2026 NEC reorganization

[tortuga]

The NEC Correlating Committee is working on a complete reorganization of the NEC for 2026 and they want your feedback.
Here it is, I'll have to break it up into several posts:

2026 proposed Reference​	Title ​	​	2023 Reference ​
90​	Introduction​	​	90​
Chapter 1 ​	Definitions and General Requirements
100​	Definitions​	​	100​
110​	Requirements for Electrical Installations​	​	110​
120​	Load Calculations​	​	220​
130​	Energy Management Systems​	​	750​
140​	Temporary Installations​	​	590​
Chapter 2 ​	Wiring and Protection for Systems 1000 VAC, 1500 VDC and Below
200​	General Requirements​	​	300​
205​	Conductors and Cables​	​	310​
206​	Use and Identification of Grounded Conductors​	​	200​
210​	Branch Circuits​	​	210​
215​	Feeders​	​	215​
225​	Outside Branch Circuits and Feeders​	​	225​
230​	Services​	​	230​
240​	Overcurrent Protection​	​	240​
242​	Overvoltage Protection​	​	242​
250​	Grounding and Bonding​	​	250​
Chapter 3 ​	Wiring and Protection for Systems Over 1000 VAC, 1500 VDC
300​	General Requirements​	​	305​
305​	Conductors and Cables​	​	315​
306​	Use and Identification of Grounded Conductors​	​	205​
330​	Branch, Feeder and Services​	​	235​
335​	Outdoor Overhead Conductors​	​	395​
340​	Overcurrent Protection​	​	245​
342​	Overvoltage Protection​	​	242​
350​	Grounding and Bonding​	​	250​
Chapter 4 ​	Wiring and Protection for Limited Energy Systems
400​	Wiring Requirements and Materials​	​	​
405​	Conductors and Cables (including Listing and Flammability)​	​	722​
406​	Use and Identification of Conductors​	​	​
430​	Interior Cabling Systems (combine as two parts - same article?)​	​	​
435​	Exterior Cabling Systems​	​	​
440​	Overcurrent Protection​	​	724, 725, 726​
442​	Overvoltage Protection​	​	Chapter 8​
450​	Grounding and Bonding​	​	​
Chapter 5​	Enclosures
520​	Cabinets, Cutout Boxes, and Meter Socket Enclosures​	​	312​
522​	Outlet, Device, Pull, and Junction Boxes; Conduit Bodies; Fittings; and Handhole Enclosures​	​	314​
Chapter 6 ​	Wire and Cable
620​	Armored Cable: Type AC​	​	320​
622​	Flat Cable Assemblies: Type FC​	​	322​
624​	Flat Conductor Cable: Type FCC​	​	324​
626​	Integrated Gas Spacer Cable: Type IGS​	​	326​
628​	Metal-Clad Cable: Type MC​	​	330​
630​	Mineral-Insulated, Metal-Sheathed Cable: Type MI​	​	332​
632​	Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable: Types NM and NMC​	​	334​
634​	Optical Fiber Cables​	​	770​
636​	Instrumentation Tray Cable: Type ITC​	​	727​
638​	Power and Control Tray Cable: Type TC​	​	336​
640​	Type P Cable​	​	337​
642​	Service-Entrance Cable: Types SE and USE​	​	338​
644​	Underground Feeder and Branch-Circuit Cable: Type UF​	​	340​
646​	Flexible Cords and Flexible Cables​	​	400​
648​	Fixture Wires​	​	402​

 

[tortuga]

