This is the fifth and final of a series of articles detailing significant changes for the 2021 Canadian Electrical Code Part I (CE Code). A full copy of the CE Code is available at https://www.csagroup.org/store/.
Section 30
Rule 30-104 Protection the rule that details the maximum rating of an overcurrent device protecting a branch circuit containing luminaires, lampholders, or lighting track, has been reorganised to make the rule easier to read. This re-organisation did not create any technical changes.
Rule 30-320 Lighting equipment in damp locations or near grounded metal The words “if the condition in Item a) is not practicable” have been deleted from Item b) of Subrule 3). The rationale for deleting these words was that the wording was difficult to enforce and caused inconsistent interpretation by code users. The rule now clearly allows a switch for a luminaire to be located between 1 m and 500 mm from a bathtub or shower stall, where it is protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter of the Class A type
Rules 30-500 to 30-510 Luminaires in buildings of residential occupancy have been deleted from the CE Code as a duplication of existing requirements in the National Building Code. The rules used to apply to the location of lighting and switches in residential occupancies. Electrical contractors will now need to access the National Building Code for these requirements.
Subrule 3) of Rule 30-1022 Grounding of circuits for the connection of outdoor floodlights supplied from a solidly grounded system has been modified to better align with Section 10. This subrule allows the system bonding jumper to be connected between the luminaire supply bonding conductor and the identified conductor on the secondary of the luminaire transformer.
Section 32
Rule 32-200 Installation of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in dwelling
Units The allowance to have a combination of a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide alarm that has an integral battery as a secondary supply source on a branch circuit that is protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter or arc-fault circuit interrupter was moved to a new Subrule 2). The other change to Rule 32-200 is the deletion of the requirement that interconnection of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms had to comply with Rules 32-100 and 32-102, as smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are not part of a fire alarm system, and such reference is not appropriate. This new change will mandate wiring methods for such interconnection – to comply with Section 12 of the CE Code.
Section 36
Section 36 has two changes, first is the addition of a new inserted Item b) to Rule 36-208 Interlocking of fuse compartments. This new item requires high voltage fuse interlocking to include isolating or disconnecting means on both sides of the fuses where the fuses may be energized from either side.
The second change is the addition of an Appendix B note for Subrule 3) of Rule 36-214 Disconnecting means. The proposal for both these changes was submitted as a result of a recent fatality in Ontario involving low voltage feedback and physical contact on a high-voltage fuse into a station. The wording recognizes the hazards associated with possible feedback from low voltage systems into the high voltage side of station transformers.
Section 42
Rule 42-004 Receptacles and attachment plugs. A new Subrule 2) was added along with an editorial change for Subrule 1) that allows the overcurrent protection for welder receptacles rated more than the receptacle rating where the overcurrent protection is rated not more than the welder rated primary current. Subrule 2) requires the receptacle to be labelled that it is intended for welder connection only, the receptacle supply conductor size, type (copper or aluminum) and insulation temperature rating, and the ampere rating of the overcurrent device protecting the receptacle supply conductors.
The next change in Section 42 is the expansion of transformer arc welders to include inverter welders; this included adding “and inverter welders” to Rules 42-006 Supply conductors and 42-008 Overcurrent protection for transformer arc welders and inverter welders.
The final change to Section 42 is the introduction of Table 42A Multiplication factors to determine the size of insulated supply conductors for individual transformer arc welders and inverter welders, Table 42B
Multiplication factors to determine the size of insulated supply conductors for individual motor-generator arc welders and Table 42C Multiplication factors to determine the size of insulated supply conductors for individual resistance welders, moving multiplication factors unchanged from the 2018 CE Code Rules 42-006, 42-012, and 42-014 to these new tables.
Section 46
The only change in Section 46 is in Rule 46-208 Overcurrent protection for an emergency power supply. A new Subrule 3) was added to align with recent changes to CSA Standard C282 Emergency electrical power supply for buildings. These changes allow installation of an emergency electrical power system without selective coordination between overcurrent protective devices where the emergency power supply overcurrent protective devices installed in a fire pump feeder or in a feeder supplying load banks are permitted to be connected upstream of the main disconnecting means by CSA Standard C282.
Section 58
Section 58 has a new subsection for the grounding of towers and stations for passenger ropeways and similar equipment. The five new requirements cover the size of, location, and the support of the grounding conductor and include a reference to Section 10.
