May 2008
Cover Story
NFPA 70E: Revising the Standard
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Beck Ireland, Staff Writer
With 568 proposals and 817 comments, the latest revision cycle for the NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, published by Quincy,...
Other Features
Picking the Proper PPE
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Larry Altmayer and Kenneth Cybart, Littelfuse, Inc.
When working on energized equipment, electricians and maintenance technicians can find themselves in a catch-22 situation: Wearing too much personal protective...
Ways to Reduce Arc Flash Energy
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Bob Fuhr, P.E., PowerStudies.com
Reducing personal injuries from arc flash events should be the main goal of any arc flash hazard assessment. Many facilities have locations where the...
Battling the Big Apple and Winning
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Tom Zind, Freelance Writer
New York, New York. I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps, to find I'm A-number-one, top of the listIf I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere...
The Soft Sell
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Beck Ireland, Staff Writer
Early in his career, Jamie Wilkie, owner of Mister Sparky of Greenville, S.C., learned a valuable lesson. Eight years ago, Wilkie already a licensed master...
10 Project Pre-Planning Ideas That Work
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By David Brown, D. Brown Management
During a typical construction day, more than 35% of a contractor's time is spent on activities other than actual installation work. This could be anything...
Playing it Safe
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Bob Mitchell, Integrated Management Group
Electrical contractors should not need to be told about the importance of a well-defined and laid out safety program. It's no secret that construction...
National Electrical Code
Article 450: Transformers and Transformer Vaults
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Mike Holt, NEC Consultant
The operation of any facility depends on power distribution, which, in turn, depends on transformers. Safe and reliable operation of transformers is crucial...
Illustrated Catastrophes
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Joe Tedesco, NEC Columnist
As usual, never consider the following commentary associated with these photos as a formal interpretation of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Without...
What's Wrong Here?
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Joe Tedesco, NEC Columnist
How well do you know the Code? Think you can spot violations the original installer either ignored or couldn't identify? Here's your chance to moonlight...
Code Quandaries
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Mike Holt, NEC Consultant
All questions and answers are based on the 2008 NEC. Q. What are the requirements for installing isolated ground receptacles? A. The grounding terminal...
Industry Viewpoint
Safety in Numbers
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Michael Eby, Editor-in-Chief
Safety is job one. Put safety first. Safety is no accident. These are all slogans you've probably heard a hundred times before. Unfortunately, each and...
Market Watch
Tool Trouble
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
A forgotten tool proved to be more than just a minor inconvenience for one unfortunate electrician. Working in a power distribution panel that contained...
Massport Takes Wind Out of High Energy Costs
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Boston-based Massport has partnered with AeroVironment, Monrovia, Calif., and Groom Energy Solutions, Salem, Mass., to install 20 building-integrated...
Skyrocketing Steel Prices Rock Electrical Market
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Electrical manufacturers are being forced to increase prices by at least 5% to 10% on steel products. Industry observers say contributing factors include...
NEMA Establishes Premium Electronic Ballast Program
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Rosslyn, Va., recently created the NEMA Premium Ballast Program. According to NEMA, the program's...
Product of the Month
Virtual Skylights Offer a Sunny View 24/7
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Stefanie Kure, Senior Associate Editor
Most people probably don't consider a six-month dental checkup particularly inspirational, but for Bill Witherspoon, a trip to the dentist's chair prompted...
Forensic Casebook
The Case of the Shocking Sealing Machine
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Andrew Paris, P.E., Anderson Engineering
When a graphics production company found itself busting at the seams, it planned to move to a larger facility that offered more space to produce its signature...
Lighting & Control
Managing Your Emergency Lights
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By David Herres, Master Electrician
For large commercial or industrial facilities that may not have windows or those that continue operations during the night shift, a power outage can create...
Inside PQ
Surge Strips vs. Plug-in Power Conditioners
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Andy Goldin, Powervar
If you've ever wondered how surge protector strips are different from plug-in power conditioners, you're not alone. The enormous difference in price makes...
Construction Watch
NECA Joins U.S. Green Building Council
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Green construction is everywhere these days, and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Bethesda, Md., is making sure its members are...
Employers Face Stiff New Penalties for Immigration Violations
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
For the first time since 1999, the federal government is raising the civil penalties on employers that violate immigration law, according to a recent...
Business Park Development Poised to Boost Arizona Economy
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Kicking off the first phase of what is projected to be a 1,600-acre, 19.6-million-square-foot master-planned business park in Goodyear, Ariz., the first...
Project Spotlight
Science & Technology Building Anchors New University Campus
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Stefanie Kure, Senior Associate Editor
Located on the border of Texas and Arkansas, Texas A&M University-Texarkana (TAMUT) is an upper-level university offering programs and courses to approximately...
Back to Basics
Short-Circuit Calculations: The Easy Way
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Short-circuit currents represent a tremendous amount of destructive energy, which can be released through electrical systems under fault conditions. Baseline...
Product Spotlight
Focus on Safety
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Hard hat Fibre-Metal brand Supereight SE2 sensor caps offer multidirectional protection by providing a dual-impact energy control system, which the company...
New Products
Product News
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
3-phase UPS SmartOnline modular UPS systems are designed for 120/208V applications. According to the company, three models are available with individual...
Product News
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Universal covers Capable of mounting either horizontally or vertically, Red Dot universal covers feature innovative adapter plates to support GFCI, duplex,...
Product News
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM
Digital multimeters The Resi-Pro line of digital multimeters includes two versions. The 61-312 model offers residential electricians auto ranging and...