2026 proposed Reference​	Title ​	​	2023 Reference ​
Chapter 7 ​	Conduit and Tubing
720​	Intermediate Metal Conduit: Type IMC​	​	342​
722​	Rigid Metal Conduit: Type RMC​	​	344​
724​	Flexible Metal Conduit: Type FMC​	​	348​
726​	Liquidtight Flexible Metal Conduit: Type LFMC​	​	350​
728​	Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride Conduit: Type PVC​	​	352​
730​	High Density Polyethylene Conduit: Type HDPE Conduit​	​	353​
732​	Nonmetallic Underground Conduit with Conductors: Type NUCC​	​	354​
734​	Reinforced Thermosetting Resin Conduit: Type RTRC​	​	355​
736​	Liquidtight Flexible Nonmetallic Conduit: Type LFNC​	​	356​
738​	Electrical Metallic Tubing: Type EMT​	​	358​
740​	Flexible Metallic Tubing: Type FMT​	​	360​
742​	Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing: Type ENT​	​	362​
Chapter 8 ​	Raceways
820​	Auxiliary Gutters​	​	366​
822​	Cellular Concrete Floor Raceways​	​	372​
824​	Cellular Metal Floor Raceways​	​	374​
826​	Metal Wireways​	​	376​
828​	Nonmetallic Wireways​	​	378​
830​	Nonmetallic Extensions​	​	382​
832​	Strut-Type Channel Raceway​	​	384​
834​	Surface Metal Raceways​	​	386​
836​	Surface Nonmetallic Raceways​	​	388​
838​	Underfloor Raceways​	​	390​
840​	Cable Trays​	​	392​
842​	Raceways for Limited Energy Systems (Communication Raceways)​	​	770,800, 805, 810, 820, 830, 840​
Chapter 9 ​	Power and Lighting Systems
920​	Busways​	​	369​
922​	Cablebus​	​	370​
924​	Insulated Bus Pipe (IBP) and Tubular Covered Conductors (TCC) (New)​	​	369​
926​	Flexible Bus System (New)​	​	371​
928​	Multioutlet Assembly​	​	380​
930​	Low-Voltage Suspended Ceiling Power Distribution Systems​	​	393​
932​	Manufactured Wiring Systems​	​	604​
934​	Office Furnishings​	​	605​
Chapter 10 ​	Open Wiring
1020​	Concealed Knob-and-Tube Wiring​	​	394​
1022​	Messenger-Supported Wiring​	​	396​
1024​	Open Wiring on Insulators​	​	398​
Chapter 11 ​	Devices
1104​	Switches​	​	404​
1106​	Receptacles​	​	406​
1108​	Switchboards, Switchgear and Panelboards​	​	408​
1110​	Industrial Control Panels​	​	409​
1120​	Transformers and Transformer Vaults​	​	450​
1130​	Phase Converters​	​	455​
1140​	Capacitors​	​	460​
1150​	Resistors and Reactors​	​	470​

 

[tortuga]

