The fundamental purpose of safety and building codes, such as those from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Electrical Code (NEC), is the preservation of human life and health. These regulations establish a minimum standard for safety to protect installers from hazards during the installation process (e.g., electrical shock, falls) and to protect end-users from long-term risks (e.g., fire, structural failure) after the system is operational. While other benefits like equipment protection and insurance compliance exist, they are secondary to the primary goal of ensuring human safety.

A. Safety and building codes, particularly electrical and structural codes, are directly applicable to IT equipment installation and are legally mandated, not ignorable regulations for other industries.

B. While adherence to codes is often an insurance requirement and can lower rates, the codes' primary purpose is safety, not fulfilling commercial insurance prerequisites.

C. Preventing equipment damage is a positive outcome of proper installation, but the core focus of safety codes is protecting people, not property.

1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 was created to "assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women." The agency's mission is centered on preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. This directly supports the protection of installers. (Source: OSH Act of 1970, Public Law 91-596, Section 2(b)).

2. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): The purpose of the National Electrical Code (NEC), or NFPA 70, is explicitly stated in its own text. Article 90.1(A) Purpose states: "The purpose of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity." The primary placement of "persons" underscores that human safety is the paramount concern. (Source: NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, 2020 Edition, Article 90.1(A)).

3. University Courseware: Engineering and architectural programs consistently teach that the primary objective of building codes is to protect public health, safety, and general welfare. For example, course materials on building regulations emphasize that codes are designed to provide a reasonable level of safety for building occupants. (Source: Based on standard curriculum principles in Civil Engineering and Architecture programs, such as those found in MIT OpenCourseWare, Course 4.440J / 1.541J, Building Structural Systems).