Chapter 1 ARTICLE 100 Definitions ‘Scope. This article contains only those definitions essential to the proper application of this Code, It is not intended to include commonly defined general terms or commonly de- fined technical terms from related codes and standards. In ‘general, only those terms that are used in two or more articles are defined in Article 100. Other definitions are included in the article in which they are used but may be referenced in Article 100. Part I of this article contains definitions intended to apply wherever the terms are used throughout this Code. Part II contains definitions applicable only to the pasts of auticles specifically covering installations and equipment ‘operating at over 600 volts, nominal 1. General Accessible (as applied to equipment). Admitting approach; not guarded by locked doors, elevation, or effective means, structure or finish or not permanently ture or finish of the building Accessible, Readily (Re: ing reached quickly for, ‘without requiring those to climb over or remove of ladders, and so forth, Adjustable Speed Drive. Powerstonversion equipment that provides a means of adjusting the speed of an electric ‘motor. [ROP 11-75] Informational Note: A variable frequency drive is one type ‘of electronic adjustable speed ive that controls the rota tional speed of an alternating curent electric motor by con- trolling the frequency and voltage of the electrical power supplied to the motor. (ROP 11-75] Adjustable Speed Drive System. A combination of an ad- justable speed drive, its associated motor(s), and auxiliary equipment. [ROP 11-75] Ampacity. The maximum current, in amperes, that a con- ductor can earry continuously under the conditions of use without exceeding its temperature rating, Appliance. Utilization equipment, generally other than in- dustrial, that is normally built in standardized sizes or types General and is installed or connected as @ unit to perform one or ‘more functions such as clothes washing, air conditioning, food mixing, deep frying, and so forth Approved. Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction. Are-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCD. A device intended to provide protection from the effects of are faults by rec ognizing characteristics unique to arcing and by funetion- ing to de-energize the circuit when an are fault is detected, Askarel, A generic term for a group of nonflammable sya- thetic chlorinated hydrocarbons used as electrical insulating of various compositional types are used. ‘conditions, the gases produced, while consist- ly of noncombustible hydrogen chloride, amounts of combustible gases, depend- it Plug (Plug Cap) (Phug). A device that, by in a receptacle, establishes a connection between ductors of the attached flexible cord and the condue- nected permanently o the receptacle ly Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). An organization, 7 or individual responsible for enforcing the require ments of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure. ational Note:The phrase “authority having jurisdic: + its acronym ALU, is used in NFPA documents in a broad manner, since jurisdictions and approval agencies vary, as do their responsibilities. Where public safety is the authority having jurisdiction may be federal, sl, or other regional department or individual such 135 a fire chief; fire marshal; chief of fre prevention bu- eau, labor depactment, oF health department; building of cial electrical inspector; or others having statutory author iy. For insurance purposes, an insurance inspection department, rating bureau, or other insurance company rep- resentative may be the authority having jurisdiction, In ‘many circumstances, the property owner or his or her des- ignated agent assumes the role ofthe authority having ju- risdiction; at government installations, the commanding of- ficer or departmental official may be the authority having jurisdiction. Automatic, Performing a function without the necessity of human intervention, Bathroom. An area including a basin with one or more of the following: a toilet, a urinal, a tub, a shower, a bidet, or similar plumbing fixtures Battery System. Interconnected battery subsystems con- sisting of one or more storage batteries and battery charg- ers, and can include inverters, converters, and associated electrical equipment. [ROP 13-3] 21CHAPTER 1 ARTICLE 100 Bonded (Bonding). Connected to establish electrical con: tinuity and conductivity. Bonding Conductor or Jumper. A reliable conductor to ensure the required electrical conductivity between metal parts required to be electrically connected. Bonding Jumper, Equipment. The connection between ‘wo of more portions of the equipment grounding condue- tot Bonding Jumper, Main. The connection between the grounded circuit conductor and the equipment grounding conductor at the service. Bonding Jumper, System. The connection between the grounded circuit conductor and the supply-side bonding jumper, or the equipment grounding conductor, or both, ata separately derived system, Branch Circuit. The ciscuit conductors between the final overcurrent device protecting the circuit and the outlet(s). Branch Circuit, Appliance. A branch circuit that supplies energy (0 one or more outlets fo which appliances are to be connected and that has no permanently connected lumi- naires that are not a part of an appliance, Branch Circuit, General-Purpose. A branch circuit that supplies two or more receptacles or outlets for li appliances. Branch Circuit, Individual. A branch cis only one utilization equipment Branch Circuit, Multiwire. A bry of two or more ungrounded cog between them, and a grounde voltage between it and each ung¥®iied condor of the circuit and that is connected to th rounded conductor of the system. Building. A structure that stands alone or that is cut off from adjoining structures by fire walls with all openings therein protected by approved fire doors. Cabinet. An enclosure that is designed for either surface mounting or flush mounting and is provided with a fram ‘mat, of trim in which a swinging door or doors are or can be hung. Charge Controller. Equipment that controls de voltage or de current, or both, and that is used to charge a battery or other energy storage device. [ROP 4-4] ircuit Breaker. A device designed to open and close a circuit by nonautomatic means and to open the circuit au- tomatically on a predetermined overcurrent without damage to itself when properly applied