Idaho Electrical Code

01. Documents. Under the provisions of Section 54-1001, Idaho Code, the National Electrical Code, 2023 Edition, (herein NEC) is amended as follows: (4-4-25) a. Sections 110.3(A) and 110.3(B). Shall not apply to submersible well pumps installed in swimming and marine areas; provided however, such articles shall apply to all other equipment required in the installation of a submersible well pump in such areas except for the actual submersible well pump itself. (4-4-25) b. Section 210.8(A). Delete reference to 250-volt receptacles. (4-4-25) c. Section 210.8(A)(5). Delete section 210.8(A) list item (5) and replace with the following: Unfinished areas of basements. (4-4-25) d. Section 210.8(A)(7). Delete section 210.8(A) list item (7). Areas with sinks and permanent provisions for food preparation, beverage preparation, or cooking. (4-4-25) e. Section 210.8(A)(8). Delete section 210.8(A) list item (8) and replace with the following: Sinks - located in areas other than kitchens where receptacles are installed within one and eight tenths (1.8) meters (six (6) feet) of the inside edge of the sink. (4-4-25) f. Section 210.8(A)(11). Delete section 210.8(A) list item (11) Laundry Areas. (4-4-25) g. Article 210.8(B). Delete list items (3) Areas with sinks and permanent provisions for food preparation, beverage preparation, or cooking, (4) serving areas with permanent provisions for food serving, or cooking, and (14) Laundry areas. (4-4-25) h. Section 210.8(B)(7). Delete section 210.8(B) list item (7) and replace with the following: Sinks - IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IDAPA 24.39.10 Div. of Occupational & Professional Licenses Rules of the Idaho Electrical Board Section 600 Page 10 located in kitchens and any other area where receptacles are installed within one and eight tenths (1.8) meters (six (6) feet) of the inside edge of the sink. (4-4-25) i. Section 210.8(D). In dwelling units only, delete list items (7) Dishwashers, (8) Electric ranges, (9) Wall-mounted ovens, (10) Counter-mounted cooking units, (11) Clothes dryers, and (12) Microwave ovens. (4-4-25) j. Section 210.8(F). Delete list items (1) Garages that have floors that are located at or below grade level and (2) Accessory buildings. (4-4-25) k. Section 210.12(B). Shall apply in full. Exception: In one- and two-family dwelling units, Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection shall only apply to all branch circuits and outlets supplying bedrooms. All other locations in such units are exempt from the requirements of section 210.12(B). (4-4-25) l. Section 210.52 (C) add list item (4) - Island Countertop Spaces and Peninsular Countertop Spaces. If installed, receptacle outlets shall also be permitted to be mounted not more than 300 mm (12 in.) below the countertop or work surface. Receptacles mounted below a countertop or work surface in accordance with this exception shall not be located where the countertop or work surface extends more than 150 mm (6 in.) beyond its support base. (4-4-25) m. Section 210.52(E)(3). Delete section 210.52(E) list item (3) and replace with the following: Balconies, Decks, and Porches. Balconies, decks, and porches having an overall area of twenty (20) square feet or more that are accessible from inside the dwelling unit shall have at least one (1) receptacle outlet installed within the perimeter of the balcony, deck, or porch. The receptacle shall not be located more than two (2.0) meters (six and one half (6½) feet) above the balcony, deck, or porch surface. (4-4-25) n. Section 215.18 Surge Protection shall apply in full. Exception: for dwelling units, surge protection device shall be permitted when installed in compliance with 215.18(B) through (E). Delete section 215.18(A) list item (1). (4-4-25) o. Article 225.41 Emergency Disconnects. For one- and two-family dwelling units, an emergency disconnecting means shall be permitted when installed in compliance with sections 225.41(A), (B), and (C). (4-4-25) p. Section 225.42 Surge Protection shall apply in full. Exception: For dwelling units, a surge protection device shall be permitted when installed in compliance with 225.42 (B) though (E). Delete section 225.42(A) list item (1). (4-4-25) q. Section 230.67 Surge Protection shall apply in full. Exception: For dwelling units, a surge protection device shall be permitted when installed in compliance with 230.67 (B) through (E). Delete section 230.67(A) list item (1). (4-4-25) r. Article 230.85 Emergency Disconnects. For one- and two-family dwelling units, an emergency disconnecting means shall be permitted when installed in compliance with sections 230.85(A), (B), (D), and (E). Delete