National Electrical Code History

The National Electrical Code® (NEC®) was developed over a century ago during a vibrant and exciting time in American history. In the decades following the Civil War, an industrial revolution arises in the United States fueled by the technological advancements in electricity.
In September of 1882, Thomas Edison installs the first commercial electrical system at Pearl Street Station in Lower Manhattan. Within a few short years, electrical light and power spreads from city to city and from industrial applications to farms and homes. With the spread of electricity across New York and the rest of the nation, the hazards associated with the use of electricity became apparent. C.J.H. Woodbury of Factory Mutual Insurance report reported at a meeting with the New York Board of Fire Underwriters, “…there were 65 installations of
In 1890, the National Electric Light Association formed a committee to develop a nationally recognized code. In 1891, the New York Board of Fire Underwriters published a standard for electrical installations which eventually became adopted by the National Board of Fire Underwriters in 1892. While only two pages of text, the 1881 code contains requirements still found in the NEC® today. By 1895, there were at least five different electrical codes in use across the United States.
One year later in 1896, the "Joint Conference of Electrical and Allied Interests" was held in New York City to form a single consensus code. The committee established a rough draft and distributed it to the public for review. In June of 1897, the committee met to unanimously approve the document. The National Electrical Code® as we know it today was born. After several revised editions between 1897 and 1911, the National Fire Protection Association took sponsorship of the NEC® and continues to publish the document to this