C22.1-15 PACKAGE

Preface

This twenty-third 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 2014 meetings in Victoria, British Columbia. This twenty-third edition supersedes the previous editions, published in 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 features important revisions to many Sections. Section 4 now contains requirements for high-voltage cable ampacities and clarified Rules for conductor termination temperature. In addition, a new table (Table 39) simplifies residential service and feeder conductor selection. More options are provided for load and voltage drop calculations.

Bonding conductor selection has been clarified through the addition of the new Tables 16A and 16B. In addition, Section 12 contains many new and revised requirements for wiring methods, and the conduit fill tables have been expanded.

Section 18 has undergone major revisions. Requirements for Class II and Class III locations have been relocated to Appendix J, and requirements for explosive dust atmospheres based on IEC Zone 20, Zone 21, and Zone 22 have been added to Section 18. The requirements are now located as follows:

Zones 0, 1, 2, 20, 21, and 22 - Section 18

Classes I, II, and III and associated Divisions - Appendix J

Note: References to Class I alone are intended as general references to all classifications of explosive gas atmospheres, Zone 0, Zone 1, and Zone 2.

References to Class II alone or to Class III alone are intended as general references to all classifications of explosive dust atmospheres, Zone 20, Zone 21, and Zone 22.

Specific references to a Zone of a Class I location are references to that Zone.

There are currently no references to Zones or Divisions of Class II or Class III locations in the body of the Rules of this Code (i.e., Sections 0 to 86).

Other revisions in this edition include the following: 
 

• requirements for arc-fault protection have been expanded and clarified;
• Section 50 has been merged with Section 64;
• Section 62 has been completely rewritten; and
• the term injury has been replaced with damage throughout the Code.
• Many of the changes in this edition were developed by cross-functional working groups. Their work is gratefully acknowledged. 
   

  General arrangement

  
  The Code is divided into numbered Sections, each covering some main division of the work. Sections 0 to 16 and 26 are considered general sections, and the other sections supplement or amend the general sections. The Sections are divided into numbered Rules, with captions for easy reference, as follows:
  1. Numbering system - With the exception of Section 38, even numbers have been used throughout to identify Sections and Rules. Rule numbers consist of the Section number separated by a hyphen from the 3- or 4-digit figure. The intention in general is that odd numbers may be used for new Rules required by interim revisions. Due to the introduction of some new Rules and the deletion of some existing Rules during the revision of each edition, the Rule numbers for any particular requirement are not always the same in successive editions.
  
  
• Subdivision of Rules - Rules are subdivided in the manner illustrated by Rules 8-204 and 8-206, and the subdivisions are identified as follows:
  
  00-000     |   Rule
  (1)            |   Subrule
  
     (a)         |   Item
  
         (i)      |   item
  
           (A)   |   item

• Reference to other Rules, etc. - Where reference is made to two or more Rules (e.g., Rules 10-200 to 10-206), the first and last Rules mentioned are included in the reference. Where reference is made to a Subrule or Item in the same Rule, only the Subrule number and/or Item letter and the word Subrule or Item need be mentioned. If the reference is to another Rule or Section, then the Rule number and the word Rule shall be stated (e.g., Rule 10-200(3) and not Subrule (3) of Rule 10-200).

The principal changes that have been made between the 2012 edition of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, and this new edition published in 2015 are marked in the text of the Code by the symbol delta in the margin. Users of the Code are advised that the change markers in the text are not intended to be all-inclusive and are provided as a convenience only; such markers cannot constitute a comprehensive guide to the reorganization or revision of the Code. Care must therefore be taken not to rely on the change markers to determine the current requirements of the Code. As always, users of the Code must consider the entire Code and any local amendments or interpretations. 
 

Scope

This Code covers 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:

1. 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;
2. equipment and facilities that are used in the operation of an electric railway and are supplied exclusively from circuits that supply the motive power;
3. 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;
4. aircraft; and
5. 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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C22.1HB-15 - Canadian electrical code handbook - An explanation of the rules of the Canadian electrical code, part 1 
 

Introduction to the CE Code Handbook

This Handbook provides background information on the reasons behind the requirements in the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, and gives an explanation of each Rule 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 that 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. CSA 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, whereas Rule 18-106 requires five threads to be engaged when making a threaded connection in a Class I, 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.

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2015 ELECTRICAL QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
 

Preface

This is the second edition of CSA Group’s Electrical Quick Reference. It is intended to be used as a companion to the 2015 edition of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I. 

The Electrical Quick Reference directs the reader to some of the most frequently cited Rules of the Code and other information required by field personnel on a frequent basis. Much of this information is presented in tables that are designed for quick and easy reference. The Electrical Quick Reference also provides useful background information related to electrical terminology and procedures. The final sections contain basic tables specifying trade sizes, standard ratings, and equivalents, followed by excerpts from the most commonly consulted Code Tables and Diagrams. 

The Electrical Quick Reference is designed to be a quick and portable reference guide in the field. Because the material is not intended to be complete, the Electrical Quick Reference must not under any circumstances be used in place of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I. CSA Group does not assume responsibility for any errors or omissions resulting from the information in this publication. 

Some of the changes to the 2015 edition of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I are included in this edition of the Electrical Quick Reference. These changes include the following:


 

• a new means of assessing how the equipment’s termination temperature applies in determining the temperature rating of the conductor when calculating the maximum conductor ampacity;
• revised correction factors to be used when determining the maximum ampacity of conductors under certain conditions;
• revised tables to be used to determine minimum bonding conductor sizes;
• a new Table 39 to be used to determine the minimum size for 3-wire 120/240 V and 120/208 V service conductors for single dwellings and feeder conductors supplying single dwelling units of row housing of apartment and similar buildings;
• the addition of Class A and Class B cable bus requirements;
• new requirements when EMT is to be used in wet or outdoor locations;
• new Tables 6A to 6K to be used to determine the minimum size of conduit or tubing when all the conductors are of the same size, voltage rating, and insulation type;
• new requirements for arc-fault protection in receptacle circuits in dwelling units and single dwellings;
• the addition of the 208 V full load current column to Table 44 for 3-phase motors; and
• a new Table 68 to be used to determine the maximum conductor length measured from the supply side of the consumer’s service to the furthest point of utilization on a circuit using 90 °C rated copper conductors at 30 °C ambient temperature for 120 V single-phase ac circuits (2-wire circuits) when used in dwelling units.