2005 National Electrical Code in a Single Glance

Here you can see the entire National Electrical code in its entirety. In this graphic a picture says about 400,000 words! Become familiar with this picture. Print out a copy for your wall, notebook or codebook.

The NEC is very organized in its structure. It is divided into 9 chapters. Each chapter is then subdivided into 141 ARTICLES, as you can see here. This picture will give your brain a concise and concentrated overview of the entire codebook in a single glance. Take note how the colors separate each chapter.

Chapter ONE has only 2 ARTICLES: 100 - Definitions 110 - General Requirements

Chapter TWO has 10 ARTICLES:

200 - Neutrals

210 - Branch Circuits

215 - Feeders

220 - Branch Circuit, Feeders and Service Calculations

225 - Outdoor Branch Circuits and Feeders

230 - Services

240 - Overcurrent Protection

250 - Grounding and Bonding

280 - Surge Arrestors

285 - Transient Votlage Surge Suppressors:TVSS's

Chapter THREE has the most ARTICLES at a count of 44 as of this 2005 version. Many of the ARTICLES are redundant information that are easily assimilated. The chapter deals with ways to wire a structure and raceways to put the wires (or cables) in.

Chapter FOUR has 21 ARTICLES that deal mainly with stuff we "USE" everyday. It deals with CORDS, SWITCHES, FIXTURES and APPLIANCES and the things attached to them.

Chapter FIVE has 27 ARTICLES focusing on Dangerous or flammable situations.

Chapter SIX has 23 ARTICLES that I call "Weird Industry". If it's something unusual or non-conventional, you'll find it here. Examples are Cranes and Hoists, Dumbwaiter, Welders, Signs and such.

Chapter SEVEN should remind you of EMERGENCY situations, such as power outages, fires and fiber optics. I think fiber optics should be in chapter EIGHT - Communications, but it's not. Go figure. There are 10 ARTICLES here.

Chapter EIGHT is - you guessed it - Communications! There are only FOUR ARTICLES and you should be able to memorize them easily.

Chapter NINE is full of usefull tables that will be explained elswhere on this site. (To receive a copy of the NEC Flash PowerPoint Presentation-attend our 1-Day Workshop).