The 2026 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC) is the result of more than 4,000 public inputs (formerly called “proposals”) and just fewer than 2,000 public comments. Hundreds of changes were made, and over the next several issues, we plan to cover some of the most important ones. In this edition, we focus on a few of the key changes made to Chapter Two.

Section 210.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter (GFCI) Protection for Personnel

Clarifications and editorial revisions were made, new Informational Notes were added, and the rules for HVAC equipment were revised to expand the ampere rating and to reduce the protection requirements.

For the first time in more than 30 years, the GFCI requirements in this Section were not expanded in any significant way. Several small edits were made, such as changing “indoor damp or wet locations” into two requirements for “indoor wet locations” and “indoor damp locations.” Edits like these are not covered in this article because they did not change the requirements.

Two new Informational Notes were added to inform the reader of the changes taking place with GFCI devices. When the 2026 NEC was being written, types GFCI-HF (GFCI high frequency) and GFCI-HF+ (GFCI high frequency plus) were both expected to be available soon. GFCI-HF was approved in the product safety standard, but GFCI-HF+ was not. GFCI-HF devices are now available, but GFCI-HF+ devices are not — and will not be unless UL 943 is revised.

Over the last several years, there has been much discussion about unwanted tripping of GFCIs on circuits supplying appliances. These appliances vary from HVAC equipment to refrigerators and other appliances. The reason for these unwanted trips is the existence of high-frequency leakage current. Many modern appliances employ variable-speed motors supplied by internal adjustable-speed drives, such as variable-frequency drives (VFDs).

At high frequencies (above 10,000 Hz), there is often a small amount of leakage current that exceeds what would be allowed on a GFCI device. The Class A GFCIs that are used today must not open at differential current less than 4 milliamperes (mA) or 0.004A and must open at differential current exceeding 6mA or 0.006A. These values are sometimes called the “green zone” for less than 4mA, the “yellow zone” for 4mA to 6mA, and the “red zone” for greater than 6mA. These are based on research carried out in the 1940s and ’50s by Dr. Charles Dalziel, and that research is still used today.

When GFCIs were first invented, there was little research about the effects of high frequency on humans. By the time the research was needed, we could no longer shock a bunch of college students as Dr. Dalziel did 70 years ago.

Newer research published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has shown that the severity of a shock decreases as the frequency increases. Modern appliances with VFDs can reach frequencies of up to 150 kHz (150,000 Hz). If the GFCI opens at 6mA on such a frequency, it has opened during a condition that is not unsafe.

Because of Department of Energy regulations, appliance manufacturers will continue to use VFDs in their designs, and their usage will likely increase significantly over the next several years. With this in mind, a more modern GFCI device is needed to protect at 4mA to 6mA at low frequencies and at a higher mA value for higher frequencies.

This is where the GFCI-HF and GFCI-HF+ come into the discussion. Both HF and HF+ move the “green zone” value discussed earlier. The HF+ device would also have moved the “red zone,” but because of ongoing debate over the available high-frequency shock data, GFCI-HF+ was not added to UL 943.

The 2020 NEC added Sec. 210.8(F) for outdoor outlets, and the GFCI discussion has not been the same since. This is where the world’s eyes were opened to the problems associated with GFCIs on variable-speed motors. Multiple proposals have been submitted, and multiple Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) have been issued to resolve the problems created by this requirement.

In a rather surprising move, the GFCI requirement was increased to include 60A circuits — not just 50A and lower. Although it surprised many to see an increase in this requirement considering the well-known incompatibility issue, a third exception was added to allow SPGFCI protection for HVAC equipment. An SPGFCI does not open until a differential current of more than 20mA is present. If such a device is used, a warning label must be placed on the disconnecting means to indicate that the protective device is not the Class A type that is to be expected after the deadline in Exception No. 2 expires. This all may be a moot point, however, as GFCI-HF devices are now available (Fig. 1).

Section 210.52 Dwelling Unit Receptacle Outlets

The language regarding cabinets without countertops or work surfaces was deleted, and the issue of receptacles below kitchen countertops and work surfaces was clarified.

Section 210.52 requires receptacles in certain locations of dwelling units. Any receptacle in a location indicated in Sec. 210.52(1) through (4) does not count. In the 2020 NEC, language was added to address “switches” that are not really switches, but rather wireless control devices (mainly in Sec. 210.70). Correlating changes were made throughout the Code, mainly by changing the term “switch” to “wall-mounted control device.”

