What does Article 230 in the NEC cover?

Article 230 in the National Electrical Code (NEC) specifically addresses services, which are defined as the conductors and equipment that deliver electricity from the utility's supply system to the premises wiring. This includes everything from the utility connection point up to and including the service equipment, such as service disconnects and overcurrent protection.

The primary focus of Article 230 is on the requirements for the installation, maintenance, and configuration of services, ensuring that they are safe and meet both the electrical demand and code compliance. Understanding the details in this article is critical for electricians, as it covers important topics such as service entrance conductors, service load calculations, and the various types of service configurations.

Contextually, while feeders, busways, and switchboards are important components in an electrical system, they are covered under different sections of the NEC. Feeders are discussed in Article 215, busways are outlined in Article 368, and switchboards can be found in Article 409. Each of these articles addresses specific aspects of electrical distribution that do not directly involve the utility service connection, which makes Article 230 unique in its focus on services.