Mailing List Archive: NFPA 70 National Electrical Code 2026 first draft changes

NFPA 70 National Electrical Code 2026 first draft changes

Jan 28, 2024, 9:27 PM

Post #1 of 4 (128 views)

The Code Making Panels for the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code meet for
the last couple of weeks (Jan 15-26, 2024).

One proposed change for 2026 is "Keeping the NEC Relevant - Is Now the
Time to Modernize?"

https://peg.atis.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/NEC-Correlating-Committee-White-Paper-4-6-2023.pdf

It mostly just renumbers/reorganizes the NEC. Old time electricians will
grumble because almost every code number changes.

However,the proposed change also takes data systems out of Chapter 7 -
Special Conditions and seperate Chapter 8 - Communication Systems.
Chapter 8 is currently a stand-alone section traditionally maintained by
communication utilities.

In the U.S., for the last 40 years code enforcement officials mostly
ignored Chapter 8 and communication wiring installation practices. POE is
changing that. Power of Ethernet has morphed data networks into integrated
power, lighting, emergency, life-safety and communication systems.

It will be interesting to see how code enforcement officials reacts to
moving the stand-alone communication wiring installation practices into
the general enforcement part of the NEC.

Re: NFPA 70 National Electrical Code 2026 first draft changes [ In reply to ]

jra at baylink

Jan 29, 2024, 4:11 PM

Post #2 of 4 (123 views)

Permalink

> It mostly just renumbers/reorganizes the NEC. Old time electricians will
> grumble because almost every code number changes.

The NEC is included *by copy* in some state statutes, is it not? If so, I
wonder how that will affect those.

[ * rather than 'by reference' ]

Cheers,
-- jra
--
Jay R. Ashworth Baylink jra@baylink.com
Designer The Things I Think RFC 2100
Ashworth & Associates http://www.bcp38.info 2000 Land Rover DII
St Petersburg FL USA BCP38: Ask For It By Name! +1 727 647 1274

Re: NFPA 70 National Electrical Code 2026 first draft changes [ In reply to ]

jay at west

Jan 29, 2024, 5:50 PM

Post #3 of 4 (121 views)

Permalink

On 1/29/24 16:11, Jay R. Ashworth wrote:
>> It mostly just renumbers/reorganizes the NEC. Old time electricians will
>> grumble because almost every code number changes.
>
> The NEC is included *by copy* in some state statutes, is it not? If so, I
> wonder how that will affect those.

I believe so. The actual text has long been behind a paywall, but could
be accessed on some state websites. NFPA has softened the paywall to
view it but you still need to jump through some registration hoops.

Typically the individual AHJ will specify a publication date of NEC as
authoritative and it's often a few years behind the latest publication.
Local authorities can and do make additions and changes from NEC. No
Romex allowed in Chicago, for example.

--
Jay Hennigan - jay@west.net
Network Engineering - CCIE #7880
503 897-8550 - WB6RDV

Re: NFPA 70 National Electrical Code 2026 first draft changes [ In reply to ]

hannigan at gmail

Jan 31, 2024, 12:49 PM

Post #4 of 4 (110 views)

Permalink

On Tue, Jan 30, 2024 at 8:05?AM Jay Hennigan <jay@west.net> wrote:

> On 1/29/24 16:11, Jay R. Ashworth wrote:
> >> It mostly just renumbers/reorganizes the NEC. Old time electricians will
> >> grumble because almost every code number changes.
> >
> > The NEC is included *by copy* in some state statutes, is it not? If so,
> I
> > wonder how that will affect those.
>
> I believe so. The actual text has long been behind a paywall, but could
> be accessed on some state websites. NFPA has softened the paywall to
> view it but you still need to jump through some registration hoops.
>
> Typically the individual AHJ will specify a publication date of NEC as
> authoritative and it's often a few years behind the latest publication.
> Local authorities can and do make additions and changes from NEC. No
> Romex allowed in Chicago, for example.
>

AFAIK, it's free access albeit via the 'free' pay wall. Soft is a good
description.

For example once logged in:
https://www.nfpa.org/product/nfpa-11-standard/p0011code

You'll only see the "purchase option" on the page, but once you scroll down
you'll see "free access" on the right outer side. The text is watermarked,
but it's OK for non-craft users to do specific lookups. Works.

Looks like you can subscribe online and get the clean PDF's for printing
via their NFPA Link service for ~$100 per seat. HTH.

Warm regards,

-M<