materials, or services included in

a list published by an organization that is concerned

with evaluation of products or services, that maintains

periodic inspection of production of listed equipment or

materials or periodic evaluation of services, and whose

listing states that the equipment, material, or services

either meets appropriate designated standards or has

been tested and found suitable for a specified purpose.

Live Parts

Energized conductive components.

FPN: Examples of such locations include partially protected

locations under canopies, marquees, roofed open porches, and

like locations, and interior locations subject to moderate degrees

of moisture, such as some basements, some barns, and some cold-

storage warehouses.

Location, Damp

Locations protected from weather

and not subject to saturation with water or other liquids

but subject to moderate degrees of moisture.

Location, Dry

A location not normally subject to

dampness or wetness. A location classified as dry may

be temporarily subject to dampness or wetness, as in the

case of a building under construction.

Location, Wet

Installations underground or in

concrete slabs or masonry in direct contact with the

earth; in locations subject to saturation with water or

other liquids, such as vehicle washing areas; and in

unprotected locations exposed to weather.

Luminaire

A complete lighting unit consisting of

a lamp or lamps together with the parts designed to

distribute the light, to position and protect the lamps

and ballast (where applicable), and to connect the lamps

to the power supply.

Mobile Equipment

Equipment with electrical

components suitable to be moved only with mechanical

aids or is provided with wheels for movement by

person(s) or powered devices.

Motor Control Center

An assembly of one or more

enclosed sections having a common power bus and

principally containing motor control units.

Multioutlet Assembly

A type of surface, flush, or freestanding raceway designed to hold conductors and receptacles, assembled in the field or at the factory.

National Electrical Engineering Law

A law enacted by Congress providing for a more responsive and

comprehensive regulation for the practice, licensing

and registration of electrical engineers and electricians

otherwise referred to as Republic Act 7920 (RA 7920)

or a future law that supersedes it.

Neutral Conductor

The conductor connected to the

neutral point of a system that is intended to carry current

under normal conditions.

Neutral Point

common point on a wye-connection

in a polyphase system or midpoint on a single-phase,

3-wire system, or midpoint of a single-phase portion

of a 3-phase delta system, or a midpoint of a 3-wire,

direct-current system.

Nonautomatic

Requiring human intervention to perform a function.

Nonconductive Optical Fiber Cable

A factory assembly of one or more optical fibers having an overall

covering and containing no electrically conductive

materials.

Nonincendive Circuit [as applied to Hazardous]

A circuit, other than field wiring, in which any arc or thermal effect produced under intended operating conditions of the equipment, is

not capable, under specified test conditions, of igniting

the flammable gas–air, vapor–air, or dust–air mixture.

Nonincendive Component [as applied to Hazardous

A component having contacts for making or breaking an incendive circuit and the contacting mechanism is constructed so that

the component is incapable of igniting the specified

flammable gas–air or vapor–air mixture. The housing

of a nonincendive component is not intended to exclude

the flammable atmosphere or contain an explosion.

Nonincendive Equipment [as applied to Hazardous

Equipment having electrical/

electronic circuitry that is incapable, under normal

operating conditions, of causing ignition of a specified

flammable gas–air, vapor–air, or dust–air mixture due

to arcing or thermal means.

Nonincendive Field Wiring [as applied to Hazardous]

Wiring that enters or leaves

an equipment enclosure and, under normal operating

conditions of the equipment, is not capable, due to

arcing or thermal effects, of igniting the flammable gas–

air, vapor–air, or dust–air mixture. Normal operation

includes opening, shorting, or grounding the field wiring.

Nonincendive Field Wiring Apparatus [as applied

to Hazardous]

Apparatus intended to be connected to nonincendive field wiring.

Nonlinear Load

A load where the wave shape of the

steady-state current does not follow the wave shape of

the applied voltage.

Oil Immersion [as applied to Hazardous]

Electrical equipment immersed in a

protective liquid in such a way that an explosive

atmosphere that may be above the liquid or outside the

enclosure cannot be ignited.

