Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are National Electrical Installation Standards (NEIS)?

A: NEIS are the first quality standards for electrical construction, developed by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), in partnership with several industry organizations, to clearly define the actions needed to perform an installation in a “neat and workmanlike manner”, as often referenced in the NEC. The ANSI-approved NEIS are organized as a series of installation manuals for electrical systems and products. For a complete list of publications with descriptions, go to the Online Catalog or Standards by Category.

Q: Do NEIS replace the National Electric Code?

A: No. NEIS go beyond the minimum safety requirements of the NEC to define construction quality. They deal with reliability of electrical systems, proper handling and supporting of equipment, neatness and appearance, planning for future expansion, convenience for users, and many other details that make up a high-quality electrical construction job. NEIS extend and supplement the NEC to give specifiers unprecedented control over the workmanship and long-term performance of equipment and systems.

Q: Why use NEIS?

A: NEIS give professional specifiers a convenient “shorthand” way to specify high-quality construction methods. They are approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and organized as technical manuals that provide practical guidance for all sectors of the electrical construction industry. NEIS are an excellent communications tool for facilitating communications among various members of the construction team. Some specific benefits are:

• Referencing the National Electrical Installation Standards is easily done and reduces time spent writing project specifications.
• NEIS clearly define necessary performance requirements to reduce the possibility of misunderstandings among engineers, electrical contractors, and facility owners / managers.
• All NEIS are written to guide electrical installers by providing detailed installation procedures. This level of detail may help reduce potential liability.

Q: How many NEIS are available?

A: The number of NEIS is increasing all the time. There are 34 NEIS as of May, 2007, which can be purchased online. NECA is developing additional NEIS to establish quality requirements for every type of electrical and communications system installed by its electrical contractors.