210 – Branch Circuits

Ohio Timed: 2020 NEC Significant Code Changes Part 1 210 – Branch Circuits

210.8 – Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel

Reason for Change:

Revision removes “door” and “doorway” as items the supply cord of an appliance connected to the receptacle should not pass through in order to satisfy measurement requirements for GFCI protection.

210.8(A) – Dwelling Unit GFCI Protection

Reason for Change:

Dwelling unit GFCI protection has been expanded to all 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground installed in the specified areas of 210.8(A).

210.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.

(A) Dwelling Units. All 125-volt through 250-volt, ~~single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere~~ receptacles installed in the locations specified in 210.8(A)(1) through ~~(10)~~(11) and supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground shall have groundfault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.
(1) Bathrooms
(2) Garages, and also accessory buildings that have a floor located at or below grade level not intended as habitable rooms and limited to storage areas, work areas, and areas of similar use
(3) Outdoors
Exception to (3): Receptacles that are not readily accessible and are supplied by a branch circuit dedicated to electric snow-melting, deicing, or pipeline and vessel heating equipment shall be permitted to be installed in accordance with 426.28 or 427.22, as applicable.
(4) Crawl spaces — at or below grade level
(5) Basements ~~Unfinished portions or areas of the basement not intended as habitable rooms~~
Exception to (5): A receptacle supplying only a permanently installed fire alarm or burglar alarm system shall not be required to have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection.
Informational Note: See 760.41(B) and 760.121(B) for power supply requirements for fire alarm systems. Receptacles installed under the exception to 210.8(A)(5) shall not be considered as meeting the requirements of 210.52(G).
(6) Kitchens — where the receptacles are installed to serve the countertop surfaces
(7) Sinks — where receptacles are installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) from the top inside edge of the bowl of the sink
(8) Boathouses
(9) Bathtubs or shower stalls — where receptacles are installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) of the outside edge of the bathtub or shower stall
(10) Laundry areas
Exception to (1) through (3), (5) through (8), and (10): Listed locking support and mounting receptacles utilized in combination with compatible attachment fittings installed for the purpose of serving a ceiling luminaire or ceiling fan shall not be required to be ground-fault circuit-interrupter protected. If a general-purpose convenience receptacle is integral to the ceiling luminaire or ceiling fan, GFCI protection shall be provided.
(11) Indoor damp and wet locations

210.8(A)(5) – GFCI Protection in Dwelling Unit Basements

Reason for Change:

GFCI protection now required for ALL dwelling unit basements(not just unfinished portions of basements).

210.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.

(A) Dwelling Units. All 125-volt through 250- volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in the locations specified in 210.8(A)(1) through ~~(10)~~(11) and supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.
(5) Basements ~~Unfinished portions or areas of the basement not intended as habitable rooms~~

210.8(B) – GFCI Requirements at Non-Dwelling Unit Locations

Reason for Change:

New GFCI requirements at non-dwelling unit locations were added for damp locations, accessory buildings, laundry areas, and areas around bathtubs and shower stalls.

210.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.

Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel shall be provided as required in 210.8(A) through ~~(E)~~(F). The ground-fault circuit interrupter shall be installed in a readily accessible location.
(See NEC for remainder of Code text)

(B) Other Than Dwelling Units. All ~~single-phase~~ 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground or less, 50 amperes or less and all receptacles supplied by three-phase ~~receptacles~~ branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground ~~or less~~, 100 amperes or less installed in the ~~following~~ locations specified in 210.8(B)(1) through (B)(12) shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.
(1) Bathrooms
(2) Kitchens or areas with a sink and permanent provisions for either food preparation or cooking
(3) Rooftops
Exception: Receptacles on rooftops shall not be required to be readily accessible other than from the rooftop.
(4) Outdoors
Exception No. 1 to (3) and (4): Receptacles that are not readily accessible and are supplied by a branch circuit dedicated to electric snow-melting, deicing, or pipeline and vessel heating equipment shall be permitted to be installed in accordance with 426.28 or 427.22, as applicable.
Exception No. 2 to (4): In industrial establishments only, where the conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified personnel are involved, an assured equipment grounding conductor program as specified in 590.6(B) (2) shall be permitted for only those receptacle outlets used to supply equipment that would create a greater hazard if power is interrupted or having a design that is not compatible with GFCI protection.
(5) Sinks — where receptacles are installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) from the top inside edge of the bowl of the sink
Exception No. 1 to (5): In industrial laboratories, receptacles used to supply equipment where removal of power would introduce a greater hazard shall be permitted to be installed without GFCI protection.
Exception No. 2 to (5): ~~For~~ Receptacles located in patient bed locations of Category 2 (general care) or Category 1 (critical care) spaces of health care facilities ~~other than those covered under 210.8(B) (1), GFCI protection shall not be required~~ shall be permitted to comply with 517.21.
(6) Indoor damp and wet locations
(7) Locker rooms with associated showering facilities
(8) Garages, accessory buildings, service bays, and similar areas other than vehicle exhibition halls and showrooms
(9) Crawl spaces — at or below grade level
(10) Unfinished ~~portions or~~ areas of the basements ~~not intended as habitable rooms~~
Exception to (1) through (5), (8), and (10): Listed locking support and mounting receptacles utilized in combination with compatible attachment fittings installed for the purpose of serving a ceiling luminaire or ceiling fan shall not be required to be ground-fault circuit-interrupter protected. If a general-purpose convenience receptacle is integral to the ceiling luminaire or ceiling fan, GFCI protection shall be provided.
(11) Laundry areas
(12) Bathtubs and shower stalls — where receptacles are installed within 1.8 m (6 ft) of the outside edge of the bathtub or shower stall

