The National Fire Protection Association published the 2008 edition of NFPA 70, National Electrical Code. This is the 51st edition and expands requirements covering the use of arc-fault circuit interrupters, important next-generation electrical safety devices that not only provide conventional functions, but also prevent electrical fires by detecting potential dangerous electrical arcs and shutting off the power to that circuit.

The latest edition of the NEC also makes a landmark change to protect children from serious burns and death. Each year 2,400 children insert objects into electrical receptacles with tragic results. The 2008 NEC mandates in new homes and renovations the use of tamper-resistant receptacles, which require the insertion of both prongs of a plug into a receptacle to establish an electrical circuit.

The NEC is developed through NFPA’s consensus process, which is accredited by the American National Standards Institute. Six thousand volunteers, representing 200 NFPA technical committees are responsible for developing and updating more than 300 codes and standards.