2026 proposed Reference​	Title ​	​	2023 Reference ​
Chapter 12​	Utilization Equipment
1220​	Luminaires, Lampholders and Lamps​	​	410​
1222​	Low-Voltage Lighting​	​	411​
1224​	Electric Signs and Outline Lighting​	​	600​
1226​	Motors, Motor Circuits, and Controller​	​	430​
1228​	Cranes and Hoists​	​	610​
1230​	Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators, Moving Walks, Platform Lifts, and Stairway Chairlifts​	​	620​
1232​	Electrically Driven or Controlled Irrigation Machines​	​	675​
1240​	Appliances​	​	422​
1250​	Fixed Electric Space Heating Equipment​	​	424​
1252​	Fixed Resistance and Electrode Industrial Process Heating Equipment​	​	425​
1254​	Fixed Outdoor Electric Deicing and Snow-Melting Equipment​	​	426​
1256​	Fixed Electric Heating Equipment for Pipelines and Vessels​	​	427​
1258​	Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment​	​	440​
1260​	Induction and Dielectric Heating Equipment​	​	665​
1270​	Electric Welders​	​	630​
1272​	Pipe Organs​	​	650​
1274​	Information Technology Equipment​	​	645​
1276​	Sensitive Electronic Equipment​	​	647​
1278​	X-Ray Equipment​	​	660​
Chapter 13​	Systems​	​	​
1320​	Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System​	​	625​
1322​	Electrified Truck Parking Spaces​	​	626​
1224​	Audio Signal Processing, Amplification, and Reproduction Equipment​	​	640​
1326​	Modular Data Centers​	​	646​
1328​	Electrolytic Cells​	​	668​
1330​	Electroplating​	​	669​
1332​	Industrial Machinery​	​	670​
1334​	Integrated Electrical Systems​	​	685​
Chapter 14 ​	Equipment Over 1000 VAC, 1500 VDC
1420​	General​	​	490​
1424​	Switches​	​	404​
1428​	Switchgear and Industrial Control Assemblies​	​	490​
1430​	Mobile and Portable Equipment​	​	490​
1432​	Boilers​	​	490​
1434​	Motors, Motor Circuits, and Controllers​	​	430​
1436​	Capacitors​	​	460​
1438​	Resistors and Reactors​	​	470​
Chapter 15​	Hazardous Locations
1500​	Hazardous (Classified) Locations, Classes I, II, and III, Divisions 1 and 2​	​	500​
1501​	Class I Locations​	​	501​
1502​	Class II Locations​	​	502​
1503​	Class III Locations​	​	503​
1504​	Intrinsically Safe Systems​	​	504​
1505​	Zone 0, 1, and 2 Locations​	​	505​
1506​	Zone 20, 21, and 22 Locations for Combustible Dusts or Ignitible Fibers/Flyings​	​	506​
1510​	Commercial Garages, Repair and Storage​	​	511​
1512​	Aircraft Hangars​	​	513​
1514​	Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities​	​	514​
1516​	Bulk Storage Plants​	​	515​
1518​	Spray Application, Dipping, Coating, and Printing Processes Using Flammable or Combustible Materials​	​	516​

 

[tortuga]

2026 proposed Reference​	Title ​	​	2023 Reference ​
Chapter 16 ​	Occupancies
1610​	Health Care Facilities​	​	517​
1612​	Assembly Occupancies​	​	518​
1614​	Theaters, Audience Areas of Motion Picture and Television Studios, Performance Areas, and Similar Locations​	​	520​
1616​	Control Systems for Permanent Amusement Attractions​	​	522​
1618​	Carnivals, Circuses, Fairs, and Similar Events​	​	525​
1620​	Motion Picture and Television Studios and Similar Locations​	​	530​
1622​	Motion Picture Projection Rooms​	​	540​
1624​	Manufactured Buildings and Relocatable Structures​	​	545​
1626​	Agricultural Buildings​	​	547​
1628​	Mobile Homes, Manufactured Homes, and Mobile Home Parks​	​	550​
1630​	Recreational Vehicles and Recreational Vehicle Parks​	​	551​
1632​	Park Trailers​	​	552​
Chapter 17 ​	Installations Associated with Bodies of Water
1710​	Swimming Pools, Fountains, and Similar Installations​	​	680​
1712​	Natural and Artificially Made Bodies of Water​	​	1682​
1714​	Marinas, Boatyards, Floating Buildings, and Commercial and Noncommercial Docking Facilities​	​	555​
Chapter 18 ​	Energy Systems
1810​	Generators​	​	445​
1812​	Stationary Standby Batteries​	​	480​
1814​	Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems​	​	690​
1816​	Large-Scale Photovoltaic (PV) Electric Supply Stations​	​	691​
1818​	Fuel Cell Systems​	​	692​
1820​	Wind Electric Systems​	​	694​
1822​	Energy Storage Systems​	​	706​
1824​	Portable Standby Systems​	​	702​
Chapter 19​	Interconnected Energy Sources​	​	​
1910​	Sand Alone Systems​	​	710​
1912​	Interconnected Electric Power Production Sources​	​	705​
Chapter 20​	Life Safety and Emergency Systems​	​	​
2010​	Emergency Systems​	​	700​
2012​	Legally Required Standby Systems​	​	701​
2014​	Fire Pumps​	​	695​
2016​	Fire Alarm Systems​	​	760​
2018​	Circuit Integrity Cables and Electrical Protective Systems (Fire- Resistive Cable Systems)​	​	728​
2020​	Critical Operations Power Systems (COPS)​	​	708​
Chapter 30 ​	(old chapter 9)
Chapter 40 ​	ANNEXES (A-J remain AS-IS)

Thats all just a few changes.

