General Electrical Knowledge and NEC Structure
How NFPA 70 is organized
NFPA 70 (the NEC) is republished every three years. Article 90 gives scope and enforcement authority. Chapters 1–4 (Articles 100–490) hold the general rules: definitions and requirements (100–110), wiring and protection (200s), wiring methods and materials (300s), and equipment for general use (400s). Chapter 5 covers special occupancies (500–590), Chapter 6 special equipment (600–695), Chapter 7 special conditions (700–770), Chapter 8 communications and signaling (800–840), and Chapter 9 contains the tables and annexes. Article 100 definitions govern the whole document: shall is mandatory, should and informational notes are advisory only, listed means evaluated by a qualified testing laboratory, and 110.3(b) requires you to follow the product's listing and labeling instructions.
Traps
Questions test whether you can locate a rule, not just recite it. Remember that the NEC stops at the service point - utility-owned conductors and equipment are outside the scope (90.2(B)), and wiring internal to listed appliances is also excluded. Informational notes and Annexes (including Annex C conduit-fill tables) are explanatory and not enforceable as code text. Watch for questions that pair a general rule in Chapters 1–4 with an article-specific modification in Chapters 5–7; the specific article wins. Also note that Utah adopts the NEC by administrative rule with state amendments, so a locally amended requirement can differ from the unamended text.
Worked example
A gasoline dispensing station: rather than searching Article 300, scan Chapter 5 and land on Article 514 (Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities). Rule of thumb: 500s = places, 600s = equipment, 700s = conditions, 800s = communications.