Identify the NEC section where the following provision is located: A circuit breaker is used on a circuit having an available fault current higher than its marked interrupting rating by being connected on the load side of an acceptable overcurrent protective device having a higher rating. In this section, the circuit breaker shall meet the requirements specified in (A) or (B), and (C).

Identify the NEC section where the following provision is located: A circuit breaker is used on a circuit having an available fault current higher than its marked interrupting rating by being connected on the load side of an acceptable overcurrent protective device having a higher rating. In this section, the circuit breaker shall meet the requirements specified in (A) or (B), and (C).

• A. 240.86
• B. 240.86(A)
• C. 240.85
• D. 240.87

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how overcurrent protection devices are coordinated when the available fault current at a device location exceeds that device’s interrupting rating. NEC provides a rule that allows a breaker to be used downstream of a higher-rated upstream protective device, as long as the downstream breaker and the installation meet specific criteria described in that section and its subsections. The correct section is the one that spells out those coordination requirements in detail, including subsections labeled (A), (B), and (C). That structure sits under 240.86. The option that points to just a subsection (A) would not encompass the full set of conditions referenced by the wording, whereas 240.86 as a whole is the section that contains those requirements. So the provision belongs to 240.86, not to 240.86(A).

The main idea here is how overcurrent protection devices are coordinated when the available fault current at a device location exceeds that device’s interrupting rating. NEC provides a rule that allows a breaker to be used downstream of a higher-rated upstream protective device, as long as the downstream breaker and the installation meet specific criteria described in that section and its subsections.

The correct section is the one that spells out those coordination requirements in detail, including subsections labeled (A), (B), and (C). That structure sits under 240.86. The option that points to just a subsection (A) would not encompass the full set of conditions referenced by the wording, whereas 240.86 as a whole is the section that contains those requirements. So the provision belongs to 240.86, not to 240.86(A).