Code is meant to keep all of us safe and prevent our homes and businesses from burning down. Years ago an electrician was simply someone that claimed to have wiring knowledge and that was good enough. As time went on, it was obvious that training, and some sort of certification was needed in order to do the electrical work correctly. Thus the Journeyman Electrician was born.

As time went on, the code became more complex, a little harder to understand and questions emerged. People trying to get into the trade are finding a environment that has stricter rules and policies. Devices that can be held in one's hand are now doing what large cabinets full of relays once did. As technology improves, so must the wireman.

As we evolve through the never ending changes in the trade, some of us become contractors. When this happens we are no longer guaranteed a wage for our efforts but rather depend on our code knowledge and willingness to succeed to determine profitable jobs vs. non-profitable jobs. Sometimes this involves bidding jobs so close that the owner does not have room for future expansion. As wiremen, we know it is wise to pull a few spare conductors or go one size larger than needed. But as a contractor, that hires others, we know that to do this may make the difference between getting or losing the job.

Or in other words, working or not working.

The one great weakness of the previous Code books was that there was no real incentive to provide for future expansion to electrical systems. They were primarily concerned that you only wire according to code, which often didn't provide for future expansion.

This new paragraph on "Future Expansion and Convenience" lends importance to the need in many electrical installations, to give consideration to future expansions of the electrical system. It also gives the contractor/electrician some good support in trying to convince the builder/homeowner to include such expansion needs into their building plans.