5.1 Authority

1. The Rhode Island Electrical Code is promulgated by the Building Code Standards Committee pursuant to the authority granted in R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 23-27.3-100.1.5 and 23.27.3-109.1.

5.2 Incorporated Materials

1. A. The Building Code Standards Committee hereby adopts and incorporates as the Rhode Island Electrical Code the provisions of the National Electrical Code (NEC) 2023 edition, as published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) not including any further editions or amendments thereof and only to the extent that the provisions therein are not inconsistent with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 23-27.3 and any provisions reserved, deleted, or amended in this Regulation.

   1. 1. NEC 2023 is protected by the copyright that has been issued to NPFA. NEC 2023 can be viewed and purchased here: https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/7/0/70.
   2. 2. To properly utilize the Rhode Island Electrical Code, NEC 2023 must be read jointly with the Building Code requirements in R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 23-27.3 and the amendments to NEC 2023 set forth in the sections of this Regulation, below.
   3. 3. Format: These code changes follow numbering sequence and topics of the NEC 2023 (first printing). All provisions of NEC 2023 are retained unless indicated in this Regulation as deleted or amended. Published errata are available from the NFPA website.

5.3 NEC 2023 is adopted with the Following Amendments

Article 90: Introduction

1. Article 90 is adopted with the following changes.

   1. Delete all references to NEC and substitute Rhode Island Electrical Code.
   2. NEC 2023 may also be referenced as NFPA 70 2023 and are one and the same document.
   3. 90.6 Delete NEC section

   4. 90.690.10 Add the following new section:

      1. 90.10 Rhode Island Code References
      2. Building Code. The provisions of the Rhode Island State Building Code ( Part 1 of this Subchapter) shall apply wherever referenced in this code as the International Building Code.
      3. Residential Code. The provisions of the Rhode Island One and Two-Family Dwelling Code ( Part 2 of this Subchapter) shall apply wherever referenced in this code as the International Residential Code.
      4. Plumbing Code. The provisions of the Rhode Island Plumbing Code (Part 3 of this Subchapter) shall apply wherever reference in this code as the International Plumbing Code.
      5. Mechanical Code. The provisions of the Rhode Island Mechanical Code ( Part 4 of this Subchapter) shall apply wherever referenced in this code as the International Mechanical Code.
      6. Property Maintenance. The provisions of the Rhode Island State Property Maintenance Code ( Part 6 of this Subchapter) shall apply wherever referenced in this Code as the International Property Maintenance Code.
      7. Fire Safety Code. The provisions of the Rhode Island Fire Safety Code (450-RICR-00-00-1 through 10) shall apply wherever referenced in this code as the International Fire Code.
      8. Energy Code. The provisions of the Rhode Island State Energy Code ( Part 8 of this Subchapter) shall apply wherever referenced in this code as the International Energy Conservation Code.
      9. Swimming Pool and Spa Code. The Provisions of the Rhode Island Swimming Pool and Spa Code (Part 14 of this Subchapter) shall apply wherever referenced in this code as the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
      10. Existing Building Code. The provisions of the Rhode Island Existing Building Code ( Part 7 of this Subchapter) or the State Rehabilitation Code (Part 20 of this Subchapter), as applicable, shall apply wherever referenced in this code as the International Existing Building Code.
      11. Fuel Gas Code: The provisions of the Rhode Island Fuel Gas Code (Part 19 of this Subchapter) shall apply wherever referenced in this code as the International Fuel Gas Code.

Chapter 1: General

1. Chapter 1 is adopted with no changes

Chapter 2: Wiring and Protection

1. Chapter 2 is adopted with the following changes.

   1. 210.25 Delete NEC Section 210.25 and substitute the following:

      1. 210.25 Branch Circuits in Buildings with More Than One Occupancy.
      2. A. Dwelling Unit Branch Circuits. Branch circuits in each dwelling unit shall supply only loads within that dwelling unit or loads associated only with that dwelling unit.

      3. B. Common Area Branch Circuits. Branch circuits installed for the purpose of lighting, central alarm, signal, communications, or other purposes for public or common areas of a two (2) family dwelling, a multifamily dwelling, or a multi occupancy building shall not be supplied from equipment that supplies an individual dwelling unit or tenant space.

