Canadian Electrical Code

The Canadian Electrical Code, CE code, or CSA C22.1 code is a standard published by the Canadian Standards Association for addressing electrical safety, shock, and fire hazards of electrical products in Canada. The Council for the Harmonization of Electromechanical Standards of the Nations of the Americas (CANENA) is working to harmonize electrical codes in the western hemisphere.

The first edition of the Canadian Electrical Code was published in 1927. [ Rick Gilmour (ed), "Canadian Electrical Code Part 1, Safety Standard for Electrical Installations CSA Standard C22.1-06", Canadian Standards Association, Mississauga, Ontario 2006, ISBN 1-55436-923-4 ] The current (20th) edition was produced in 2006. Code revisions are now scheduled on a three-year cycle. The Code is produced by a large body of volunteers from industry and various levels of government. The code uses a proscriptive model, outlining in detail what wiring methods are acceptable and what practices are prohibited. In the current (20th) edition, the Code recognizes that other methods can be used to assure safe installations, but these methods must be acceptable to the authority enforcing the Code in a particular jurisdiction.

The Canadian Electrical Code serves as the basis for wiring regulations across Canada. Generally legislation adopts the code by reference, usually with a schedule of changes that amends the code for local conditions. These amendments may be administrative in nature or may have technical content particular to the region. Since the Code is a copyrighted document produced by a private non-profit body, it may not be distributed without copyright clearance from the Canadian Standards Association.

The Code is divided into sections, covering topics such as conductors, service equipment, circuit loading factors, grounding and bonding, wiring methods, protection, low-voltage power circuits, hazardous locations, installation of electrical equipment, high-voltage installations. Additional sections give rules for special areas such as wet locations, patient care areas, emergency systems, temporary installations, and others.

The Canadian Electrical Code does not apply to vehicles, systems operated by an electrical or communications utility, railway systems, aircraft or ships.

The "installations" portion of the Code is Part 1. Part 2 consists of numerous CSA standards for equipment, materials, and devices. Approval to these CSA standards is required for installations.

Technical requirements of the Canadian Electrical Code are very similar to those of the US National Electrical Code. Specific differences still exist and installations acceptable under one Code may not entirely comply with the other. Harmonization of technical requirements between the two Codes is ongoing.

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