OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration
STANDARDS SPECIFICATIONS DEFINITIONS
GFCI ELCI SAFETY PRODUCTS
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| GFCI 50 amp Protection Distribution Box p/n 19703R02 |
OSHA Specifications
OSHA REGULATIONS
GROUND FAULT PROTECTION
29CFR1910.304(b)(3)(ii)(A) All 125-volt, single-phase, 15-, 20-, and 30-ampere receptacle outlets that are not part of the permanent wiring of the building
or structure and that are in use by personnel shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.
Note 1 to paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(A) of this section: A cord connector on an extension cord set is considered to be a receptacle outlet if the cord set is used
for temporary electric power.
Note 2 to paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(A) of this section: Cord sets and devices incorporating the required ground-fault circuit-interrupter that are connected to
the receptacle closest to the source of power are acceptable forms of protection.
29CFR1910.304(b)(3)(ii)(B) Receptacles other than 125 volt, single-phase, 15-, 20-, and 30-ampere receptacles that are not part of the permanent
wiring of the building or structure and that are in use by personnel shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.
29CFR1910.304(b)(3)(ii)(C) Where the ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection required by paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(B) of this section is not available for
receptacles other than 125-volt, single-phase, 15-, 20-, and 30-ampere, the employer shall establish and implement an assured equipment grounding
conductor program covering cord sets, receptacles that are not a part of the building or structure, and equipment connected by cord and plug that are
available for use or used by employees on those receptacles. This program shall comply with the following requirements (2 pages…)
1926.404(b)(ii) Ground-fault circuit interrupters. All 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacle outlets on construction sites, which are not
a part of the permanent wiring of the building or structure and which are in use by employees, shall have approved ground-fault circuit interrupters
for personnel protection. Receptacles on a two-wire, single-phase portable or vehicle-mounted generator rated not more than 5kW, where the circuit
conductors of the generator are insulated from the generator frame and all other grounded surfaces, need not be protected with ground-fault
circuit interrupters.
CORD PROTECTION
29CFR1910.304(b)(1) Examination. Electric equipment shall be free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm
to employees. Safety of equipment shall be determined using the following considerations:
(viii) Other factors that contribute to the practical safeguarding of persons using or likely to come in contact with the equipment.
(7) Mechanical execution of work. Electric equipment shall be installed in a neat and workmanlike manner. 29CFR1910.305(a)(2)(x) Flexible cords and
cables shall be protected from accidental damage, as might be caused, for example, by sharp corners, projections, and doorways or other pinch points.
29CFR1910.305(a)(2)(xi) Cable assemblies and flexible cords and cables shall be supported in place at intervals that ensure that they will be protected
from physical damage. Support shall be in the form of staples, cables ties, straps, or similar type fittings installed so as not to cause damage.
1926.403 (b)(1) the employer shall ensure that electrical equipment is free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical
harm to employees. Safety equipment shall be determined on the basis of the following considerations:
(vii) Other factors which contribute to the practical safeguarding of employees using or likely to come in contact with the equipment.
29CFR1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(B) Branch circuits shall originate in a power outlet or panelboard. Conductors shall be run as multi-conductor cord or cable
assemblies or open conductors, or shall be run in raceways. All conductors shall be protected by over-current devices at their ampacity. Runs of open
conductors shall be located where the conductors will not be subject to physical damage, and the conductors shall be fastened at intervals not
exceeding 10 feet (3.05 m). No branch-circuit conductors shall be laid on the floor. Each branch circuit that supplies receptacles or fixed equipment
shall contain a separate equipment grounding conductor if the branch circuit is run as open conductors.
29CFR1926.416(e)(1) Worn or frayed electric cords or cables shall not be used.
2020 NEC New Standard in GFCI Protection
Article 210.63(A) for HVAC equipment & Article 210.63(B) for indoor service equipment and indoor equipment requiring dedicated space
HVAC equipment in a basement is currently covered in code requiring basement circuits to be GFCI protected. HVAC equipment located in attics and other tight area
is not currently covered by any GFCI requirement. The CMP recognized that many HVAC areas are typically tight working spaces where technicians perform justified
energized work (they can’t troubleshoot a de-energized circuit). The 2020 code update assures equipment requiring service has a GFCI protected receptacle outlet
that is readily accessible.
Article 210.8(F)
Code is updated for ALL outdoor outlets supplied by single phase branch circuits rated 150 volts to ground or less, 50 amps or less. This increased from 20 amps
and now extends beyond receptacles to include ALL outlets and includes ALL hard-wired equipment.
The National Electrical Code (NEC®) requires use of listed products to meet the requirements of various “Articles” within the code.
