General Requirements
10%of exam
Project AdministrationPublic InformationConductorsApproved Plans
Services
17%of exam
Service SizeService RatingGroundingBonding
Branch Circuits and Feeders
19%of exam
InstallationCalculationsOvercurrent ProtectionEquipment Grounding
Wiring Methods and Distribution
19%of exam
Required OutletsBoxesPanelboardsRacewaysFlexible Cords
General Use Equipment
12%of exam
ReceptaclesAppliancesMotorsTransformersGenerators
Special Occupancies
9%of exam
Hazardous LocationsHealth CareGaragesFuel Areas
Special Equipment
7%of exam
PoolsFountainsSignsData Equipment
Special Systems
7%of exam
Emergency SystemsSignalingFire AlarmCommunications
Quick Facts
- Exam
- ICC E2
- Credential
- Commercial Electrical Inspector
- Scope
- Commercial and industrial inspection
- Questions
- 80 multiple-choice
- Time
- 3.5 hours
- Format
- Open book
- Pass
- Scaled score 75
- Options
- Four per question
- Purchase window
- 365 days
- Code cycle
- Match purchased exam
- 2023 references
- NEC plus Ugly's
Eight Domains
General, services, branch, wiring, equipment, special
GeneralServicesBranch and feedersWiring methodsGeneral equipmentSpecial content
E2 vs E1
E2
- Commercial electrical inspector
- Commercial and industrial scope
E1
- Residential electrical inspector
- Different certification examination
Match the inspection scope
Field Inspection Flow
- Inspection begins→Verify permits and plans(Project administration)
- Conductors are installed→Check type and ampacity(Markings and terminations)
- Service is installed→Check rating and grounding(Size, location, bonding)
- Feeder is installed→Check load and protection(Conductor and device)
- Panelboard is installed→Check clearance and identification(Rating and protection)
- Equipment is installed→Check listing and disconnect(Type, use, installation)
- Special location appears→Apply special requirements(Occupancy, equipment, system)
- Noncompliance is found→Issue correction notice(Document inspection result)
General Requirements
- Project administration
- Verify permits and reports
- Approved plans
- Available at jobsite
- Correction notice
- Identify required correction
- Stop work order
- Halt noncompliant work
- Public information
- Communicate code intent
- Conductors
- Check type and ampacity
Field Flow
Plans, conductors, service, circuits, systems, report
PlansConductorsServicesCircuitsSystemsReport
Inspector vs Electrician
Inspector
- Verifies code compliance
- E2 certification role
Electrician
- Installs electrical systems
- Jurisdiction licensing differs
Do not substitute credentials
Open Book Reference Flow
- Buying E2→Select code year(Match study reference)
- Using 2023 E2→Bring 2023 NEC(Listed approved reference)
- Need lookup support→Use Ugly's reference(Any edition listed)
- Reference is unbound→Use bound book(Copyrighted bound books)
- Using study notes→Keep outside exam(Not approved reference)
- Question needs lookup→Use approved books(Match purchased code cycle)
- Question uses appendix→Check appendix details(Review footnotes too)
- Appealing question→Cite approved reference(Only listed basis)
Reference Rule
Match code year, use approved books
Purchased code yearNECUgly'sBound books
Service vs Feeder
Service
- Supply service equipment
- Service grounding and bonding
Feeder
- Supplies downstream distribution
- Feeder grounding and bonding
Inspect applicable requirements
Services and Grounding
- Service size
- Verify conductor ampacity
- Service rating
- Check equipment rating
- Service location
- Check clearances and location
- Grounded conductor
- Check type and size
- Grounding electrode
- Check location and installation
- Bonding
- Check service bonding
Grounding vs Bonding
Grounding
- Grounding conductors and electrodes
- Part of service checks
Bonding
- Required equipment connections
- Part of service checks
Check both separately
Branch Circuit vs Feeder
Branch circuit
- Final circuit to outlets
- Serves utilization equipment
Feeder
- Supplies distribution equipment
- Not final circuit
Trace circuit function
Branch and Feeder Core
- Branch circuit
- Final circuit to outlets
- Feeder
- Supplies downstream distribution
- Conductor size
- Verify installed ampacity
- Load calculation
- Verify code load provisions
- Circuit rating
- Match installed components
- Overcurrent protection
- Check device size and type
Feeder Protection Checks
- Equipment grounding
- Check size and installation
- Equipment bonding
- Check required connections
- Clearance
- Verify required working space
- Location
- Verify permitted installation area
- Materials
- Verify code-suitable materials
- Installed equipment
- Check code provisions
Boxes and Panels
- Required outlets
- Check required locations
- GFCI protection
- Check required locations
- Box
- Check type and size
- Conduit body
- Check type and size
- Panelboard
- Check rating and identification
- Switchboard
- Check clearance and protection
Raceways and Cables
- Raceway
- Check type and support
- Wireway
- Check type and installation
- Busway
- Check size and support
- Cablebus
- Check use and installation
- Metal-clad cable
- Check support and use
- Flexible cord
- Check permitted use
General Use Equipment
- Switch
- Check type and rating
- Receptacle
- Check type and rating
- Luminaire
- Check type and installation
- Appliance
- Check disconnecting means
- Motor controller
- Check size and protection
- Transformer
- Check size and installation
Special Occupancies
- Hazardous location
- Use suitable listed equipment
- Sealing
- Check hazardous installation sealing
- Health care
- Apply special code requirements
- Commercial garage
- Check wiring methods
- Gas station
- Check materials and wiring
- Bulk station
- Apply special occupancy rules
Special Equipment
- Swimming pool
- Check bonding and wiring
- Fountain
- Check equipment installation
- Spa
- Check type and bonding
- Data equipment
- Check correct wiring
- Electric sign
- Check use and installation
- Special equipment
- Check code-specific requirements
Emergency vs Standby
Emergency
- Emergency system wiring
- Special systems content
Standby
- Legally required or optional
- Special systems content
Identify required system type
Special Systems
- Emergency system
- Inspect emergency wiring
- Standby system
- Identify required system type
- Signaling system
- Inspect control circuits
- Fire alarm
- Check devices and wiring
- Communications
- Check circuit clearances
- Fiber optics
- Check wire location
Common Traps
E2 versus E1
E2 is commercial inspection ≠ E1 is residential inspection
Scaled versus raw score
Passing score is scaled 75 ≠ Raw conversion is not published
Open book versus any book
Use approved bound references ≠ Keep notes outside exam
Purchased year versus default year
Match selected code cycle ≠ Do not assume one NEC
Service versus feeder
Service rules apply at service ≠ Feeder rules apply downstream
Inspection versus installation
Inspector verifies compliance ≠ Installer performs the work
Last Minute
- 1.Confirm E2 commercial scope
- 2.Remember 80 questions
- 3.Allow 3.5 hours
- 4.Target scaled score 75
- 5.Use four-option strategy
- 6.Verify purchased code cycle
- 7.Bring approved bound references
- 8.Use 2023 NEC when selected
- 9.Keep Ugly's reference available
- 10.Prioritize branch feeder requirements
- 11.Prioritize wiring methods distribution
- 12.Review special systems distinctions
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