Re: GAO Opens DB Investigation]

["Richard L. Hess" <lists@richardhess.com>]

Ruth,



The National Electrical Code is often adopted by jurisdictions to govern 

the minimum standards for electrical construction.



When we build broadcast plants, the electrical engineers we work with 

comply with the National Electrical Code (NFPA-70-2002 or the version 

adopted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction) but then exceed its 

requirements in many areas.



Here the owner and their consultant team determine that better quality will 

produce better performance, reliability, and/or maintainability of the 

electrical infrastructure and no one wants the finger pointing at them why 

you lost a commercial during the Superbowl...although I must admit that the 

coming 500-channel universe has at least some re-thinking this model.



In my space, codes are a minimum standard. You can't fall below, but you 

certainly can rise above.



Cheers,



Richard



At 10:07 AM 9/9/2002 -0400, RuthWeiner@AOL.COM wrote:

>In a message dated 9/9/02 6:13:13 AM Mountain Daylight Time, 

>liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM writes:

>

>

>>That's the real challenge to the industry.  It's not good enough to just 

>>meet

>>the regulatory requirements.

>

>

>Why not?  Isn't that what regulatory requirements are for?  If the 

>regulatory requirements are not stringent enough, perhaps they should be 

>strengthened, which is a somewhat cumbersome process, but certainly done 

>often.  Results similar to a rule change can often be accomplished by an 

>NRC staff position.

>

>I have always been troubled by the "regs aren't good enough" argument.  If 

>that were so, (a) what IS "good enough" and how is it determined, and (b) 

>what purpose do the regs serve if they aren't "good enough?"  Please don't 

>give me the argument about political considerations being involved in 

>rulemaking.,  Of course there are political considerations -- competing 

>costs and benefits -- which is part of "good enough."

>

>Ruth

>Ruth Weiner, Ph. D.

>ruthweiner@aol.com



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