Since 1933, the State of North Carolina has regulated the commerce and business of all electrical materials, devices, appliances and equipment through Article 4 of Chapter 66 of the North Carolina General Statutes. Article 4 prohibits any “person, firm or corporation before selling, offering for sale, assigning, or disposing of by gift as premiums or in any similar manner any electrical material, devices, appliances or equipment” within the State prior to being “evaluated for safety and suitability for intended use.” See N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 66-23; 66-25. “[T]his evaluation shall be conducted in accordance with nationally recognized standards and shall be conducted by a qualified testing laboratory.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 66-25. 

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 66-25(a) states “[a]ll electrical materials, devices, appliances, and equipment shall be evaluated for safety and suitability for intended use.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 66-25 is always applicable to electrical equipment in the State. This statute is not dependent on the State Electrical Code or its enforcement. However, the State Electrical Code is dependent on this statute for examining the suitability of the products used in an electrical system in accordance with section 110.3. Electrical materials, devices, appliances, and equipment that comply with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 66-25 have satisfied the requirements of section 110.3(A) of the State Electrical Code.