EC&M Magazine

The VALVETRAB Safe Protection Plus (VAP-SPP) surge protective devices are designed to protect both the installers and end equipment. These SPDs feature miswiring and touch protection along with a reduced tightening torque of 3 Newton-meters (Nm). The family includes the NEMA-rated and NFPA 79-compliant VAL-US-SPP designed for common power supply systems in North America. The SPP line features modular, plug-in remote signaling to simplify installation and reduce maintenance time and effort.

Learn how SIF frameworks prioritize high-energy hazards and how proactive planning can significantly reduce the likelihood of life-threatening events on construction sites. Key Takeaways SIF focuses on high-energy hazards such as electrical, gravitational, mechanical, pressure, thermal, and kinetic energies that can cause life-ending injuries. Pre-task planning, job hazard analyses, and verifying critical controls are essential steps in preventing SIFs before work begins.

Article 100 has two definitions. One of them applies to wiring methods. An exposed wiring method is one that is on (or attached to) the surface or is behind panels designed to allow access. In an office, for example, you might have surface raceway. While perfectly safe — and often aesthetically pleasing — it’s considered exposed. That is as opposed to concealed, which might, in that same office, mean the wiring method is run between the studs behind the drywall.

Based on the 2026 NEC. Question: What is required when rigid metal conduit enters an enclosure through an opening that is not threaded? See answer below. Answer: A locknut or fitting must be installed on the inside and outside of the enclosure. Reference: Section 344.29 Explanation: Section 344.29 was added to explicitly require the conduit to be secured on both sides of the enclosure by locknuts or a fitting and a locknut. This ensures compliance with Sections 300.12 and 300.14.

Industrial environments push equipment to its limits. High temperatures, airborne contaminants, vibration, and corrosive exposure are common realities inside many facilities. While these conditions are typically considered when specifying heavy machinery or process equipment, lighting is often overlooked. Yet lighting systems operate continuously within these same demanding environments.

In part two of this EC&M On Air podcast, host Ellen Parson, Editor-in-Chief of EC&M, presents powerful insights from industry experts at Henderson Engineers, CannonDesign, and Augmenta on the state of AI in the electrical industry today. The conversation centers on the importance of understanding a company’s own workflows, data, and business goals before layering in AI tools — with guests emphasizing there is no one-size-fits-all playbook.

The rise of AI data centers (AIDCs) has introduced unprecedented load density and dynamic behavior into electrical power systems, creating new challenges for an industry built on reliable, stable power. While data centers have long served as the backbone of the internet — housing vast amounts of IT and telecommunications equipment — today’s AI-driven facilities are pushing power consumption and power quality demands to new levels.

In large exhibit spaces, lighting systems are expected to operate in the background, supporting visibility without drawing attention. That changes quickly when a system fails. In the Tulsa Air & Space Museum’s 18,000-sq-ft, hangar-style building, an unexpected power disturbance knocked out multiple systems, including over 70% of the high-bay LED lighting. The outage created an immediate problem. Fixtures are mounted roughly 50 ft above the floor, making access difficult and time-consuming.

In the fast-paced electrical industry, it’s easy to assume that better software tools will automatically lead to better outcomes. But as Arthur Ashe once said: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Lao Tzu reminds us that “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” In construction, that starting point isn’t software — it’s your processes. What’s your starting point?

Over the last 10 years, data center load growth has tripled, and, according to the “2024 U.S. Data Center Energy Use Report,” produced by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and published by the U.S. Department of Energy, it could double or triple again by 2028. We read industry forecasts and projections day in and day out, but let’s just let that one sink in for a moment.