We currently have the capability and current products that OEM and installers could use to comply with these changes without changing the electrical panel.
Existing in line models can be offered as an optional installation kit by the OEM’s. The OEM could also choose to have an optional factory installed GFCI built into
the equipment that would utilize our panel mount version.
2021 UL 943 GFCI Certification Requirement Changes
WHEN IS IT EFFECTIVE: MAY 5, 2021
PARAGRAPHS AFFECTED
Paragraphs 5.16 and 6.27 have been revised to include the extension of Auto-monitoring and end of life requirements to ALL types of GFCI’s
Paragraphs 6.31.2 (d) and (e) have been revised to improve the auto-monitoring function of permanently connected GFCI’s
WHAT THE CHANGES MEAN
The changes to these paragraphs now requires ALL GFCI circuits to be provided with an auto-monitoring function. Prior to this change the auto-monitoring function
was only applicable to permanently connected GFCI’s. Now all GFCI’s will be required to have periodic, automatic testing of the devices ability to respond to a ground
fault. This test will occur each time the power becomes available to the load terminals and will be initiated within 5 seconds of power on and shall be repeated every
three hours. If the auto-monitoring circuit detects a problem the circuit will deny power (trip with inability to reset) or trip with the ability to reset, subject to the next
auto-monitoring test cycle.
**Southwire GFCI products will self test within 1/10th of a second, after power on, and will self test every 17 minutes**
Reason for the change
In layman’s terms, currently, the user has to press the test button on a GFCI device to determine if the GFCI is operational. This is hazardous as many GFCI users do
not test the circuit prior to use or during the GFCI life cycle. Auto-monitoring ensures the GFCI is ALWAYS operational against a potential life threatening ground fault
event without user intervention.
DEFINITIONS & STANDARDS
GFCI
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter is an LCPD specifically intended for the protection of people from shock hazard. A GFCI is a device that will immediately stop
the flow of electricity if it senses any voltage loss, whether the loss is through the ground wire or to your body.
EGFPD
Equipment Ground-Fault Protective Devices (EGFPD) These devices operate to disconnect the electric circuit from the source supply when the ground-fault
current exceeds the ground-fault pick up level marked on the equipment. EGFPS’s are intended to be installed only on grounded alternating-current systems
IAW National Electric code. EGFPD’s are intended for use in applications where ground-fault protection of equipment is required. EGFPD’s are not intended to
be used in place of GFCI where a GFCI is required by NEC.
ELCI
Equipment Leakage Circuit Interrupters are a class of LCPD not considered to be “people protectors,” and are generally only intended for equipment protection.
ELCIs are virtually identical with ALCIs with the exception that the trip level is set higher than 6mA.
ALCI
Appliance Leakage Current Interrupters are a class of leakage current protection devices closely related to GFCIs. In fact, they share the same limits for trip
level and response time. The main difference is that ALCI’s are intended for use only in circuits with a solidly grounded neutral conductor.
LCDI
Leakage Current Detection Interrupter cord sets are intended to sense leakage currents flowing between or from conductors of the cord set and interrupt the
circuit.
AFCI
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters are designed to mitigate the affect of electrical arcs. Defined by UL 1699 they can be provided as circuit breakers, outlet devices,
combination devices, adapters and cord sets. The AFCI must differentiate a normal arc (i.e., power tool, light switch, etc.) from a bad arc (i.e., a parallel fault in
the wiring). To avoid nuisance tripping, the trip levels are quite higher and time longer than GFCIs, ALCIs or LCDIs. A cord type AFCI’s maximum trip level is 75A
for parallel fault and 5A for a series fault, both of which could be a fire in progress.
PRCD
Portable Residual Current Devices are designed for use in international applications and intended to protect people from electrical shock by interrupting the
electrical circuit to a load when a fault current exceeds its rated trip level. They are compliant with IEC and NEMA standards, depending upon your country of
use, and are available in 120V to 230V versions with 6-30mA trip levels.
UL STANDARDS
UL Listed products are used in applications where the product is not an integral part of the manufactured system. UL Listed wire and cable products
are intended for use within residential, commercial or industrial buildings.
OSHA REGULATIONS
OSHA’s scope of regulation covers three major business areas; the Construction Industry, the Maritime Industry and a third category, General Industry,
which covers most other business enterprises except for those in mining and agriculture which are overseen by other government agencies. OSHA’s
regulations are Federal Law and are contained in the U.S. Government’s Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Violations of OSHA regulations can subject
companies to legal action and fines.
NEC (NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE) STANDARDS
The National Electrical Code (NEC®) requires use of listed products to meet the requirements of various “Articles” within the code.
See our listing of GFCIs HERE!
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