Optical Fiber Cable

A factory assembly or field assembly of one or more optical fibers having an overall covering.

Outlet

A point on the wiring system at which current is

taken to supply utilization equipment.

Outline Lighting

An arrangement of incandescent

lamps, electric discharge lighting, or other electrically

powered light sources to outline or call attention to

certain features such as the shape of a building or the

decoration of a window.

Overcurrent

Any current in excess of the rated current

of equipment or the ampacity of a conductor. It may

result from overload, short circuit, or ground fault.

FPN: A current in excess of rating may be accommodated by

certain equipment and conductors for a given set of conditions.

Therefore, the rules for overcurrent protection are specific for

particular situations.

Overcurrent Protective Device, Branch-Circuit

A device capable of providing protection for service,

feeder, and branch circuits and equipment over the full

range of overcurrents between its rated current and its

interrupting rating. Such devices are provided with

interrupting ratings appropriate for the intended use but

no less than 5000 amperes.

Overcurrent Protective Device, Supplementary

A device intended to provide limited overcurrent

protection for specific applications and utilization

equipment such as luminaires and appliances. This

limited protection is in addition to the protection

provided in the required branch circuit by the branch-

circuit overcurrent protective device.

Overload

Operation of equipment in excess of normal,

full-load rating, or of a conductor in excess of rated

ampacity that, when it persists for a sufficient length of

time, would cause damage or dangerous overheating.

A fault, such as a short circuit or ground fault, is not an

overload.

Panelboard

A single panel or group of panel units

designed for assembly in the form of a single panel,

including buses and automatic overcurrent devices,

and equipped with or without switches for the control

of light, heat, or power circuits; designed to be placed

in a cabinet or cutout box placed in or against a wall,

partition, or other support; and accessible only from the

front.

Photovoltaic (PV) System

The total components and

subsystem that, in combination, convert solar energy

into electric energy suitable for connection to a

utilization load.

Plenum

A compartment or chamber to which one or

more air ducts are connected and that forms part of the

air distribution system.

Portable Equipment

Equipment with electrical

components suitable to be moved by a single person

without mechanical aids.

Power Outlet

An enclosed assembly that may include

receptacles, circuit breakers, fuseholders, fused

switches, buses, and watt-hour meter mounting means;

intended to supply and control power to mobile homes,

recreational vehicles, park trailers, or boats or to serve

as a means for distributing power required to operate

mobile or temporarily installed equipment.

Premises Wiring (System)

interior and exterior

wiring, including power, lighting, control, and signal

circuit wiring together with all their associated

hardware, fittings, and wiring devices, both permanently

and temporarily installed, that extends from the service

point or source of power, such as a battery, a solar

photovoltaic system, or a generator, transformer, or

converter windings, to the outlet(s).

Such wiring does not include wiring internal to

appliances, luminaires (fixtures), motors, controllers,

motor control centers, and similar equipment.

Pressurized

The process of supplying an enclosure

with a protective gas with or without continuous

flow, at sufficient pressure to prevent the entrance of

combustible dust or ignitible fibers/ flyings.

Process Seal

A seal between electrical systems and

flammable or combustible process fluids where a failure

could allow the migration of process fluids into the

premises’ wiring system.

Purged and Pressurized

The process of (1) purging,

supplying an enclosure with a protective gas at a

sufficient flow and positive pressure to reduce the

concentration of any flammable gas or vapor initially

present to an acceptable level; and (2) pressurization,

supplying an enclosure with a protective gas with or

without continuous flow at sufficient pressure to prevent

the entrance of a flammable gas or vapor, a combustible

dust, or an ignitible fiber.

Raceway

An enclosed channel of metallic or

nonmetallic materials designed expressly for holding

wires, cables, or busbars, with additional functions as

permitted in this Code.

Receptacle Output

An outlet where one or more

receptacles are installed.

Ventilated

Provided with a means to permit circulation

of air sufficient to remove an excess of heat, fumes, or

vapors.