New national electrical safety code

Revised every five years, a new edition of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) will be available from 1 August.

The NESC is one of the oldest and most universal safety codes — it has been in continuous use since 1914 — and is designed for the practical safeguarding of people and systems during the installation, operation and maintenance of electric supply and communication facilities. It is, however, not intended as a design specification or as an instruction manual.

Produced by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the NESC specifies best practices for the safety of electric supply and communication utility systems at both public and private utilities. The code is a collaborative work and is frequently revised with significant input from business and industry. 

Updating the 2012 edition, the 2017 National Electrical Safety Code has been continually adapted to reflect innovations in technology and new challenges confronted in the field.

Learn more about the NESC 2017 edition here. You can also learn more about the history of the NESC by clicking here.