---
aliases:
  - nec-215
tags:
  - authorship/other
  - destiny/uncertain
  - exclude-from-word-count
  - status/draft
  - topic/construction/electrical
  - type/media/reference
title: Article 215 Feeders
---
# Article 215 Feeders

### 215.1 Scope.

This article covers the installation requirements, overcurrent protection requirements, minimum size, and ampacity of conductors for feeders.

> [!important] Exception:
> Feeders for electrolytic cells as covered in 668.3(C)(1) and (C)(4).

### 215.2 Minimum Rating and Size.

#### 215.2(A) Feeders Not More Than 1000 Volts.

#### 215.2(A)(1) General.

Feeder conductors shall have an ampacity
not less than the larger of 215.2(A)(1)(a) or (A)(1)(b)
and shall comply with [[nfpa-70_110_requirements#110.14(C) Temperature Limitations.|110.14(C)]].

* (a) Where a feeder supplies continuous loads
    or any combination of continuous and noncontinuous loads,
    the minimum feeder conductor size shall have an ampacity
    not less than the noncontinuous load plus 125 percent of the continuous load.

  > [!important] Exception No. 1:
  > If the assembly, including the overcurrent devices protecting the feeder(s),
  > is listed for operation at 100 percent of its rating,
  > the ampacity of the feeder conductors
  > shall be permitted to be not less
  > than the sum of the continuous load plus the noncontinuous load.

  > [!important] Exception No. 2:
  > Where a portion of a feeder is connected
  > at both its supply and load ends to separately installed pressure connections
  > as covered in [[nfpa-70_110_requirements#110.14(C)(2) Separate Connector Provisions.|110.14(C)(2)]],
  > it shall be permitted to have an ampacity not less than the sum of the continuous load plus the noncontinuous load.
  > No portion of a feeder installed under this exception
  > shall extend into an enclosure containing either the feeder supply
  > or the feeder load terminations,
  > as covered in [[nfpa-70_110_requirements#110.14(C)(1) Equipment Provisions.|110.14(C)(1)]].

  > [!important] Exception No. 3:
  > Grounded conductors that are not connected to an overcurrent device
  > shall be permitted to be sized at 100 percent of the continuous and noncontinuous load.

* (b) The minimum feeder conductor size
    shall have an ampacity not less than the maximum load to be served
    after the application of any adjustment or correction factors
    in accordance with [[nfpa-70_310_conductors_for_general_wiring#310.14 Ampacities for Conductors Rated 0 Volts -- 2000 Volts.|310.14]].

%%
Is "maximum load to be served" the same as "demand load"
as used by panel schedules?
%%

> [!info] Informational Note No. 1:
> See Examples D1 through D11 in Informative Annex D.

> [!info] Informational Note No. 2:
> Conductors for feeders, as defined in Article 100,
> sized to prevent a voltage drop exceeding 3 percent
> at the farthest outlet of power, heating, and lighting loads, or combinations of such loads,
> and where the maximum total voltage drop on both feeders and branch circuits
> to the farthest outlet does not exceed 5 percent,
> will provide reasonable efficiency of operation.

> [!info] Informational Note No. 3:
> See [[nfpa-70_210_branch-circuits#210.19(A) Branch Circuits Not More Than 600 Volts.|210.19(A)]], Informational Note No. 4,
> for voltage drop for branch circuits.

##### 215.2(A)(2) Grounded Conductor.

The size of the feeder circuit grounded conductor
shall not be smaller than that required by [[nfpa-70_250_grounding#250.122 Size of Equipment Grounding Conductors.|250.122]],
except that [[nfpa-70_250_grounding#250.122(F) Conductors in Parallel.|250.122(F)]]
shall not apply where grounded conductors are run in parallel.

Additional minimum sizes shall be as specified in 215.2(A)(3) under the conditions stipulated.

##### 215.2(A)(3) Ampacity Relative to Service Conductors.

The feeder conductor ampacity shall not be less than that of the service conductors where the feeder conductors carry the total load supplied by service conductors with an ampacity of 55 amperes or less.

