JWelectric
Electrical Contractor/Instructor
90.1 Purpose.I, for one, think that blindly and unquestioningly following the rules is very dangerous. It's much better to use the code book as a guide, and to question everything. You just may be smarter than the folks who came up with the codes.
(A) Practical Safeguarding. The purpose of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.
(B) Adequacy. This Code contains provisions that are considered necessary for safety. Compliance therewith and proper maintenance results in an installation that is essentially free from hazard but not necessarily efficient, convenient, or adequate for good service or future expansion of electrical use.
(C) Intention. This Code is not intended as a design specification or an instruction manual for untrained persons.
But it does make it legalJust because it's to code doesn't make it right.
But it would make it an illegal installation.Just because it's a violation doesn't make it wrong.
And just what killed them? 1) a defective Arc Fault 2) a defective refrigerator or freezerRefrigerator or freezer nuisance trips a required AFCI (it will happen), food gets above the 40 degree safety limit before the fault is corrected , family eats food and dies.
Answer; a defective refrigerator or freezer
So I guess that this would not be a good example would it.
Being that the codes are adopted into law then to do anything less that what is required by the codes would be unlawful and therefore would be wrong.Generally speaking, what we consider "right" and "lawful" is only "right" and "lawful" because one person or a bunch of people with power have agreed to make it "right" and "lawful". The code, in your instance, may be perfectly adequate and safe. I just think that turning any code book into a "Bible" and taking every word literally without question, is not healthy.
You are mistaken about the process of the making of the codes. Anyone can submit a proposal for a code change.
Once the proposal is submitted the Code Panel will vote on its acceptance. They will do one of four things. 1) accept the proposal, 2) accept it in part, 3) accept it in principle or 4) reject it out right.
Once the proposals have been through the Code Panel (no matter how they voted) the proposal moves on to the comment stage. Here every person that has the ability to read and write can make a comment about proposal and then the final step when anyone can go to the final stage and appeal the finding of the Code Panel.
So if there is something in the codes that someone disagrees with they have a avenue to make a change instead of just disregarding what has been adopted.