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George Argo with Argo electrical services, and I am the surge protector guy. Okay, this is podcast number four. And today, we want to talk about torquing your electrical equipment. Okay, so in 2017, the National Electrical Code in Section 110 of the codebook came out with, you know, installation and talking. And just to give you a little history I can remember in 2017 Taking our continuing education class with Mr. Philip Martin. And you know, what the manufacturers of the equipment were saying that most of the major problems with new equipment that had been installed was that the electricians doing the installations had over torqued the equipment. Now depending on where you’re at in your electrical career, you know, we do a lot of remodel work, okay, a lot of residential remodel work. And we go in and take out older panels and the young guys that work with me, they’re just like, oh my goodness, this old panel weighs twice as much as the new panel. And so everything is cheaper made everybody’s aware of that. There’s a lot more plastic involved. The TN is lighter, it’s just not as heavier a lot of time to bus as aluminum not copper, just depending on which you know, which brand that you use. Okay, so anyway, anyway, so I was thinking about this and I found an article online and this was a code changes change summary, and many questions have arisen since tightening torque requirements. First appeared section 110 dot 14 D in the 2017 National Electrical Code. Who verifies the electricians torque is properly calibrated? That’s a question how does the inspector verify that the electricity and torque the terminal to the right value can the torque terminal be retort the 2020 nec has replaced the requirement for calibrated torque tool with an approved means and added three informational notes for further clarification. Informational note one states that an example of approved means by achieving the indicated torque values can include torque tools or devices such as shear bolts, or breakaway style devices with visual indicators that demonstrated the proper torque had been applied. Some of the newer breakaway style torque modes have a visual indicate indication that the proper torque has been applied. And the thing that I’m looking to add below is a preview of the NEC I’m gonna read that so 2017 code language article 110 dot 14 D installation where a tightening torque is indicated as a numeric value on equipment or in installation instructions provided by the manufacturer a calibrated torque tool shall be used to achieve the indicated torque value unless the equipment manufacturer has provided installation instructions for an alternative method of achieving the required torque ie breakaway bolts. So the 2020 code language is terminal connection Tor, tightening torque values terminals connections shall be indicated on equipment or installation installation instructions provided by the manufacturer approved me and approved means shall be used to achieve the indicated torque value information one like we talked about the approved means of achieving the indicated torque values include torque tools or devices such as shear bolts or breakaway style devices with visual indicators that demonstrate that the proper torque has been applied. Information node to the equipment manufacturer can be contacted if numeric torque values are not indicated on the equipment if the installation instructions are not available. Informative annex one of UL standard 486 A 486 B standard for safety wire connections provide torques values in the absence of manufacturer’s recommendations, and informational note three additional information for torque, threading, torquing, threaded connections, and terminations can be found in sections 8.11 of the NFPA 70, B 2019. Cycle, recommended practice for electrical equipment maintenance. And the whole reason that this, you know, was a big deal to me is one is I’ve heard I’ve heard people talk about it before, when I say when Mr. Field brought it up originally. And then you know, I’ve never been called on it in the field by an inspector. But after I heard that, I did go to the point where I finally purchased a torquing screwdriver. And I found that at Harbor Freight, I believe, paid about 70 bucks for the set. And then I have a, you know, a three eighths torque wrench that we keep in our vans in our truck. Excuse me, but also work before I got my license, I worked in the nuclear power industry, okay. And anytime you did an installation, there, were there was any possibility of any seismic movement or anything like that, or, or when you were, you know, put lugs on devices, stuff like that, you know, you had to document with calibrated equipment that had been calibrated, you know, within a certain timeframe, two years, six months, whatever was, but you had to provide that information. And you actually had to check those out from the nuclear power house tool room. Because if you’ve ever worked there, you don’t bring tools in and out of the power house, they have everything that you’re going to work with there. So you know, something that I’ve been meaning to do, and I have not done it. But I believe my next step is to create a document for my guys to keep so when we do panel change outs, and install sub panels and stuff like that, that, you know, it actually has the different brands that will use square d, color hammer Eaton Siemens General Electric, and what those will be because I actually got called the guy at the parts store about six months ago, and I’m like, Where the heck can I find these numbers? And finally, he called me back the next day. And he’s like, Well, dang, but he’s right there on the inside of the equipment. And I don’t like like the book says, I don’t know that all of them have. And I’m sure they’re more compliant than they ever have been. But anyway, I thought this would be a great idea for a podcast and I’m definitely open for discussion. Maybe you got some tricks of the trade that you could teach me I’m always trying to learn more and trying to be open minded. The guy that tells you he knows everything in electrical work, that guy gets you hurt or killed. Once again, my name is George Argo. I’m the owner of Argo electrical services and I am the surge protector guy. You can talk contact me anytime you want to at 770-596-1437 You can also find us on the web at Argo electrical.com Or you could just Google at Argo electrical. Have a good day.
