Building and Electrical Codes

Building and electrical codes vary depending on your location. Comply with all code specifications when planning your site and installing cable. This section lists resources for obtaining additional information.

For information about major building codes, consult the following organization:

International Code Council (ICC) 5203 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA 22041 USA www.iccsafe.org www.sbcci.org

The organizations listed in the following table are authorities on electrical codes.

Authorities on Electrical Codes

Organization	Address	Web Site URL
National Electrical Code (NEC) Classification (USA only) Recognized authority on safe electrical wiring. Federal, state, and local governments use NEC standards to establish their own laws, ordinances, and codes on wiring specifications. The NEC classification is published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).	NFPA 1 Batterymarch Park Quincy, Massachusetts 02169 USA	www.nfpa.org
Underwriters‘ Laboratory (UL) (USA only) Independent research and testing laboratory. UL evaluates the performance and capability of electrical wiring and equipment to determine whether they meet certain safety standards when properly used. Acceptance is usually indicated by the words “UL Approved” or “UL Listed.”	UL 333 Pfingsten Road Northbrook, Illinois 60062-2096 USA	www.ul.com
National Electrical Manufacturing Association (NEMA) (USA only) Organization of electrical product manufacturers. Members develop consensus standards for cables, wiring, and electrical components.	NEMA 1300 N. 17th Street Rosslyn, Virginia 22209 USA	www.nema.org
Electronics Industries Alliance (EIA) Trade association that develops technical standards, disseminates marketing data, and maintains contact with government agencies in matters relating to the electronics industry.	EIA 2500 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, Virginia 22201 USA	www.eia.org
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (USA only) Commission that regulates all interstate and foreign electrical communication systems that originate in the United States according to the Communications Act of1934. The FCC regulates all U.S. telephone and cable systems.	FCC 445 12th Street S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 USA	www.fcc.gov

Organization

Address

Web Site URL

National Electrical Code (NEC) Classification (USA only)

Recognized authority on safe electrical wiring. Federal, state, and local governments use NEC standards to establish their own laws, ordinances, and codes on wiring specifications. The NEC classification is published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

NFPA

1 Batterymarch Park

Quincy, Massachusetts 02169

USA

www.nfpa.org

Underwriters‘ Laboratory (UL) (USA only)

Independent research and testing laboratory. UL evaluates the performance and capability of electrical wiring and equipment to determine whether they meet certain safety standards when properly used. Acceptance is usually indicated by the words “UL Approved” or “UL Listed.”

333 Pfingsten Road

Northbrook, Illinois 60062-2096

USA

www.ul.com

National Electrical Manufacturing Association (NEMA) (USA only)

Organization of electrical product manufacturers. Members develop consensus standards for cables, wiring, and electrical components.

NEMA

1300 N. 17th Street

Rosslyn, Virginia 22209

USA

www.nema.org

Electronics Industries Alliance (EIA)

Trade association that develops technical standards, disseminates marketing data, and maintains contact with government agencies in matters relating to the electronics industry.

EIA

2500 Wilson Boulevard

Arlington, Virginia 22201 USA

www.eia.org

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (USA only)

Commission that regulates all interstate and foreign electrical communication systems that originate in the United States according to the Communications Act of1934. The FCC regulates all U.S. telephone and cable systems.

FCC

445 12th Street S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20554 USA

www.fcc.gov

Published April 28, 2016prev | next

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