Transfer Equipment Used in Optional Standby Systems for Commercial Applications
from IAEI Magazine
The primary purpose of transfer equipment is to allow power transfer from a normal (Utility) source to an alternate (Generator) source while preventing the inadvertent interconnection of the normal and alternate source of supply during operation of the transfer equipment. This article will explore transfer equipment options and provide additional guidance, questions to ask, and considerations for those systems. More

Heavy Metal
from Electrical Contractor Magazine
In section 250.52(A)(2) of the 2005 and the 2008 editions of the National Electrical Code (NEC), the metal frame of a building or structure is considered to be a grounding electrode if the metal frame is connected to earth by one of four different methods. Upon analyzing the four different methods, many electricians’ question whether the four methods provide an appropriate connection to earth. Careful study of the NEC text is necessary to answer that question. More

Fire Stoppers
from InTech
Industries, such as petroleum, chemical, and pharmaceutical, use chemicals considered flammable and sometimes explosive; gasoline and natural gas are the obvious top two. Typically, where these are stored, handled, or transferred, the area needs to be classified, but most industries need to do some area classification.The ISA12 standards committee has approved a newly revised ISA-60079-15 standard that specifies requirements for the construction, testing, and marking for Group II electrical apparatus with type of protection, “n” intended for use in Class I, Zone 2, hazardous (classified) locations as defined by the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70. More

Choose the Right FR Garment
from Occupational Health & Safety
The potential for arc flash might not be on your mind day to day, but if you've ever seen one or heard about the effects, it's obvious that measures must be taken to minimize injury and circumvent a potentially fatal situation. More

Wiring Rules Standard – Amendment 1 Published in New Zealand
from Scoop
Standards New Zealand has published Amendment 1 to AS/NZS 3000:2007 Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules). AS/NZS 3000:2007 provides requirements for the selection and installation of electrical equipment, and design and testing of electrical installations, especially to meet the essential requirements for safety of persons and livestock from physical injury, fire or electric shock. More

Simple Device Can Prevent Electrocution
from the Birmingham Eccentric
GFCIs have been around for many years. They are inexpensive devices that prevent electrocution. They are, in essence, little microprocessors that monitor the flow of electricity going across them. If they detect the slightest imbalance within 3 to 5 milliamps (.003-.005 amperes) it shuts the circuit down. For those of you counting, that's a lot quicker than a heartbeat. More

More Green Building and Energy Efficiency Could Save U.S. Economy $1.2 Trillion
from Reuters
The typical building in the U.S. leaks energy like a sieve and its occupants usually make the situation worse. But businesses and individuals could stanch the flow by making simple changes that could yield a 23 percent drop in energy use by 2020, save the U.S. economy $1.2 trillion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.1 gigatons annually, according to a new study. More