#### 215.2(B) Feeders over 1000 Volts.

The ampacity of conductors
shall be in accordance with [[nfpa-70_310_conductors_for_general_wiring#310.14 Ampacities for Conductors Rated 0 Volts -- 2000 Volts.|310.14]]
and [[nfpa-70_311_mv-conductors#311.60 Ampacities of Conductors.|311.60]]
as applicable.
Where installed, the size of the feeder-circuit grounded conductor shall not be smaller than that required by 250.122, except that 250.122(F) shall not apply where grounded conductors are run in parallel. Feeder conductors over 1000 volts shall be sized in accordance with 215.2(B)(1), (B)(2), or (B)(3).

##### 215.2(B)(1) Feeders Supplying Transformers.

The ampacity of feeder conductors
shall not be less than the sum
of the nameplate ratings of the transformers supplied
when only transformers are supplied.

##### 215.2(B)(2) Feeders Supplying Transformers and Utilization Equipment.

The ampacity of feeders supplying a combination
of transformers and utilization equipment
shall not be less than the sum
of the nameplate ratings of the transformers
and 125 percent of the designed potential load
of the utilization equipment
that will be operated simultaneously.

##### 215.2(B)(3) Supervised Installations.

For supervised installations,
feeder conductor sizing shall be permitted
to be determined by qualified persons under engineering supervision
in accordance with 310.14(B) or 311.60(B).
Supervised installations are defined as those portions of a facility
where all of the following conditions are met:

* (1) Conditions of design and installation are provided under engineering supervision.

* (2) Qualified persons with documented training and experience
    in over 1000-volt systems provide maintenance,
    monitoring, and servicing of the system.

### 215.3 Overcurrent Protection.

Feeders shall be protected against overcurrent
in accordance with [[nfpa-70_240_overcurrent-protection#Part I. General|Part I of Article 240]].
Where a feeder supplies continuous loads
or any combination of continuous and noncontinuous loads,
the rating of the overcurrent device
shall not be less than the noncontinuous load
plus 125 percent of the continuous load.

> [!important] Exception:
> Where the assembly, including the overcurrent devices protecting the feeder(s),
> is listed for operation at 100 percent of its rating,
> the ampere rating of the overcurrent device
> shall be permitted to be not less than the sum of the continuous load
> plus the noncontinuous load.

### 215.4 Feeders with Common Neutral Conductor.

#### 215.4(A) Feeders with Common Neutral.

Up to three sets of 3-wire feeders or two sets of 4-wire or 5-wire feeders shall be permitted to utilize a common neutral.

#### 215.4(B) In Metal Raceway or Enclosure.

Where installed in a metal raceway or other metal enclosure, all conductors of all feeders using a common neutral conductor shall be enclosed within the same raceway or other enclosure as required in 300.20.

### 215.5 Diagrams of Feeders.

If required by the authority having jurisdiction,
a diagram showing feeder details
shall be provided prior to the installation of the feeders.

Such a diagram shall show the area in square feet
of the building or other structure supplied by each feeder,
the total calculated load before applying demand factors,
the demand factors used,
the calculated load after applying demand factors,
and the size and type of conductors to be used.

### 215.6 Feeder Equipment Grounding Conductor.

Where a feeder supplies branch circuits
in which equipment grounding conductors are required,
the feeder shall include or provide an equipment grounding conductor,
to which the equipment grounding conductors of the branch circuits shall be connected.
Where the feeder supplies a separate building or structure,
the requirements of [[nfpa-70_250_grounding#250.32 Buildings or Structures Supplied by a Feeder(s) or Branch Circuit(s).|250.32]] shall apply.

### 215.7 Ungrounded Conductors Tapped from Grounded Systems.

Two-wire dc circuits and ac circuits of two or more ungrounded conductors shall be permitted to be tapped from the ungrounded conductors of circuits having a grounded neutral conductor. Switching devices in each tapped circuit shall have a pole in each ungrounded conductor.

### 215.9 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.

Feeders shall be permitted to be protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter installed in a readily accessible location in lieu of the provisions for such interrupters as specified in 210.8 and 590.6(A).

### 215.10 Ground-Fault Protection of Equipment.

Each feeder disconnect rated 1000 amperes or more and installed on solidly grounded wye electrical systems of more than 150 volts to ground, but not exceeding 600 volts phase-to-phase, shall be provided with ground-fault protection of equipment in accordance with 230.95.

> [!info] Informational Note:
> For buildings that contain health care occupancies, see 517.17.

> [!important] Exception No. 1:
> This section shall not apply to a disconnecting means for a continuous industrial process where a nonorderly shutdown will introduce additional or increased hazards.

