What is the future of the Division System?
• Although no one can tell the future, I will go out on a limb and say that the Division System will now be short lived. The Zone System is a much more highly developed system than that of the Division. Zones are used by the world in it’s entirety and now finally is working it’s way into the US. The Zone methodology allows the use of the Division way of thinking as well as that of the Zones. It does not (Repeat-does not) eliminate the Division rules. The two can work together. At present the National Electric Code segregates the two systems. My assumption would be that it is meant to lessen the confusion as the Zone System works it’s way into our country. In the new NFPA 820 as well as in the other NFPA standards that I have read, the introduction states (paraphrased) that if there is an alternate method or equipment that is equivalent to or better, that it may be used. This in itself allows for the use of the Zone system.
