The National Electrical Code was originally drawn in 1897 as a result of the united efforts of various insurance, electrical, architectural, and allied interests. The original Code was prepared by the National Conference on Standard Electrical Rules, composed of delegates from various interested national associations. Prior to this, acting on an 1881 resolution of the National Association of Fire Engineers’ meeting in Richmond, Virginia, a basis for the first Code was suggested to cover such items as identification of the white wire, the use of single disconnect devices, and the use of insulated conduit.
In 1911, the National Conference of Standard Electrical Rules was disbanded, and since that year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has acted as sponsor of the National Electrical Code. Beginning with the 1920 edition, the National Electrical Code has been under the further auspices of the American National Standards Institute (and its predecessor organizations, United States of America Standards Institute, and the American Standards Association), with the NFPA continuing in its role as Administrative Sponsor. Since that date, the Committee has been identified as “ANSI Standards Committee C1” (formerly “USAS C1” or “ASA C1”).
Major milestones in the continued updating of successive issues of the National Electrical Code since 1911 appeared in 1923, when the Code was rearranged and rewritten; in 1937, when it was editorially revised so that all the general rules would appear in the first chapters followed by supplementary rules in the following chapters; and in 1959, when it was editorially revised to incorporate a new numbering system under which each Section of each Article is identified by the Article Number preceding the Section Number.
In addition to an extensive revision, the 1975 NEC was the first Code to be dated for the year following its actual release. That is, although it was released in September of 1974, instead of being called the 1974 Code—as was done for the 1971 and all previous editions of the NEC—this Code was identified as the 1975 Code. That’s the reason there appears to be 4 years, instead of the usual 3, between the 1971 and 1975 editions.
The 2008 edition of the NEC was also extensively revised. In addition to the usual number of additions, deletions, and other modifications, a number of major Articles were added, including Art. 708 covering critical operations power systems. This responded to the need for facilities that have an electrical backbone capable of remaining operational not just during a period of evacuation (e.g., Art. 700) but for protracted periods during disasters.
For many years the National Electrical Code was published by the National Board of Fire Underwriters (now American Insurance Association), and this public service of the National Board helped immensely in bringing about the wide public acceptance which the Code now enjoys. It is recognized as the most widely adopted Code of standard practices in the U.S.A. The National Fire Protection Association first printed the document in pamphlet form in 1951 and has, since that year, supplied the Code for distribution to the public through its own office and through the American National Standards Institute. The National Electrical Code also appears in the National Fire Codes, issued annually by the National Fire Protection Association.