A 4-section interactive guide to NEC wiring methods and special-equipment requirements — conduit types under NEC Chapter 3 (EMT, IMC, RMC, PVC Schedule 40/80, FMC, LFMC, and ENT), cable assemblies (NM-B/Romex, MC, AC/BX, UF, SE, and USE), the complete NEC Article 430 motor branch-circuit component chain, and special equipment and occupancy requirements under Articles 440, 600, and 511. Every reference chart gets its own full-size slide so tables, callouts, and code citations stay legible.
Chapter 1 compares every common raceway type recognized under NEC Chapter 3 — material, trade size range, typical use, bending method, and governing code article for EMT, IMC, RMC, PVC, FMC, LFMC, and ENT. Chapter 2 covers the six cable assembly types most commonly specified on wiring-method drawings — NM-B/Romex, MC, AC/BX, UF, SE, and USE — with their construction, NEC article, and where each is (and is not) permitted. Chapter 3 walks the complete NEC Article 430 motor branch-circuit chain from utility supply through disconnect, overcurrent protection, controller, and overload relay to the motor itself, with the FLC/OCPD/MCP/COD/OL key-terms shorthand used on motor calculation sheets. Chapter 4 covers special equipment and occupancy rules under Article 440 (HVAC and refrigeration equipment), Article 600 (electric signs and outline lighting), and Article 511 (commercial garages and repair/service areas).
Use the Prev / Next buttons at the bottom, or press the arrow keys on your keyboard. Click the ☰ menu button in the top-right to open the table of contents and jump to any section. Each chapter's reference chart follows immediately after its text as its own dedicated slide, so you can view the full chart at a readable size before moving to the next chapter.
Electricians and electrical contractors selecting a raceway or cable assembly for a specific installation environment; electrical engineers sizing NEC Article 430 motor branch circuits and specifying HVAC, sign, or commercial-garage electrical systems; and PE/FE exam candidates and apprentices studying NEC wiring methods, motor protection, and special-occupancy requirements.
EMT (NEC Article 358) is the lightest and lowest-cost option for exposed or concealed dry-location commercial work. IMC (Article 342) steps up to industrial, outdoor, and some wet locations subject to physical damage. RMC (Article 344) is the heaviest-wall steel raceway, used outdoors, underground, and in hazardous locations where maximum mechanical protection is required. All three use threaded, listed fittings and bend with a standard conduit bender.
NM-B (Romex, NEC Article 334) is a PVC-sheathed cable rated for dry locations only, standard in residential wiring. MC cable (Article 330) uses a spiral metal armor over insulated conductors plus a separate green ground conductor and is rated for dry and wet locations. AC/BX cable (Article 320) looks similar to MC but relies on the armor itself as the equipment ground path and requires an anti-short bushing at every termination.
The overcurrent protective device (OCPD) is sized per NEC 430.52, typically up to 250% of the motor's full-load current (FLC) to ride through starting inrush. The overload relay is sized per 430.32 to trip at 115%–125% of FLC, protecting the winding insulation from sustained overcurrent. The controller (430.81) switches the motor under normal operation, and the disconnect (430.102) must be within sight of the controller or lockable.
NEC 440.14 requires a disconnecting means within sight of the unit and within 50 ft. Branch-circuit conductors are sized at a minimum of 125% of the nameplate rated-load amperage per 440.22, and overcurrent protection is limited to a maximum of 175% of nameplate amps unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise.
NEC 600.6 requires every sign to have its own dedicated disconnect switch. The branch circuit serving signs in a business occupancy must be sized at a minimum of 20 A per 600.5, all metal parts must be grounded per Article 250 (600.7), and live parts must be fully enclosed with at least 3/16 in. clearance from combustibles per 600.9.
Disclaimer: This guide summarizes general NEC (NFPA 70) wiring-method, motor-circuit, and special-equipment/occupancy requirements for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the full text of the National Electrical Code or the code edition adopted by your local jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed electrician or electrical engineer and the applicable NEC edition, amendments, and authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for actual installations.