Introduction
- The National Electrical Installation Standards – NEIS ® were first developed in 1996 by the National Electrical Contractors Association. The NEIS ® are the first quality standards for electrical construction. The NEIS ® are ANSI-approved manuals for installing electrical equipment and systems.
What are NEIS ®?
NEIS ® are a series of installation manuals for electrical products and systems.
NEIS ® extend beyond the minimum installation and safety requirements of the NEC ®.
Approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
NEIS ® Development Process
The National Electrical Contractors Association is an ANSI-accredited Standards Development Organization (SDO). NEIS ® are developed/written by subject matter experts. Reviewed and voted on by industry experts and a balanced representation of other interested parties Once consensus is reached, the standard is submitted to ANSI.
American National Standards Institute
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the federation of U.S. standards developing organizations. ANSI’s 275+ member organizations develop and publish over 13,000 technical standards dealing with everything from electrical construction products to areospace technology to Medical imaging equipment.
National Electrical Code – NEC ®
The NEC ® is a safety installation Code intended for regulatory use. The NEC ® refers to neat and workmanlike several times yet never defines what constitutes neat and workmanlike. The NEC ® provides the minimum requirements for safe electrical installations.
Relationship to the NEC ®
NEIS ® are performance standards to ensure quality and workmanship. Specifies what is required to perform a neat and workmanlike electrical installation. Supplements the NEC ® by including the minimum requirements for a quality installation. Also developed through a consensus process.
Relationship to Other Standards
NEIS ® go beyond minimum requirements provided in:
NFPA 70 National Electrical Code®
NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code®
IEEE ANSI C2 – National Electrical Safety Code®
Americans with Disabilities Act Guidelines (ADAG)
Architectural Graphics Standard
Others
Advantages of NEIS ®
More professional and qualified electrical contractors by improved electrical system quality and installation workmanship Improved installation reliability and reduced liabilities Reduced inspection problems and increased integrity and credibility Significant time savings in specification writing.
Benefits of NEIS ®
NEIS ® are user-friendly and provide practical guidance for all individuals involved in the electrical construction industry. NEIS ® provide convenient and practical methods for communicating the high level of quality you have in mind when specifying a project. NEIS ® clearly define performance requirements to achieve a neat and workmanlike installation.
NEIS ® focus is beyond just a safe and adequate electrical system installation. NEIS ® assist in maximizing performance and the long-term effect of a quality electrical installation.
Levels of Quality
Quality workmanship is self-evident. Improves integrity of electrical contractors Related to performance of workers and contractors. Clarity through effective and consistent communication Enhanced reliability of electrical installations/systems.
Workmanship
The NEC ® requirement that electrical equipment be installed in a neat and workmanlike manner is ambiguous and subjective. The workmanship requirement is subject to a wide variety of interpretations and variations in construction practices. NEIS ® incorporate the issues of quality and workmanship in contract document assisting in implementation and enforcement.
Integrity
NEIS ® are approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). ANSI’s consensus procedures involve a broad range of stake-holders including professional engineers, architects, users, manufacturers, building officials, and contractors. Design teams, end users, and inspection authorities have higher confidence levels in ANSI-approved standards.
Performance
NEIS ® describe specific installation practices that go beyond the minimum safety requirements in the NEC ®. NEIS ® assist in standardizing the quality of workmanship. NEIS ® help insure that electrical installation practices live up to expected professional electrical design integrity.
Clarity and Communication
Incorporating NEIS ® into contract documents improves communications among owners, electrical subcontractors, engineers, general contractors, inspectors, and specification writers. NEIS ® provide owners with an objective method and means to clarify design intentions and evaluate results.
Reliability
Applying NEIS ® to power, communications, and control systems ensure that the systems work as intended over the life of the project. This builds your reputation and credibility as a professional who thinks in terms of project quality and longevity.
Training Benefits for Workers
NEIS ® provide workers with a baseline understanding of what constitutes good workmanship in electrical contracting. Provides and emphasis on quality of the work that is measurable. Valuable component of electrical worker apprenticeship programs. Enhances the value of a qualified workforce.
Future of NEIS ®
NECA intends to revise the NEIS ® periodically. Development objectives are to include 4 new NEIS ® annually. Continuing Education Units available for NEIS ® training programs.
Industry Partners
Illuminating Engineering Society (IES)
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Aluminum Association (AA)
Fiber Optic Association (FOA)
Steel Tube Institute (STI)
National Armored Cable Manufacturing Association (NACMA)
Electrical Generating Systems Association (EGSA)
International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI)
Mid-Atlantic Cable Splicing Board (MACSB)
Transformer Association (TA)
BICS (Telecommunications)
Note: List of NEIS ® partners is non-inclusive
Testimonials to NEIS ®
“The NECA standards are good because so many people in the field have different understandings of what ‘neat and workmanlike’ means, based on their own varying levels of training and experience.” Art Hesse, electrical code consultant, Laurel, MD - IAEI News, May 2001
“There’s another important layer to these NEIS standards — maintenance and special procedures. A lot of people wouldn’t really know what to do in case of a meltdown or ground fault. But these standards tell you what to check and what work needs to be performed before it’s safe to turn the power back on. The NEIS manuals fill an important void in that respect.” Art Hesse, electrical code consultant, Laurel, MD - IAEI News, May 2001
“The way NEIS standards become enforceable is through the plan review process. Once we’ve reviewed and approved the plans and specs for a building, then everything in them — including any industry standards referenced — become an official part of what the inspector will be looking at on the job site with a view toward compliance.” Leon Dover, Chief Electrical Inspector, Atlanta, GA – IAEI News, May 2001
“So when engineers reference these National Electrical Installation Standards in project specifications, that definitely makes them enforceable by code officials.” Leon Dover, Chief Electrical Inspector, Atlanta, GA – IAEI News, May 2001
"The series is of great value to electricians and helps disseminate important technical information to the field. Ultimately, it serves an important public safety goal." Ray Hamilton, VP of Communications, NEMA – NEMA Press Release, Sept. 2004
Trademarks and Copyright
NEIS ® Standards are published by the National Electrical Contactors Association (NECA) NEIS ® are trademarks of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). NECA holds the copyrights for all NEIS ® publications.