section 230.85(C). (4-4-25) s. Section 314.27(C) Boxes at Ceiling-Suspended (Paddle) Fan Outlets. Delete second paragraph. (4-4-25) t. Section 334.10(3). Delete and replace with the following: Other structures permitted to be of Types III, IV, and V construction. Cables shall be concealed within walls, floors, or ceilings that provide a thermal barrier of material that has at least a fifteen (15) minute finish rating as identified in lists of fire-rates assemblies. For the purpose of this section, cable located in attics and underfloor areas that are not designed to be occupied shall be considered concealed. (4-4-25) u. Section 334.15(C). Where the height of a crawl space does not exceed one and four tenths (1.4) meters or four and one half (4.5) feet, it shall be permissible to secure NM cables, that run at angles with joist, to the bottom edge of joist. NM cables that run within two and one tenth (2.1) meters or seven (7) feet of crawl space access shall comply with article 320.23. (4-4-25) IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IDAPA 24.39.10 Div. of Occupational & Professional Licenses Rules of the Idaho Electrical Board Section 600 Page 11 v. Pole Lighting. Poles used as lighting standards along roadways only (parking areas are not roadways) that are forty (40) feet or less in nominal height and that support no more than four (4) luminaries operating at a nominal voltage of three hundred (300) volts of less to the ground, shall not be considered a structure as it is defined as equipment by the NEC. The disconnecting means may be mounted to the pole or elsewhere in accordance with NEC, section 225.31(B), exception 3. Special purpose fusible connectors (model SEC 1791-DF or model SEC 1791-SF) or equivalent shall be installed in a listed handhole (underground) enclosure. The enclosure shall be appropriately grounded and bonded per the requirements of the NEC applicable to article 230 – Services. Overcurrent protection shall be provided by a (fast-acting – minimum 100K RMS Amps 600 VAC) rated fuse. Wiring within the pole for the luminaries shall be protected by supplementary overcurrent device (time -delay – minimum 10K RMS Amps 600 VAC) in break-a-away fuse holder accessible from the handhole. Any poles supporting of incorporating utilization equipment or exceeding the prescribed number of luminaries, or in excess of forty (40) feet, may be considered structures, and an appropriate service disconnecting means shall be required per the NEC. All luminaire – supporting poles shall be appropriately grounded and bonded per the NEC. A service may not need a Watt Hour Meter. (4-4-25) w. Section 422.5(A)(7). Delete section 422.5(A) list item (7) dishwashers. (4-4-25) x. Section 675.8(B). Compliance with section 675.8(B) shall include the additional requirement that a disconnecting means always be provided at the point of service then the utility no matter where the disconnecting means for the machine is located. (4-4-25) y, Article 682.10. Shall not apply to submersible well pumps installed in swimming and marine areas; provided however, such articles shall apply to all other equipment required in the installation of a submersible well pump in such areas except for the actual submersible well pump itself. (4-4-25) z. Article 682.11. Add the following exception: This article shall not apply to service equipment that is located on or at the dwelling unit and which is not susceptible to flooding. (4-4-25) aa. Article 682.13. Add the following exceptions: (4-4-25) i. Exception No. 1. Wiring methods such as HDPE schedule eighty (80) conduit or its equivalent or greater and clearly marked at a minimum “Caution Electrical” to indicate that it contains electrical conductors shall be approved. It shall be buried wherever practical, and in accordance with the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction. The use of gray HDPE water pipe rated at two hundred (200) PSI (e.g. SIDR-7 or DR-9) is suitable for use as a chase only when the following conditions are met: when internal conductors are jacketed submersible pump cable; when used in continuous lengths, directly buried, or secured on a shoreline above and below the water line; when submersible pump wiring terminations in the body of water according to section 682.13 Exception No. 2 are met. (4-4-25) ii. Exception No. 2. Any listed and approved splices required to be made at the submersible well pump itself, outside of a recognized submersed pump sleeve or housing, when wires are too large to be housed inside such sleeve, shall be covered with a non-metallic, impact resistant material, no less than one quarter (.25) inches thick, such as heavy-duty heat