within its rating Informational Noe: The automatic opening means can be integral, direct acting with the ciruit breaker, or remote from the eireuit breaker, Adjustable (as applied to circuit breakers). qualifying term indicating that the circuit breaker can be Set to trip at various values of current, time, or both, within a predeter- ‘mined range. Instantaneous Trip (as applied to circuit breakers). A {qualifying term indicating that no delay is purposely intro- duced in the tripping action of the cireuit breaker, Inverse Time (as applied to circuit breakers). A qualifying term indicating that there is purposely introduced a delay in the tipping action of the circuit breaker, which delay de- creases as the magnitude of the current increases. Nonadjustable (ayfplied to circuit breakers). quali- that the circuit Breaker does not have the value of current at which it will . A non-habitable room or space intended storage of garments and apparel Equipment. The electronic equipment s the telecommunications operations for the smission of audio, video, and data, and includes power uipment (e.g, de converters, inverters, and batteries), nical support equipment (e.g, computers) and conduc- ws dedicated solely to the operation of the equipment. [ROP 16-6] Concealed. Rendered inaccessible by the structure or finish of the building. Informational Note: Wires in concealed raceways are con- sidered concealed, even though they may become acces sible by withdrawing them, [ROP 1-31] Conductor, Bare. A conductor having no covering or clec- trical insulation whatsoever, Conductor, Covered. A conductor encased within material ‘of composition or thickness that is not recognized by this Code as electrical insulation. Conductor, Insulated. A conductor encased within mate- rial of composition and thickness that is recognized by this Code a8 electrical insulation. Conduit Body. A separate portion of a conduit or tubing system that provides access through a removable cover(s) to the interior of the system at a junction of two or more sections of the system or at a terminal point of the system. Boxes such as FS and FD or larger east or sheet metal boxes are not classified as conduit bodies NATIONALELECTRICAL CODE 2014 EltonConnector, Pressure (Solderless). A device that estab: lishes a connection between two or more conductors or between one or more conductors and a terminal by means ‘of mechanical pressure and without the use of solder. Continuous Load. A load where the maximum current is expected to continue for 3 hours or more. Control Circuit. The citcuit of a control apparatus oF sys- tem that carries the electric signals directing the perfor- mance of the controller but does not carry the main power current. [ROP 11-5, ROP 11-8] Controller, A device or group of devices that serves to ‘gover, in some predetermined manner, the electric power delivered to the apparatus to which itis connected, Cooking Unit, Counter-Mounted. A cooking appliance designed for mounting in or on a counter and consisting of ‘one or more heating elements, internal wiring, and buill-in ‘or mountable controls, Coordination (Selective). Localization of an overcurrent condition to restrict outages to the circuit or equipment alfected, accomplished by the selection and installation of ‘overcurrent protective devices and their ratings or sg for full range of available overcurrents, from over the maximum available fault current, and for the full With those overcurrents. [ROP 10-5] Copper-Clad Aluminum Conduct from a copper-clad aluminum rod with igically bonded to an aluminum, ec forms a minimum of 10 pey of a solid conductor or ¢ [ROP 6-4] Cutout Box. An enclosure that has swinging doors or cowl telescoping with the walls of the ed directly to and Proper. Dead Front. Without live parts exposed to a person on the ‘operating side of the equipment. Demand Factor. The ratio of the maximum demand of @ system, or part of a system, to the total connected load of a system or the part of the system under consideration, Device. A unit of an electrical system, other than a condue- tor, that carties or controls electric energy as its principal function. [ROP 1-31a] Disconnecting Means. A device, or group of devices, of ‘other means by which the conductors of a circuit can be disconnected from their source of supply. Dusttight. Constructed so that dust will not enter the closing case under specified test conditions. Duty, Continuous. Operation at @ substantially constant load for an indefinitely long time. Duty, Intermittent, Operation for alternate intervals of (1) Toad and no load; or (2) load and rest; or (3) load, no load, and rest Duty, Periodic, Intermittent operation in which the load conditions are regularly recurrent. Duty, Short-Time, Operation at a substantially constant load for a short and definite, specified time, Duty, Varying. Operation at loads, and for intervals of time, both of which may be subject to wide variation Dwelling, One: one dwelling ‘amily. A building that consists solely of Unit. A single unit, providing complete and in- Kent living facilities for one or more persons, includ- i ent provisions for living, sleeping, cooking, and ive Ground-Fault Current Path. An intentionally constructed, low-impedance electrically conductive path designed and intended to carry current underground-fault conditions from the point of a ground fault on a wiring system fo the electrical supply source and that facilitates the operation of the overcurrent protective device or ground-fault detectors, [ROP §-6] Electric Sign. A fixed, stationary, or portable self contained, electrically illuminated utilization equipment with words or symbols designed to convey information oF attract attention, Electric Power Production and Distribution Network. Power production, distribution, and utilization equipment and facilities, such as electric utility systems that deliver electric power to the connected loads, that are extemal to and not controlled by an interactive system. Electric-Discharge Lighting. Systems of illumination uti lizing Auorescent lamps, high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, or neon tubing. [ROP 18-3] Enclosed. Surrounded by a ease, housing, fence, or wall(s) that prevents persons from accidentally contacting ener- ized pars Enclosure. The case or housing of apparatus, or the fence for walls surrounding an installation to prevent personnel from accidentally contacting energized parts ot to protect the equipment from physical damage. m-29