RISBC-5 Rhode Island Electrical Code

Regulation Authority:

R.I. Gen. Laws § Chapter 23-27.3

Purpose and Reason:

The Building Code Standards Committee (BCSC) is proposing amendments to the Rhode Island Electrical Code. While most of the other building codes in Title 510 adopt International Code Council model codes, R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-27.3-100.1.5 provides: “All electrical work done in the state shall be in accordance with the latest edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC). The state building commission shall adopt the latest edition of the NEC, including any amendments to the NEC by the commission.”

The current version of the Electrical Code adopted the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) National Electrical Code (NEC) 2020 edition. Currently, these amendments reflect the BCSC’s proposed adoption of the 2023 edition of the NEC. The state specific amendments to the NEC 2023 model code are for consistency with the other building code regulations in RICR Title 510 and the Fire Safety Codes in RICR Title 450, compliance with RI statutes, and ensure that the model codes align with the needs of this state.

Additionally, all building code regulations being amended in this cycle have been edited for clarity and internal consistency of formatting and style, and to be easily read with the other building code regulations and the model codes that these regulations adopt. Formatting changes include: listing every model code chapter and stating whether each chapter is adopted, adopted with changes or deleted; leading the all changes with the model code section number for quick reference; and focusing on model code numbering to simplify citation and avoid confusion.

Summary of substantive changes: 

§§ 5.1 and 5.2 – Updated and simplified the provisions in these sections. 

Some of the sections in this regulation contained “Substantiation” explanations of why certain state specific amendments were made. This is not regulatory content and so we have deleted it. Moving forward, this is the type of content that goes into ORR and SOS forms. These substantiations are preserved in historic versions of the code, accessible on the RICR website. 

Article 90 of NEC 2023 is adopted with amendments. These are the administrative provisions for NEC 2023, which are amended for consistency with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 23-27.3 and other RI building codes within Title 510 and the Rhode Island Fire Safety Codes in RICR Title 450. 

Chapter 1 of NEC 2023 is adopted with no amendments. One prior state specific amendment to the Informational Note to Section 110.2 is unnecessary because it is informational, and the content is covered in R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 23-27.3. The prior deletion of Section 110.14(D) in NEC 2020 was deemed unnecessary because it is just a requirement to comply with manufacturer’s installation instructions. The content regarding Informative Annexes was relocated to the end of the regulation. No change to status quo. 

Chapter 2 of NEC 2023 is adopted with amendments. The state specific amendments to NEC 2020 sections were retained as amendments to NEC 2023. The substantiation paragraphs were deleted. The remaining content was edited for formatting and clarity. No change to status quo. 

Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of NEC 2023 are adopted with no changes. No change to status quo.  

The NEC 2023 Informative Annexes adopted in RI, for informational purposes only, are now listed at the end of the regulation to match the order of the model code. No change to status quo.