Section 62
The main change in Section 62 is the redefinition of “heating cable” to “trace heater” that reads: Trace heater — a device of linear geometry designed for the purpose of producing heat on the principle of electrical resistance. This also resulted in changes throughout Section 62, where the term “heating cable” was previously used. The reason for these changes was to align with terminology in CSA Standards C22.2 No. 130-16 Requirements for electrical resistance trace heating and heating device sets, and C22.2 No. 60079-30-1:17Explosive atmospheres — Part 30-1: Electrical resistance trace heating — General and testing requirements.
Rule 62-118 Demand factors for service and feeder insulated conductors Item b) of Subrule 5) was modified to mandate that 100% of the loads in Subrule 4) like electric thermal storage heating system, duct heater, or an electric furnace loads be used when applying Subrule 5). This was done to resolve a contradiction with Subrule 4) to read:
b) in the case of other occupancies, 100% of the loads in Subrule 4) plus 75% of the total remaining connected heating load plus the combined loads of the other equipment with demand factors as applicable in Section 8 for the type of occupancy.
Rule 62-126 Field repair, modification, or assembly of series trace heater sets was modified to clarify procedures, documentation, and who should be doing repairs to series trace heater sets.
Rule 62-128 Non-heating leads of heating device sets was modified, removing the 50 mm from the floor allowance for non-heating lead to extend through a wooded base plate. Non-heating leads are now permitted to pass through a wooden base plate where the non-heating leads go directly to an enclosure.
Rule 62-202 Temperature control for electric space-heating systems has a new Subrule 2) allowing trace heater sets and heating panel sets to extend into adjacent rooms and be controlled by a single temperature control device.
Rule 62-208 Location of trace heater sets and heating panel sets has a new Subrule 3) for the installation of single-conductor trace heater sets and heating panel sets without conductive shields, braids, sheaths, or coverings. These heaters are only allowed in other than industrial establishments, where installed in or above ceilings not less than 2.4 m above the finished floor and when protected by ground fault circuit interrupters of the Class A type.
Rule 62-316 Impedance heating has been modified to align with a recent certification standard developed for these heating systems. These changes include new voltage limitations, ground fault protection requirements, and a new reference Table 70 Impedance heating requirements — Bonding, ground fault protection, isolation flanges, and hazardous location suitability
New Rule 62-318 Hazardous location trace heating was added to direct code users to Section 18 and to mandate the installation requirements in CSA Standard C60079-30-2 Explosive atmospheres — Part 30-2: Electrical resistance trace heating — Application guide for design, installation, and maintenance
Section 72
New Rule 72-002 Special terminology has been added with three new definitions that read:
Recreational vehicle lot – a designated area of a recreational vehicle park intended to accommodate one or more recreational vehicle stands, recreational vehicle supply equipment, surrounding natural features, and associated recreational amenities.
Recreational vehicle lot supply equipment – electrical equipment located at a recreational vehicle lot for the purpose of supplying electrical power to one or more recreational vehicles.
Recreational vehicle stand – that area of a recreational vehicle lot dedicated for the placement of a recreational vehicle.
Although the proposal for changes to Rule 72-102 Calculated load for services and feeders was not an IAEI proposal, it was submitted by an IAEI member. This proposal completely changes how load calculations will be completed for mobile home and recreational vehicle parks resulting in calculations that are easier to complete, more accurate to simulate actual loads, and are based on wattage aligning with Section 8. These calculations also include a new Table 71 Calculated load for services and feeders for recreational vehicle parks (based on recreational vehicle lots from highest to lowest watt rating) that is used with the new Subrule 5).
2018 CE Code Rule 72-104 Feeders was deleted to remove a possible conflict with Section 10 regarding the need for bonding conductors.
New Rule 72-112 Recreational vehicle lot supply equipment was part of the proposal for Rule 72-102. This new rule provides direction on where the supply equipment is to be located, including figures in Appendix B, and that the supply equipment for recreational vehicle lots are to be located not less than 600 mm above grade and not more than 1.2 m above grade.
Section 86
Rule 86-304 Disconnecting means has two significant changes. The first is Subrule 2) Item b) from the 2018 CE Code was deleted, no longer requiring the disconnecting means to be within sight and accessible to the electric vehicle supply equipment. The second change is a new Subrule 3) allowing a single disconnection means for two or more electric vehicle supply equipment assemblies to be supplied by the same branch circuit, provided that the circuit is rated not more than 60 A.
