NFPA 70E applies to the employee workplace. NFPA 70E differs from NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code, in that NFPA 70 includes the requirements pertaining to the installation of electrical premises wiring systems and NFPA 70E pertains to safe work practices.
NFPA 70E-2024 addresses the following:
- Electrical safety-related work practices
- Safety-related maintenance requirements
- Other administrative controls
NFPA 70E is concerned with the practical safeguarding of employees relative to the hazards associated with electrical energy during activities pertaining to electric conductors, electric equipment, signaling and communications conductors and equipment, and raceways when any of the following occur:
- Installation
- Removal
- Inspection
- Operation
- Maintenance
- demolition
NFPA 70E is also to be used for those employees performing other work activities that can expose them to electrical hazards as well as safe work practices for the following:
- Installation of conductors and equipment that connect to the supply of electricity
- Installations used by the electric utility, such as office buildings, warehouses, garages, machine shops, and recreational buildings that are not an integral part of a generating plant, substation, or control center
Workplaces that are not under the purview of NFPA 70E include the following:
- Ships, watercraft other than floating buildings, railway rolling stock, aircraft, or automotive vehicles other than mobile homes and recreational vehicles
- Railways for generation, transformation, transmission, or distribution of power used exclusively for operation of rolling stock or installations used exclusively for signaling and communications purposes
- Communications equipment under the exclusive control of communications utilities located outdoors or in building spaces used exclusively for such installations
- Installations under the exclusive control of an electric utility where such installations meet additional criteria.
2024 Change
The title of this section changed from “Scope” to “Use and Application” to better align with its contents. In addition, the existing first level subdivisions (A) and (B) were renamed as “Workplaces Covered” and “Workplaces Not Covered” respectively. The remainder of the text for each of these first level subdivisions did not change.
Impact of change
Any documents that reference old section 90.2 will have to now point to new 90.3. Such documents could consist of training books and presentations as well as any safety plans. Keep in mind that these changes do not impact the enforcement of NFPA 70E.
Reason for changeThe title was changed to better reflect the provisions contained in the section.
My NFPA 70E 