2018 Chicago Electrical Code

The Chicago City Council has passed a major update to the Chicago Electrical Code. The 2018 edition of the Chicago Electrical Code is based on the 2017 edition of NFPA 70®: National Electrical Code (NEC) —the widely adopted Code containing regulations for electrical wiring, overcurrent protection, grounding, and installation.

Updated to incorporate Chicago amendments, the purpose of the Chicago Electrical Code is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.

Provisions cover the installation of electrical conductors, equipment, and raceways; signaling and communications conductors, equipment, and raceways; and optical fiber cables and raceways.

In addition to new and revised articles addressing renewable energy, the Chicago Electrical Code enhances personnel protection with expanded GFCI protection, new requirements to protect electrical workers while maintaining or servicing electrical or electrically powered equipment, and alternative methods for performing load calculations.

The 2018 edition of the Chicago Electrical Code includes:

• The text of the 2017 edition of the NEC, annotated with Chicago amendments
• Shaded text throughout that tells the user where material differs from the 2017 NEC