Illumination Control Fixture Whips to Meet Code Change of 2022

NFPA CODE CHANGE FOR 2022

Fixture Whip

A new guideline will take effect in January 2022 for our Illumination Control Fixture Whip (ICFW). This code change is in response to the 2020 Edition of National Fire Protection Association* (NFPA 70), Article 410.69. Just so you know, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) changed the guidelines for 0-10 Volt dimming conductor colors.

The 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) requires 0-10 Volt conductors (or other control conductors) that share the same luminaire housing as the branch-circuit conductors, the color gray conductor will only be reserved for branch-circuit conductors. Therefore, NEMA has designated pink as the acceptable color for this specific conductor. So, the pair of control conductors currently used in the ICFW (i.e., Tray Cable) will now be identified with purple and pink color insulation. The effective date for the code change is January 1, 2022.

OUR FORWARD LOOKING VIEW

EPCO currently stocks 56 configurations of ICFWs for 120-Volt and 277-Volt circuit applications using purple and gray conductors. This will be a rolling change for us until our supply of tray cable using purple and gray conductors is depleted, and we receive the “NEMA specified and mandated” purple and pink tray cable from our supplier.

At this writing, we do not expect the updated tray cable for our ICFWs into our fixture whip(s) production department prior to January 1st, therefore we (EPCO) will take the necessary steps to support the Electrical Contractor by “pre-tagging” the tray cable’s gray conductor with pink electrical tape at the termination point for each location where the pair of conductors will be visible and accessible. See Figure 1.

Figure 1. ICFW Tray Cable’s Gray Conductor pre-tagged with Pink Electrical Tape

* Adopted in all 50 states, NFPA 70, in conjunction with the National Electrical Code (NEC) is the benchmark for safe electrical design, installation, and inspection to protect people and property from electrical hazards.

We will provide ongoing updates on the NEMA code change transition as more information becomes available. For more information please contact your Regional Sales Manager or EPCO Inside Sales at sales@engproducts.com or 800.336.1976.