210.8(B)(2) – GFCI Protection for Personnel in Other Than Dwelling Kitchens

Reason for Change:

Additional language was added to clarify that areas not defined as a kitchen such as ice cream parlors, coffee shops, smoothie stores, etc., with a sink and permanent provisions for either food preparation or cooking have the same potential for shock hazards as a kitchen.

210.8(D) – GFCI Protection in Specific Appliances

Reason for Change:

New List Item (D) correlates the requirements found in 422.5(B) (Type of GFCI protection for appliances) and refers to the list of GFCI requirements for appliances in 422.5(A) for continued consistency as the list is modified in future Code editions.

210.8(E) – GFCI Protection for Equipment Requiring Servicing

Reason for Change:

GFCI protection is now required for the receptacles required by 210.63 for HVAC equipment, indoor service equipment, and indoor equipment requiring dedicated equipment space.

210.8(F) – GFCI Protection in Outdoor Outlets

Reason for Change:

GFCI protection is now required on dwelling unit outdoor outlets supplied by single-phase branch circuit rated 150 volts or less to ground, and 50 amperes or less (including 240-volt AC units).

210.11(C)(3) – Bathroom Branch Circuits

Reason for Change:

Additional text added to clarify that the only bathroom receptacles required to be supplied by the 20-ampere rated bathroom receptacle outlet branch circuits are the receptacle outlet(s) required by 210.52(D) and any other receptacles installed in the bathroom that serve a countertop or work surface.

210.11 Branch Circuits Required

(C) Dwelling Units.
(3) Bathroom Branch Circuits. In addition to the number of branch circuits required by other parts of this section, ~~at least~~ one or more 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit shall be provided to supply the bathroom(s) receptacle outlet(s) required by 210.52(D) and any countertop and similar work surface receptacle outlets. Such circuits shall have no other outlets.
Exception: Where the 20-ampere circuit supplies a single bathroom, outlets for other equipment within the same bathroom shall be permitted to be supplied in accordance with 210.23(A)(1) and (A)(2).

210.11(C)(4) – Garage Branch Circuits

Reason for Change:

Garage receptacle outlet 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuits are only required for the receptacles required by 210.52(G)(1) for attached garages and in detached garages with electric power.

210.11 Branch Circuits Required

(C) Dwelling Units.
(4) Garage Branch Circuits. In addition to the number of branch circuits required by other parts of this section, at least one 120-volt, 20-ampere branch circuit shall be installed to supply receptacle outlets in required by 210.52(G)(1) for attached garages and in detached garages with electric power. This circuit shall have no other outlets.
Exception: This circuit shall be permitted to supply readily accessible outdoor receptacle outlets.

210.12(C) – AFCI Protection in Patient Sleeping Rooms in Nursing Homes and Limited-Care Facilities

Reason for Change:

AFCI protection has been expanded to patient sleeping rooms in nursing homes and limited-care facilities.

210.12 Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection.

Arc-fault circuit-interrupter protection shall be provided as required in 210.12(A), (B), (C), and (D). The arc-fault circuit interrupter shall be installed in a readily accessible location.

(C) Guest Rooms and, Guest Suites, and Patient Sleeping Rooms in Nursing Homes and Limited- Care Facilities. All 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere branch circuits supplying outlets and devices installed in guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels and patient sleeping rooms in nursing homes and limited-care facilities shall be protected by any of the means described in 210.12(A)(1) through (6).

