ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

National Electrical Code

The National Electrical Code (NEC) is like a big rulebook that grown-ups use to make sure that the electricity in our homes, schools, and other buildings is safe. It's a set of guidelines that all electricians, builders, inspectors, and other people who work with electricity have to follow.

Think about it like a game. When you play a game, you have to follow some rules to make sure that everyone has fun and no one gets hurt. The NEC is like the rules of the game for electricity, and it's made by experts who know a lot about how electricity works and what can go wrong if it's not used safely.

The code covers everything from how wires should be connected to how switches should be installed. It also includes rules for things like how close to the ceiling or wall an electrical outlet should be, how many wires can go into a single electrical box, and how much voltage different types of wires can carry before they become dangerous.

Electricians and builders have to know the NEC really well so they can make sure that all the electrical work they do follows the rules. It's like following a recipe for a cake -- if you don't use the right ingredients or follow the instructions, the cake might not come out right.

The NEC also gets updated every few years to make sure that it stays up-to-date with new technology and safety standards. That means that the experts who make the code are always learning and making changes to keep us all safe.