That covers wall-mounted control devices, but what about switches? The change to Sec. 210.52 list item (2) now covers both, which means a receptacle that is controlled by a wall-mounted control device or a switch does not count as a required receptacle outlet. The solution is to control one half of a duplex receptacle, which leaves the other half unswitched so it still counts. See Sec. 210.70 for similar changes.

The wall space receptacle requirement saw a slight revision in Sec. 210.52(A)(2)(1). Wall space does not include the space occupied by fixed cabinets — period. Previously, the space consumed by cabinets was considered wall space, but only if the cabinetry had a countertop or work surface.

What part of the installation had to be treated as wall space? The portion that had the work surface/countertop or the entire cabinet? With this change, a built-in bookshelf still does not require receptacle outlets, but a built-in desk likely does because the floor line beneath the desk is longer than 24 in. and does not contain cabinetry.

Perhaps the most highly debated 2023 NEC change was regarding dwelling unit kitchen island and peninsula countertops. The 2023 edition removed the long-standing requirement of installing a receptacle for kitchen islands and peninsulas and prohibited receptacles from being installed beneath the countertop — sort of.

In actuality, receptacles were still allowed beneath a countertop because installing a cord- and plug-connected in-sink disposer would have been impossible otherwise. The rule instead indicated that receptacles for the countertop could not be installed beneath the countertop — sort of. That too was debatable.

Now the rules are clearer, although you will need to read them several times to get the full picture. The intent is that receptacles should not be beneath the countertop because people can accidentally (or in the case of young children, intentionally) pull the cord and drop an appliance full of boiling water or oil onto themselves. Data provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission showed that this type of injury (and even death) is a documented and recurring hazard.

The hazard does not exist, however, if the receptacle is beneath the countertop but close to the floor. Revisions in the 2026 NEC clarify that receptacles beneath the countertop must be at least 24 in. below the countertop; otherwise, the hazard still exists. Receptacles in drawers are also allowed, but do not count as a required receptacle [Sec. 210.52(3)], as shown in Fig. 2.

Section 225.31 Disconnecting Means

The building disconnecting means no longer needs to be in or on the building.

This Section has long required buildings supplied by a feeder or branch circuit to have a disconnecting means that is (typically) on or inside the building served, but recent changes to the NEC have highlighted some flaws with that requirement.

The 2023 NEC added Sec. 225.41 to correlate with the emergency disconnect (formerly) required in Sec. 230.85. Section 230.85 required one- and two-family dwellings to have a way to allow first responders (mainly firefighters) to have a way to shut off the power to a dwelling without having to resort to dangerous practices, such as pulling out the utility meter while it was under load.

Section 225.41 recognizes that not every dwelling has the service equipment hanging on the exterior wall. Sometimes the service equipment is 100 ft (or more) from the house, meaning the house is supplied by a feeder circuit and not a service.

Section 225.41 was added to ensure that firefighters can shut off power to the one- or two-family dwelling, regardless of whether it is supplied directly by a service or from a feeder. The emergency disconnect for the dwelling does not need to be on the dwelling. As long as it is within sight, it is “safe enough.”

Why must the building disconnect required by this section (Sec. 225.31) be either on or within the building if “within sight” is safe enough for applications covered by Sec. 225.41? Revisions to Secs. 225.31(A) and (B) were made to address this inconsistency.

Section 230.70 General

The service equipment for one- and two-family dwellings must now be outdoors. Some editorial revisions and clarifications were also made.

At first glance, it appears that this entire Section was either rewritten or is totally new, but very little has changed. The requirement for an emergency disconnect for one- and two-family dwellings was added in Sec. 230.85 of the 2020 NEC. It received a handful of small revisions in the 2023 edition, including signage requirements.

The biggest topic regarding the emergency disconnect requirement has always been the list of options for how to comply. If a person put a disconnect on the outside of their house, they could still put the service disconnect on the inside by simply putting a sticker on the outside disconnect that indicated that the outdoor disconnect was not really a service disconnect; it just looked and acted like one.

Putting a sticker on a switch does not change the definition of service equipment. The service equipment is where you shut off the utility — sticker or no sticker. There was also an option for a meter disconnect switch, but even code experts disagreed on what that piece of equipment actually was. Searching online for “meter disconnect” yields a variety of contradictory results.

New to this edition, Sec. 230.85 was deleted, and many of its former requirements were relocated here, with one key difference: The service disconnect must be outdoors for one- and two-family dwellings. No more stickers and no more meter disconnects (see Photo).