CSA C22.1:24 - Canadian Electrical Code, Part I (26th Edition), Safety Standard for Electrical Installations
Preface
This twenty-sixth edition of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, was approved by the Committee on the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, and by the Regulatory Authority Committee at their June 2023 meetings. This twenty-sixth edition supersedes the previous editions published in 2021, 2018, 2015, 2012, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998, 1994, 1990, 1986, 1982, 1978, 1975, 1972, 1969, 1966, 1962, 1958, 1953, 1947, 1939, 1935, 1930, and 1927.
This edition contains important revisions to many Sections. Section 64 contains major revisions for energy storage and renewable energy systems, including a new Subsection for residential occupancies and updates to photovoltaic system requirements. Several important changes appear in Section 68, including new disconnecting means and bonding requirements for conductive pool infrastructure.
Section 66 now requires ground fault circuit interrupter protection for receptacles placed in temporary installations such as tents for outdoor functions.
Other significant revisions in this edition include the following:
• voltage definitions for dc circuit voltages have been revised in Section 0;
• Section 2 sees the addition of new requirements for reduction of arcing fault clearing times and revisions to clarify use of ingress protection designations;
• in addition to traditional AWG and kcmil sizes, use of conductors sized in mm2 are now recognized through revisions to Section 4 and a new Table;
• load calculations for installations with electric vehicle supply equipment have been revised in Section 8 and simplified through the deletion of Table 38;
• many new products and updates to wiring methods are recognized in Section 12, including sag and span requirements for overhead installations and new Rules for non-metallic jacketed cable;
• sealing requirements have been substantially revised in Section 18 and Annex J18;
• Section 36 now features rules for installation of high-voltage couplers (i.e., devices that provide a means to repeatedly join and separate portable power cables);
• Table 11 has been formatted into two new Tables (11A and 11B) and made easier to use through a layout similar to Table 19;
• an index and Annexes A.1 and A.2 of Appendix A have been reinstated;
• Appendix K has been deleted; and
• the word allowable has been removed from allowable ampacities throughout most of the Code.
Many of the changes in this edition were developed by cross-functional working groups. Their work is gratefully acknowledged.
This Code has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group.
Scope
This Code applies to all electrical work and electrical equipment operating or intended to operate at all voltages in electrical installations for buildings, structures, and premises, including factory-built relocatable and non-relocatable structures, and self-propelled marine vessels stationary for periods exceeding five months and connected to a shore supply of electricity continuously or from time to time, with the following exceptions:
a) installations or equipment employed by an electric, communication, or community antenna distribution system utility in the exercise of its function as a utility, as recognized by the regulatory authority having jurisdiction, and located outdoors or in buildings or sections of buildings used for that purpose;
b) equipment and facilities that are used in the operation of an electric railway and are supplied exclusively from circuits that supply the motive power;
c) installations or equipment used for railway signalling and railway communication purposes, and located outdoors or in buildings or sections of buildings used exclusively for such installations;
d) aircraft; and
e) electrical systems in ships that are regulated under Transport Canada.
For mines and quarry applications, see also CSA M421.
This Code and any standards referenced in it do not make or imply any assurance or guarantee by the authority adopting this Code with respect to life expectancy, durability, or operating performance of equipment and materials so referenced.
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CSA C22.1HB:24 - Canadian Electrical Code Handbook - An Explanation of the Rules of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I
Introduction to the Canadian Electrical Code Handbook
This Handbook provides background information on the reasons behind the requirements in the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, and explains the Rules in plain, easy-to-understand language. The Handbook is intended to provide a clearer understanding of the safety requirements of the Code.
The content of this Handbook is not meant to form a code of mandatory requirements. The mandatory language (shall) that is used in the CE Code, Part I has not been used here. Care has been taken to ensure the intent of the Code Rules is clear to the users of the Handbook. However, users of the Handbook must not under any circumstances rely on it to determine the current requirements of the Code. As always, reference must be made to the Code itself and any local amendments. Consult the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for specific Code interpretations. CSA Group does not assume responsibility for any errors or omissions resulting from the information contained in this Handbook.
The Rules in the CE Code, Part I are divided into two groups. Sections 0 to 16 and 26 are considered general Sections, and the other Sections supplement or amend those general Sections. Therefore, a requirement in the supplementary Sections takes precedence over a general requirement. For example:
• Rule 12-1008 requires three threads to be engaged when making a threaded connection while Rule 18-102 requires five threads to be engaged when making a threaded connection in a Zone 1 area.
• Section 4 permits the use of aluminum conductors, but Rule 32-100 does not allow aluminum conductors to be used in fire alarm systems.
Preface
This is the eleventh edition of CSA C22.1HB, the Canadian Electrical Code Handbook. It supersedes the previous editions published in 2021, 2018, 2015, 2012, 2009, 2006, 2002, 1998, 1994, and 1990.
Changes since the previous edition include the following:
• throughout the Code, the word allowable has been removed from allowable ampacities;
• in Section 0, voltage definitions for dc circuit voltages have been revised;
• in Section 2, there are new requirements for reducing arc fault clearing times and clarifications on the use of ingress protection designations for enclosures;
• in Section 4, there is now recognition for conductors sized in mm2 and Table D18 has been added in support of this;
• in Section 8, load calculations for installations with electric vehicle supply equipment have been revised, Table 38 has been deleted, and voltage drop calculations using Table D3 have been updated;
• in Section 12, sag and span requirements for overhead installations have been updated, and there are new Rules for non-metallic jacketed cable;
• in Section 18 and Annex J18, sealing requirements have been revised;
• in Section 36, there are now Rules for installation of high-voltage couplers;
• in Section 64, the Rules for energy storage, renewable energy, and photovoltaic systems have been revised, there is a new Subsection for residential occupancies in Section 66, and ground fault circuit interrupter protection is now required for receptacles in temporary installations (such as tents) for outdoor functions;
• in Section 68, there are new disconnecting means and bonding
requirements for conductive pool infrastructure;
• Table 11 has been formatted into two new Tables (11A and 11B) and laid out in a manner similar to Table 19;
• Annexes A.1 and A.2 of Appendix A have been reinstated, along with an index; and
• Appendix K has been deleted.
CSA gratefully acknowledges the outstanding contribution of Marcia Ranger to the development and publication of the 2024 Canadian Electrical Code Handbook.