 

[Elect117]

Chapter 1910 sounds beachy.

I don't understand why they are going to move around the communication cable's section. I just know people are going to get that mixed up.

I would also suggest moving interconnected systems and energy systems further towards utilization equipment. It always sucks flipping from 690 to 310 to 240to 408 to 705, and again. It makes all of that way more confusing than it should be.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

That will not happen for the 2026. It has been pushed off to at least the 2029, however there will be some changes working toward this in the 2026.
The is a fair amount of opposition to this reorganization, and even though the NFPA insists it will happen, it is still up to the vote of the membership at the annual meeting when the NEC is adopted.

 

[tortuga]

I think more of the tens place numbering should follow the old, like motors section should be 1230 not 1226.
Perhaps such a big reorganization should be all that changes that code year, other than urgent changes.

 

[jaggedben]

I'm gonne hate typing an extra digit all the time.
Chapter 19 should be Chapter 4.
Chapters 18 and 20 should come before Chapters 13 through 17, and 17 should come before 13 through 16.
I don't agree with dividing wiring methods into five Chapters.

 

[jaggedben]

Article 230 should be grouped with Chapter 19 in an article called something like 'Power Source Connections'. But be, like, Chapter 3 or 4.

 

[hbiss]

Won't be able to say anymore that a Class 1 circuit requires a Chapter 3 wiring method. Also, where's the dividing line like there was between Article 725 and the Articles below it?

Any references to other Articles are all going to have to be revised to reflect the new Articles.

-Hal

 

[zbang]

Now if they would cut the word count by 20-25% in the process, they'd have something.

 

[brycenesbitt]

Energy Storage Systems, Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System and Electrified Truck Parking Spaces
have a lot of overlap, and will have more with bidirectional charging.
-
One issue I have with reading code is the authorship is split up by code committees. So the same thought, rightfully repeated in each section, is expressed in different words. Or duplicated text is revised in one place but not similar places.
...
Some sort of tracking of changes that should ripple would be nice.

 

[Hv&Lv]

There is a fair amount of opposition to this reorganization,

That’s because 95% of the electricians are too old to learn a new system..

If it goes to the 29, I for one won’t care about it at that time. It could be 2035-2045 before states adopt it..

 

[don_resqcapt19]

That’s because 95% of the electricians are too old to learn a new system..

If it goes to the 29, I for one won’t care about it at that time. It could be 2035-2045 before states adopt it..

I think it is more in terms of the hundreds of millions of dollars in educational materials and training that will be required for the proposed reorganization.
There are plenty of ways to add the required new material without relocating pretty much every rule in the book.

 

[necGuru]

It's BS, in my opinion.
FOLLOW THE MONEY.

 

[Fred B]

I think in part to accommodate all the other codes users to make the NEC align more like most of the other codes in how it is divided. With numbering like 12XX.1.4 etc. Evidentially even the 23 was the start of making the transitional change to match other NFPA code layout.
But I see a real headache when trying to get the GC around here doing their own electrical work (allowed here in most of upstate) to even get a code book and use it. Also a headache with enforcement trying to locate a known code that is no longer where its been for decades.

But I see the change to the layout would be closer match to how the state building code is laid out, and how most other trades are viewing the building codes laid out. I think the NEC and electricians are the only ones using a different "style" currently

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I would suggest that anyone considering getting a license go for it before the change. If you grow up with today's code, the change would be hard. Even now, with the few changes where certain sections are moved, it drives me crazy to remember that the change was made. My memory was always terrible but I am glad I won't need to learn this change when it happens.