Page 52 - May-Jun 19

FEATURE

Section 110.21(A)(2) to identify equipment Informational Note: The term manufacturers developed guidelines
that has been reconditioned. The section reconditioned is frequently referred to as to assure the electrical safety was
also refers to standards for reconditioning rebuilt, refurbished, or remanufactured. maintained for products that were water-
some equipment. Product certification damaged. These guidelines provide
must be evaluated as to whether the As noted in the definition and in evaluation techniques to determine if
process of reconditioning affects the 110.21(A)(2), industrial facilities are replacing or reconditioning is warranted.
original listing and whether the product exempt from requirements of marking An example of when reconditioning is
must be re-evaluated for safety, as and reconditioning methods. It is not recommended is when electronic life
in field evaluation of the product. assumed that these facilities’ best safety equipment is exposed to water
practices for maintenance assure and contaminates (i.e., AFCIs, GFCIs,
The 2020 NEC® has addressed this proper rebuilding of equipment to be smoke alarms, and smoke detectors).
issue even more extensively by defining safe and reliable. Many facilities use
“reconditioned equipment.” During the NFPA 70B Recommended Practice for Heat is also a damaging factor.
2020 NEC® Code-Making Panel (CMP) Electrical Equipment Maintenance as Guidelines are available for evaluating
meetings for the First and Second the maintenance standard for their products exposed to excessive heat
Drafts, each panel was instructed to electrical systems. Within that standard and provide direction on what can be
determine which equipment under are references to NEMA standards reconditioned and what should not.
their purview could or could not be that address equipment damaged by
reconditioned. You will see in the water or heat, such as that caused by Note that these guidelines provide
Second Draft that CMP actions clearly a natural disaster or a structure fire. recommended practices for evaluating
state the products allowed to be These documents provide guidance damaged equipment and have no
reconditioned and those that are not. from electrical product manufacturers legal standing for the Authority Having
to those considering replacing or Jurisdiction (AHJ). They are the basis for
All this leads to the meaning of reconditioning damaged equipment. many new proposed 2020 NEC® sections
“reconditioned” as related to equipment. on reconditioning. The 2020 NEC® is
Several Code Panels developed a In these guidance documents, it addressing the safe and practical use
definition for “reconditioning,” but is recommended that the original of electricity by providing enforceable
the Correlating Committee settled manufacturer be consulted on whether NEC® language the AHJ can use to
on a definition that both CMP 9 and reconditioning is appropriate for the approve products that are subject to
CMP 10 agreed upon (CMP 10 will product in question. The manufacturer reconditioning. The contractor can also
have purview over the definition). can provide the guidance to be followed rely on these requirements to help resolve
if the product is accepted and approved field concerns on whether a product
Reconditioned: Electromechanical for reinstallation. The requirement can continue to provide the electrical
systems, equipment, apparatus, or in 110.21(A)(2) requires the original safety it was originally designed for.
components that are restored to listing mark be removed. For the
operating conditions. This process approval of reconditioned equipment, The 2020 NEC® goes through the
differs from normal servicing of the product must be re-certified. final approval stages by the NFPA
equipment that remains within a facility, Technical Committee meeting during
or replacement of listed equipment The flooding in the Mid-West and the annual NFPA Conference in June
on a one-to-one basis (CMP 10). storm surge from Superstorm Sandy in and issuance of the standard by the
the Northeast were reasons electrical NFPA Standards Council will be in
August 2019. The adoption of the 2020
NEC® will help the industry maintain
the practicable safeguarding of people
1. These molded case circuit breakers
were completely submerged in salt and property from electrical hazards.
water and are not to be reconditioned.
2. Here is an example of a product – Jack Lyons is the Northeast Field
fuses – not to be reconditioned. Representative for the National Electrical
Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
and covers 11 Northeast states and the
District of Columbia. He monitors state
code adoption and other regulatory
issues as they relate to the scope of
products within NEMA. He also assists
1 2 AHJs and end-users with product
applications and code requirements.

50 Insights Magazine | May/June 2019 | www.ieci.org