Members of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have now completed the annual NFPA Conference and Expo, where a considerable amount of debate occurred around the topic of reconditioned equipment. Until now, this issue was not a focus of the National Electrical Code (NEC). The new updated code brings clarity and transparency to the table by educating customers around the equipment they’re buying and installing. In my opinion, the electrical industry must work together to take this foundation to the next level. We now have a platform from which clarity and transparency pertaining to reconditioned equipment can be expanded upon to help buyers and sellers of refurbished electrical safety devices develop and adhere to best practices for safety’s sake.

The use of reconditioned equipment and its safety implications

It’s common for electrical professionals to source reconditioned equipment, especially contractors on large jobs or on those projects where a quick turn-around on older equipment is needed. The practice can be cost effective and, in instances where older legacy systems require devices that are no longer manufactured, often necessary to solve an immediate requirement. But with many counterfeit devices in the supply chain and devices and equipment that may have experienced flooding or other abnormal damage, the NEC has made it clear that safety must take a higher priority.

With that, NEC 2020 will end its silence on this topic and seek to assure proper reconditioning of electrical equipment. New requirements for are found across 20 sections of the document, with changes making it clear what equipment can and cannot be refurbished for safety reasons.

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