210.12(D) – AFCI Protection in Guest Rooms and Guest Suites

Reason for Change:

Guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels have been added to the areas requiring AFCI protection for extensions and modifications of existing occupancies.

210.12 Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection.

(D) Branch Circuit Extensions or Modifications – Dwelling Units and, Dormitory Units, ~~and~~ Guest Rooms and Guest Suites.
In Where branch circuit wiring for any of the areas specified in 210.12(A) or, (B), ~~where branch-circuit wiring~~ or (C) is modified, replaced, or extended, the branch circuit shall be protected by one of the following:
(1) ~~A listed combination-type AFCI located at the origin of the branch circuit~~ By any of the means described in 210.12(A)(1) through (A)(6)
(2) A listed outlet branch-circuit-type AFCI located at the first receptacle outlet of the existing branch circuit.
Exception: AFCI protection shall not be required where the extension of the existing branch circuit conductors is not more than 1.8 m (6 ft) and does not include any additional outlets or devices, other than splicing devices. This measurement shall not include the conductors inside an enclosure, cabinet, or junction box.

210.15 – Devices Not Allowed to be Reconditioned

Change at a Glance:

New section added prohibiting GFCI devices, AFCI devices, and ground-fault protection equipment from being reconditioned.

210.15 Reconditioned Equipment.

The following shall not be reconditioned:
(1) Equipment that provides ground-fault circuit- interrupter protection for personnel
(2) Equipment that provides arc-fault circuit-interrupter protection
(3) Equipment that provides ground-fault protection of equipment

210.52(C) – Receptacle Outlets for Countertop or Work Surfaces

Change at a Glance:

Revision clarifies that the receptacle outlets installed for countertop or work surfaces [210.52(C)] are not permitted to satisfy the requirement for receptacle outlet placement (wall spacing) as provided in 210.52(A).

210.52(C)(1), (C)(2), and (C)(3) – Receptacles in Wall Spaces, Island and Peninsular Countertops and Work Spaces

Change at a Glance:

Revision creates two separate List Items for wall space, and island and peninsular countertops and work surfaces. For island and peninsular countertop and work surfaces, the horizontal measurement was changed to a square foot calculation to determine the number of receptacles required. One receptacle outlet is required for the first 9 sq. ft of countertop and an additional receptacle outlet is required for each additional 18 sq. ft. or fraction thereof.

210.52 Dwelling Unit Receptacle Outlets.

(C) Countertops and Work Surfaces. In kitchens, pantries, breakfast rooms, dining rooms, and similar areas of dwelling units, receptacle outlets for countertop and work surfaces that are 300 mm (12 in.) or wider shall be installed in accordance with 210.52(C)(1) through ~~(C)(5)~~ (C)(3) and shall not be considered as the receptacle outlets required by 210.52(A).
For the purposes of this section, where using multioutlet assemblies, each 300 mm (12 in.) of multioutlet assembly containing two or more receptacles installed in individual or continuous lengths shall be considered to be one receptacle outlet.

(1) Wall Spaces ~~Countertop and Work Surface.~~ ~~A receptacle outlet shall be installed at each wall countertop and work surface that is 300 mm (12 in.) or wider.~~ Receptacle outlets shall be installed so that no point along the wall line is more than 600 mm (24 in.) measured horizontally from a receptacle outlet in that space.
Exception: Receptacle outlets shall not be required on a wall directly behind a range, counter-mounted cooking unit, or sink in the installation described in Figure 210.52(C)(1).

(2) Island and Peninsular Countertops and Work Surfaces ~~Spaces~~. Receptacle outlets shall be installed in accordance with 210.52(C)(2)(a) and (C)(2)(b).
(a) At least one receptacle shall be provided for the first 0.84 m2 (9 ft2), or fraction thereof, of the countertop or work surface. A receptacle outlet shall be provided for every additional 1.7 m2 (18 ft2), or fraction thereof, of the countertop or work surface ~~installed at each island countertop space with a long dimension of 600 mm (24 in.) or greater and a short dimension of 300 mm (12 in.) or greater.~~
(b) At least one receptacle outlet shall be located within 600 mm (2 ft) of the outer end of a peninsular countertop or work surface. Additional required receptacle outlets shall be permitted to be located as determined by the installer, designer, or building owner. The location of the receptacle outlets shall be in accordance with 210.52(C)(3). A peninsular countertop shall be measured from the connected perpendicular wall.

~~(3)~~ Peninsular Countertop Spaces. At least one receptacle outlet shall be installed at each peninsular countertop long dimension space with a long dimension of 600 mm (24 in.) or greater and a short dimension of 300 mm (12 in.) or greater. A peninsular countertop is measured from the connected perpendicular wall.