         1. 1. Exception: Smoke/CO Alarms in Existing Three-Family Dwellings.

         2. Branch circuits installed for the purpose of associated smoke and carbon monoxide detection required for three (3) family dwellings located in the common areas of a three (3) family dwelling shall be permitted to be supplied from equipment that supplies an individual dwelling unit. Written documentation shall be supplied that there will be no interruption in service to said common area smoke and carbon monoxide devices.

            1. When the electric service to a three-family dwelling with branch circuits installed in accordance with section 210.25(B)(1) is upgraded, or an electric meter is added for any other purpose, said property shall comply with sections 210.25(A) and (B).

            a.Modifications to Existing Electric Service.

   2. 230.24(A) Delete only Exception No. 5 in NEC section 230.24(A) without substitution.230.82 Delete NEC section 230.82 and substitute as follows:

      1. 230.82 Equipment Connected to the Supply Side of Service Disconnect.

      2. Only equipment included in this section shall be permitted to be connected to the supply side of the service disconnecting means.

         1. a. Supply Side Equipment.

            1. (1) Cable limiters or other current-limiting devices.
            2. (2) Meters and meter sockets nominally rated not in excess of one thousand (1,000) volts provided all metal housings and service enclosures are grounded in accordance with Part VII and bonded in accordance with Part V of Article 250.
            3. (3) Instrument transformers (current and voltage), impedance shunts, load management devices, surge arresters, and Type 1 surge-protective devices.
            4. (4) Taps used only to supply load management devices, circuits for standby power systems, fire pump equipment, and fire and sprinkler alarms, if provided with service equipment and installed in accordance with requirements for service-entrance conductors.
            5. (5) Solar photovoltaic systems, fuel cell systems, or interconnected electric power production sources.
            6. (6) Control circuits for power-operable service disconnecting means, if suitable overcurrent protection and disconnecting means are provided.
            7. (7) Ground-fault protection systems or Type 2 surge protective devices, where installed as part of listed equipment, if suitable overcurrent protection and disconnecting means are provided.
            8. (8) Connections used only to supply listed communications equipment under the exclusive control of the serving electric utility, if suitable overcurrent protection and disconnecting means are provided. For installations of equipment by the serving electric utility, a disconnecting means is not required if the supply is installed as part of a meter socket, such that access can only be gained with the meter removed.

         2. b. Meter Disconnect. A disconnecting means shall be permitted to be located ahead of the service equipment provided the installation complies with sections 230.82(B)(1) through 230.82(B)(3). A separate service disconnecting means that complies with Part V of Article 230 shall be installed and shall be located as provided in section 230.70(A)(1).

            1. (1) Rating. A meter disconnect shall be capable of interrupting the load served. It shall have a short-circuit current rating not less than the available short-circuit current.

            2. (2) Marking. A meter disconnect shall be legibly field marked on its exterior in a manner suitable for the environment substantially as follows:

               1. METER DISCONNECT NOT SERVICE EQUIPMENT
            3. (3) Grounding. A meter disconnect shall be grounded in accordance with Part VII and bonded in accordance with Part V of Article 250. The grounding connections shall be permitted to be in accordance with section 250.142(A)(1).

Chapter 3: Wiring Methods and Materials

1. Chapter 3 is adopted with no changes.

Chapter 4: Equipment for General Use

1. Chapter 4 is adopted with no changes.

Chapter 5: Special Occupancies

1. Chapter 5 is adopted with no changes.

Chapter 6: Special Equipment

1. Chapter 6 is adopted with no changes.

Chapter 7: Special Conditions

1. Chapter 7 is adopted with no changes.

Chapter 8: Communication Systems

1. Chapter 8 is adopted with no changes.

Chapter 9: Tables

1. Chapter 9 is adopted with no changes.

Informative Annexes to NEC 2023

1. The following Annexes are adopted for informational purposes only: A, B, C, D, F, G , I, J and K.
2. The following Annexes are deleted: E and H.