OUTSIDE BRANCH CIRCUITS AND FEEDERS

70-65 Article Branch Circuits 210 Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 Remote-Control, Signaling, and Power- Limited Circuits 725 Communications Circuits 800 Community Antenna Television and Radio Distribution Systems 820 Conductors for General Wiring 310 Electrically Driven or Controlled Irrigation Machines 675 Electric Signs and Outline Lighting 600 Feeders 215 Fire Protective Signaling Systems 760 Fixed Outdoor Electric Deicing and Snow-Melting Equipment 426 Floating Buildings 553 Grounding 250 Hazardous (Classified) Locations 500 Hazardous (Classified) Locations-Specific 510 Marinas and Boatyards 555 Messenger Supported Wiring 321 Open Wiring on Insulators 320 Overcurrent Protection 240 Radio and Television Equipment 810 Services 230 Solar Photovoltaic Systems 690 Swimming Pools, Fountains, and Similar Installations 680 Use and Identification of Grounded Conductors 200 225-3. Calculation of Load. (a) Branch Circuits. The load on outdoor branch circuits shall be as determined by Section 220-3. (b) Feeders. The load on outdoor feeders shall be as determined by Part B of Article 220. 225-4. Conductor Covering. Where within 10 feet (3.05 m) of any building or other structure, open wiring on insulators shall be insulated or covered. Conductors in cables or raceways, except Type MI cable, shall be of the rubber-covered type or thermoplastic type and in wet locations shall comply with Section 310-8. Conductors for festoon lighting shall be of the rubber-covered or thermoplastic type. Exception: Equipment grounding conductors and grounded circuit conductors where permitted to be bare or covered elsewhere in this Code. 225-5. Size of Conductors. The ampacity of outdoor branch-circuit and feeder conductors shall be in accordance with Section 310-15 based on loads as determined under Section 220-3 and Part B of Article 220. 225-6. Minimum Size of Conductor. (a) Overhead Spans. Open individual conductors shall not be smaller than the following: 70-66 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE (1) For 600 volts, nominal, or less, No. 10 copper or No. 8 aluminum for spans up to 50 feet (15.2 m) in length and No. 8 copper or No. 6 aluminum for a longer span. Exception: Where supported by a messenger wire. (2) For over 600 volts, nominal, No. 6 copper or No. 4 aluminum where open individual conductors and No. 8 copper or No. 6 aluminum where in cable. (b) Festoon Lighting. Overhead conductors for festoon lighting shall not be smaller than No. 12. Exception: Where supported by messenger wires. (FPN): See Section 225-24 for outdoor lampholders. Definition. Festoon lighting is a string of outdoor lights suspended between two points more than 15 feet (4.57 m) apart. 225-7. Lighting Equipment Installed Outdoors. (a) General. For the supply of lighting equipment installed outdoors, the branch circuits shall comply with Article 210 and (b) through (d) below. I (b) Common Neutral. The ampacity of the neutral conductor shall not be less than the maximum net computed load current between the neutral and all ungrounded conductors connected to any one phase of the circuit. (c) 277 Volts to Ground. Circuits exceeding 120 volts, nominal, between conductors and not exceeding 277 volts, nominal, to ground shall be permitted to supply lighting fixtures for illumination of outdoor areas of industrial establishments, office buildings, schools, stores, and other commercial or public buildings where the fixtures are not less than 3 feet (914 mm) from windows, platforms, fire escapes, and the like. (d) 600 Volts Between Conductors. Circuits exceeding 277 volts, nominal, to ground and not exceeding 600 volts, nominal, between conductors shall be permitted to supply the auxiliary equipment of electric-discharge lamps in accordance with Section 210-6(d)(1). 225-8. Disconnection. (a) Disconnecting Means. The disconnecting means for branch-circuit and feeder fuses shall be in accordance with Section 240-40. (b) Disconnect Required for Each. Where more than one building or other structure is on the same property and under single management, each building or other structure served shall be provided with means for disconnecting all ungrounded conductors. The disconnecting means shall be installed either inside or outside of a building or structure at a readily accessible location nearest the point of entrance of the supply conductors. Disconnects shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of Sections 230-71 and 230-72. Exception No. 1: For large capacity multibuilding industrial installations under single management, where it is assured that the disconnecting ARTICLE 225 - OUTSIDE BRANCH CIRCUITS AND FEEDERS 70-67 can be accomplished by establishing and maintaining safe switching procedures, the disconnecting means shall be permitted to be located elsewhere on the premises. Exception No. 2: Buildings or other structures qualifying under the provisions of Article 685. (c) Suitable for Service Equipment. The disconnecting means specified in (b) above shall be suitable for use as service equipment. Exception: For garages and outbuildings on residential property, a snap switch or a set of 3-way or 4-way snap switches suitable for use on branch circuits shall be permitted as the disconnecting means. 225-9. Overcurrent Protection. Overcurrent protection shall be in accordance with Section 210-20 for branch circuits and Article 240 for feeders. (FPN): See Section 240-24 for requirements for access to overcurrent devices. 225-10. Wiring on Buildings. The installation of outside wiring on surfaces of buildings shall be permitted for circuits of not over 600 volts, nominal, as open wiring on insulators, as multiconductor cable, as Type MC cable, as Type MI cable, as messenger supported wiring, in rigid metal conduit, in intermediate metal conduit, in rigid nonmetallic conduit, in cable trays, as cablebus, in wireways, in auxiliary gutters, in electrical metallic tubing, in flexible metal conduit, in liquidtight flexible metal conduit, liquidtight flexible nonmetallic conduit, and in busways. Circuits of over 600 volts, nominal, shall be installed as provided in Section 710-4. Circuits for signs and outline lighting shall be installed in accordance with