> [!important] Exception No. 2:
> This section shall not apply if ground-fault protection of equipment is provided on the supply side of the feeder and on the load side of any transformer supplying the feeder.

> [!important] Exception No. 3:
> If temporary feeder conductors are used to connect a generator to a facility for repair, maintenance, or emergencies, ground-fault protection of equipment shall not be required. Temporary feeders without ground-fault protection shall be permitted for the time period necessary but shall not exceed 90 days.

### 215.11 Circuits Derived from Autotransformers.

Feeders shall not be derived from autotransformers unless the system supplied has a grounded conductor that is electrically connected to a grounded conductor of the system supplying the autotransformer.

> [!important] Exception No. 1:
> An autotransformer shall be permitted without the connection to a grounded conductor where transforming from a nominal 208 volts to a nominal 240-volt supply or similarly from 240 volts to 208 volts.

> [!important] Exception No. 2:
> In industrial occupancies, where conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the installation, autotransformers shall be permitted to supply nominal 600-volt loads from nominal 480-volt systems, and 480-volt loads from nominal 600-volt systems, without the connection to a similar grounded conductor.

### 215.12 Identification for Feeders.

#### 215.12(A) Grounded Conductor.

The grounded conductor of a feeder, if insulated, shall be identified in accordance with 200.6.

#### 215.12(B) Equipment Grounding Conductor.

The equipment grounding conductor shall be identified in accordance with 250.119.

#### 215.12(C) Identification of Ungrounded Conductors.

Ungrounded conductors shall be identified in accordance with 215.12(C)(1) or (C)(2), as applicable.

##### 215.12(C)(1) Feeders Supplied from More Than One Nominal Voltage System.

Where the premises wiring system has feeders supplied from more than one nominal voltage system, each ungrounded conductor of a feeder shall be identified by phase or line and system at all termination, connection, and splice points in compliance with 215.12(C)(1)

* (a) and (b).

* (a) Means of Identification. The means of identification shall be permitted to be by separate color coding, marking tape, tagging, or other approved means.

* (b) Posting of Identification Means. The method utilized for conductors originating within each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment shall be documented in a manner that is readily available or shall be permanently posted at each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment.

##### 215.12(C)(2) Feeders Supplied from Direct-Current Systems.

Where a feeder is supplied from a dc system operating at more than 60 volts, each ungrounded conductor of 4 AWG or larger shall be identified by polarity at all termination, connection, and splice points by marking tape, tagging, or other approved means; each ungrounded conductor of 6 AWG or smaller shall be identified by polarity at all termination, connection, and splice points in compliance with 215.12(C)(2)(a) and (b). The identification methods utilized for conductors originating within each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment shall be documented in a manner that is readily available or shall be permanently posted at each feeder panelboard or similar feeder distribution equipment.

* (a) Positive Polarity, Sizes 6 AWG or Smaller. Where the positive polarity of a dc system does not serve as the connection for the grounded conductor, each positive ungrounded conductor shall be identified by one of the following means:

    * (1) A continuous red outer finish

    * (2) A continuous red stripe durably marked along the conductor's entire length on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or black

    * (3) Imprinted plus signs (+) or the word POSITIVE or POS durably marked on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or black, and repeated at intervals not exceeding 610 mm (24 in.) in accordance with 310.8(B)

    * (4) An approved permanent marking means such as sleeving or shrink-tubing that is suitable for the conductor size, at all termination, connection, and splice points, with imprinted plus signs (+) or the word POSITIVE or POS durably marked on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or black

* (b) Negative Polarity, Sizes 6 AWG or Smaller. Where the negative polarity of a dc system does not serve as the connection for the grounded conductor, each negative ungrounded conductor shall be identified by one of the following means:

    * (1) A continuous black outer finish

    * (2) A continuous black stripe durably marked along the conductor's entire length on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or red

    * (3) Imprinted minus signs (--) or the word NEGATIVE or NEG durably marked on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or red, and repeated at intervals not exceeding 610 mm (24 in.) in accordance with 310.8(B)

    * (4) An approved permanent marking means such as sleeving or shrink-tubing that is suitable for the conductor size, at all termination, connection, and splice points, with imprinted minus signs (--) or the word NEGATIVE or NEG durably marked on insulation of a color other than green, white, gray, or red
