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Reconditioned Electrical Tools, A 2021 NEC® Information

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    Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ’s) are accountable for determining whether an installation, together with tools which may be new or reconditioned, is secure and meets the relevant codes and standards. For many years the National Electrical Code® (NEC®) was comparatively silent on using rebuilt and reconditioned gear. The 2017 edition of the NEC added a brand new informational word to Part 110.3(A)(1) stating “Equipment could also be new, reconditioned, refurbished, or remanufactured” while a brand new subsection was added to Section 110.21that addressed gear marking for reconditioned equipment. NEC Part 110.21(A)(2) requires reconditioned equipment to be marked with the name, trademark, or other descriptive marking by which the organization answerable for reconditioning the electrical gear could be recognized along with the date of the reconditioning. In addition to the marking requirements, Part 110.21(A)(2) makes it clear that approval of the reconditioned tools shall not be based solely on the equipment’s original itemizing. With the addition of these sections to the 2017 NEC questions arose concerning what type of electrical tools was suitable for rebuilding, reconditioning and remanufacturing in addition to a transparent understanding of what constitutes “reconditioned”.

    Throughout the 2020 NEC development process multiple revisions to the NEC have been approved to handle the aforementioned points. One in all the key revisions was a definition of “Reconditioned” which is now defined in Article a hundred as “Electromechanical systems, tools, apparatus, or components which are restored to operating conditions. This course of differs from regular servicing of tools that continues to be inside a facility, or replacement of listed equipment on a one-to-one foundation. (CMP-10).” This definition clearly differentiates between routine maintenance and servicing of electrical tools in accordance with any manufacturer’s directions and electrical tools that has undergone rebuilding or reconditioning to revive it to operating conditions.

    Another vital revision was to Section 110.21(A)(2). This section was revised to require removing of the unique listing mark on reconditioned electrical tools. The Certification (Listing) Mark from UL is the manufacturer’s declaration that the product was manufactured in accordance with the applicable certification requirements and was in compliance with those necessities when it was shipped from a manufacturing unit. When equipment is modified, rebuilt or reconditioned after it leaves a factory, UL does not know if a product continues to meet the applicable certification necessities except the modification or reconditioning has been specifically evaluated by UL. Removing the unique Certification (Itemizing) Mark ensures that approval of the reconditioned electrical equipment isn't be primarily based on the equipment’s unique Certification (Itemizing), which inherently can not address the particular reconditioning that later occurs to the tools. Additionally it is important to grasp that this revision doesn't require that the entire tools label be removed. The gear label contains necessary information equivalent to voltage rankings, short circuit current scores and other data essential for correct installation of electrical tools. A brand new Informational Observe No 3. was added to Part 110.21(A)(2) to clarify the distinction between the listing mark and gear label.

    Not all electrical equipment is appropriate to be reconditioned, rebuilt or remanufactured as a consequence of its design options or essential function in safety. The 2020 NEC has specifically identified the next kinds of equipment should not permitted to be reconditioned:

    - Equipment that gives floor-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel (210.15) - Tools that provides arc-fault circuit-interrupter protection (210.15) - Equipment that provides branch-circuit ground-fault protection of equipment (210.15) - Low-voltage fuseholders and low-voltage nonrenewable fuses (240.62) - Molded-case circuit breakers (240.88(A)(1)) - Low-voltage energy circuit breaker electronic journey models (240.88(B)) - Medium-voltage fuseholders and medium-voltage nonrenewable fuses (240.102) - Receptacles (406.3(A)) - Attachments plugs, cord connectors, and flanged floor devices (406.7) - Panelboards (408.8(A)) - Luminaires, lampholders and retrofit kits (410.7) - Listed low-voltage lighting programs or a lighting system assembled from listed elements (411.4) - Fire pump controllers (695.10) - Switch switches (695.10, 700.5(C), 701.5(C), 702.5(A), 708.24(A))

    Moreover, the 2020 NEC has recognized particular forms of electrical tools that may be reconditioned including:

    - Low-and medium-voltage power circuit breakers (240.88(A)(2)) - High-voltage circuit breakers (240.88(A)(3)) - Electromechanical protective relays and present transformers (240.88(B)(2)) - Switchboards and switchgear, or sections of switchboards and switchgear (408.8(B), 490.49)

    Reconditioned gear permitted by Sections 240.88, 408.8and 490.Forty nine must be listed as reconditioned. Switchboards and switchgear or sections of switchboards and switchgear are additionally permitted to be field labeled as reconditioned.

    Observe that the National Electrical Manufacturers Affiliation, NEMA, has published the NEMA Coverage on Reconditioned Electrical Gear. Straight Blade comprises important info on industry positions relative to the suitability and safety of reconditioned tools in the electrical infrastructure, and processes for carrying out the reconditioning of suitable tools.

    UL has a longstanding rebuilt gear certification program for specific sorts of merchandise that are totally evaluated to the identical security requirements used to judge newly constructed merchandise. The final information information for every product category with a rebuilt certification program identifies the applicable necessities and the precise marking for merchandise rebuilt underneath this system. Only rebuilt products that bear the UL Mark along with the phrase "Rebuilt," "Refurbished," "Remanufactured," "Reconditioned" or "Renovated" have been investigated by UL to the relevant certification requirements and adjust to UL’s manufacturing facility surveillance necessities for the qualified rebuilder.

    To search out more info concerning UL’s reconditioned electrical tools program or to seek for Certified (Listed) reconditioned electrical tools please visit UL Product iQ™. The UL Product iQ database is the subsequent technology of UL’s online certifications database. Access to Product iQ is free, however registration is required. Additionally, UL may be ready to provide discipline evaluations for electrical equipment that has been reconditioned in the sector. For extra info on UL’s discipline analysis services contact UL’s customer support at 877-854-3577 or www.ul.com/discipline.


    Abstract
    The 2020 NEC has taken multiple steps to deal with the safe use of reconditioned electrical gear. These steps include creating a definition of “reconditioned” and requiring the elimination of the unique itemizing mark when gear undergoes reconditioning to clarify the technical features of the approval. There were a number of revisions to determine particular electrical tools that can and can't be reconditioned. UL has established a reconditioned (rebuilt) certification program for a mess of products when it may be demonstrated that the equipment may be reconditioned by qualified events and proceed to satisfy the necessities of the applicable security customary. UL can present discipline evaluation providers for permitted kinds of electrical equipment that has been reconditioned in the field.