Code Change Summary: New code section on the reconditioning of motors.

Motor rewinding and refurbishing has occurred for many years with little or no NEC^® code oversight on the process. Since 1998, ANSI/EASA Standard AR100 (Recommended Practice for the Repair of Rotating Electrical Apparatus) has been used as a guideline in the rewinding and rebuilding process for motors.

In the 2023 NEC^®, new Section 430.2 was added to provide requirements for reconditioned motors, and the new informational note points the code reader to ANSI/EASA Standard AR100 for additional information.

The code language in new Section 430.2 permits the following:

Reconditioned motors are permitted if the reconditioning is conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or, if no instructions are provided, nationally recognized standards can be used.

Reconditioned motors identified for use in hazardous (classified) locations must be listed as reconditioned if installed in hazardous (classified) locations.

According to the Article 100 definition, reconditioning of electrical equipment means restoring something to operating conditions. When listed equipment is reconditioned or rebuilt under the purview of a program established with an OSHA approved Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the equipment is typically required to be rebuilt to the most current UL standard which would apply to new equipment.

Having new code language addressing the reconditioning of electric motors in Article 430 will help provide backing to a longstanding practice that has been occurring for many years.

Below is a preview of the NEC^®. See the actual NEC^® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2023 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.