shrink or other equivalent method approved by the authority having jurisdiction. (e.g. install a heat shrink over the sleeve or housing that the submersible well pump is installed in, and then recover (apply heat) the heat shrink over both the HDPE and the water line). At least six (6) inches shall be over the sleeve and at least twelve (12) inches over the HDPE and water line. (4-4-25) iii. Exception No. 3. Pipe, conduit, PVC well casing, or other electrically unlisted tubing may be used as a chase, but not as a raceway, to protect conductors or cables from physical damage. Conductors or cables within a chase shall be rated for the location. (4-4-25) bb. Article 682.14. Add the following additional exception: For installations of submersible well pumps installed in public swimming and marine areas, submersible well pumps shall be considered directly connected and shall be anchored in place. Ballast is an acceptable form of anchoring. (4-4-25) cc. Section 682.14(A). Add the following exception: For installations of submersible well pumps IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IDAPA 24.39.10 Div. of Occupational & Professional Licenses Rules of the Idaho Electrical Board Section 600 Page 12 installed in public swimming and marine areas, motor controller circuits such as remotely located stop pushbutton/s, disconnect/s, relay/s or switches shall be permitted as a required disconnecting means. Such circuits shall be identified at a minimum as “Emergency Pump Stop”, or “Emergency Stop” with other obvious indications on the visible side of the enclosure, that it controls a submersible pump in the body of water. (4-4-25) dd. Article 682.15. Add the following exceptions: (4-4-25) i. Exception No. 1. Submersible pumps, and their motor leads, located in bodies of water, and that are rated sixty (60) amperes maximum, two hundred fifty (250) volts maximum of any phase, shall have GFCI or Ground Fault Equipment Protection designed to trip at a maximum of thirty (30) milliamps or less, protected by means selected by a licensed installer, meeting listing or labeling requirements, and inspected by the AHJ prior to submersion in bodies of water. (4-4-25) ii. Exception No. 2. Installations or repair and replacement of submersible pumps located in bodies of water, that are rated over sixty (60) amperes, and rated at any voltage, shall be evaluated by a qualified designer or experienced licensed contractor, or involve engineering or be engineered, for each specific application, with the goal of public safety. Whenever possible, GFCI or Ground Fault Equipment Protection designed to trip at a maximum of thirty (30) milliamps or less, meeting listing or labeling requirements, shall be installed, and inspected by the AHJ prior to submersion in bodies of water. (4-4-25) ee. Article 690.12 Rapid Shut Down. Add following Exemptions: (4-4-25) i. Detached structures whose sole purpose is to house PV system equipment shall not be subject to the requirements outlined in article 690.12. (4-4-25) ii. PV system circuits installed on or in buildings without the presence of a utility supplied power source shall not be required to comply with article 690.12 where all of the following apply: the minimum distance to bring electric utility power lines or service conductors to the building is 1,000 feet or greater; the building has a minimum setback distance of 100 feet from any building or structure located on adjacent properties; A lockable service entrance rated AC disconnect is installed outside at a readily accessible location; and the AC disconnect has a permanent placard or label with the following words or equivalent: WARNING SOLAR PV SYSTEM IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH RAPID SHUTDOWN The warning placard or label shall comply with Section 110.21(B). (4-4-25) ff. Section 690.12(A) Exception. PV system circuits originating within or from arrays not attached to buildings that terminate on the exterior of buildings or inside nearest the point of entrance, and PV system circuits installed in accordance with article 230.6 shall not be considered controlled conductors for the purposes of this section. (4-4-25) gg. Article 706.5: Listing. Energy storage systems shall be listed. This shall not apply to lead-acid batteries. (4-4-25) hh. Section 706.15(B) Off Grid Systems. Add the following exception: For one-family and two-family dwellings, a disconnecting means or its remote control shall be located at a readily accessible location. (4-4-25) 02. Availability. A copy of the 2023 National Electrical Code is available at the offices of the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. (4-4-25) 601. – 999. (RESERVED)