~~(5)~~ (3) Receptacle Outlet Location. Receptacle outlets shall be located in one or more of the following:
(1) On or Above Countertop or Work Surfaces: On or above, but not more than 500 mm (20 in.) above, the countertop or work surface.
(2) In Countertop or Work Surfaces: Receptacle outlet assemblies listed for use in countertops or work surfaces shall be permitted to be installed in countertops or work surfaces.
(3) Below Countertop or Works Surfaces: ~~To comply with the following conditions (1) and (2), receptacle outlets shall be permitted to be mounted~~ Not more than 300 mm (12 in.) below the countertop or work surface. Receptacles installed below a countertop or work surface shall not be located where the countertop or work surface extends more than 150 mm (6 in.) beyond its support base.
~~(1)~~ Construction for the physically impaired
(2) On island and peninsular countertops or work surface where the surface is flat across its entire surface (no backsplashes, dividers, etc.) and there are no means to mount a receptacle within 500 mm (20 in.) above the countertop or work surface, such as an overhead cabinet
Receptacle outlets rendered not readily accessible by appliances fastened in place, appliance garages, sinks, or rangetops as covered in 210.52(C)(1), Exception, or appliances occupying assigned spaces shall not be considered as these required outlets.
Informational Note No. 1: See 406.5(E) and 406.5(G) for installation of receptacles in countertops and 406.5(F) and 406.5(G) for installation of receptacles in work surfaces. See 380.10 for installation of multioutlet assemblies.
Informational Note No. 2: See Annex J and ANSI/ICC A117.1-2009, Standard on Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities.

210.52(E)(3) – Receptacle Outlet for Balconies, Decks, and Porches

Change at a Glance:

The required receptacle outlet for balconies, decks, and porches is also required at decks that are installed in a freestanding manner where connection to the actual dwelling is not made at any point.

210.52 Dwelling Unit Receptacle Outlets

(3) Balconies, Decks, and Porches. Balconies, decks, and porches that are ~~attached to~~ within 102 mm (4 in.) horizontally of the dwelling unit and ~~are accessible from inside the dwelling unit~~ shall have at least one receptacle outlet accessible from the balcony, deck, or porch. The receptacle outlet shall not be located more than 2.0 m (6 . ft) above the balcony, deck, or porch walking surface.

210.65 – Receptacle Outlets in Meeting Rooms

Change at a Glance:

Revisions recognize non-rectangular meeting rooms (such as round-shaped meeting rooms). Revision also provides flexibility to provide a floor receptacle outlet or an outlet to supply receptacles for hardwired furniture with receptacles.

~~210.71~~ 210.65 Meeting Rooms.

(A) General. Each meeting room of not more than 93 m2 (1000 ft2) in other than dwelling units shall have outlets for nonlocking-type, 125-volt, 15- or 20-ampere receptacles. The outlets shall be installed in accordance with 210.7165(B). Where a room or space is provided with movable partition( s), each room size shall be determined with the partition in the position that results in the smallest size meeting room.
Informational Note No. 1: For the purposes of this section, meeting rooms are typically designed or intended for the gathering of seated occupants for such purposes as conferences, deliberations, or similar purposes, where portable electronic equipment such as computers, projectors, or similar equipment is likely to be used.
Informational Note No. 2: Examples of rooms that are not meeting rooms include auditoriums, schoolrooms, and coffee shops.

(B) Receptacle Outlets Required. The total number of receptacle outlets, including floor outlets and receptacle outlets in fixed furniture, shall not be less than as determined in (1) and (2). ~~These receptacle outlets shall be permitted to be located as determined by the designer or building owner.~~
(1) Receptacle Outlets in Fixed Walls. The required number of receptacle outlets shall be ~~installed~~ determined in accordance with 210.52(A) (1) through (A)(4). These receptacle outlets shall be permitted to be located as determined by the installer, designer, or building owner.
(2) Floor ~~Receptacle~~ Outlets. A meeting room with any floor dimension that is ~~at least~~ 3.7 m (12 ft) ~~wide~~ or greater in any direction and that has a floor area of at least 20 m2 (215 ft2) shall have at least one floor receptacle outlet ~~located in the floor~~, or at least one floor outlet to serve receptacle(s), located at a distance not less than 1.8 m (6 ft) from any fixed wall for each 20 m2 (215 ft2) or major portion of floor space.
Informational Note No. 1: See Section 314.27(B) for floor boxes used for receptacles located in the floor.
Informational Note No. 2: See Article 518 for assembly occupancies designed for 100 or more persons.

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