404 – Switches

404.7 – Visibility Requirements for Switches and Circuit Breakers

Change at a Glance:

Revisions were made to clarify that switches and circuit breakers indication must be visible without opening the enclosure to see the open/closed indication.

404.7 Indicating. (Switches)

General-use and motor-circuit switches, circuit breakers, and molded case switches, where mounted in an enclosure as described in 404.3, shall clearly indicate, in a location that is visible when accessing the external operating means, whether they are in the open (off) or closed (on) position. Where these switch or circuit breaker handles are operated vertically rather than rotationally or horizontally, the up position of the handle shall be the closed (on) position.
Exception No. 1: Vertically operated double-throw switches shall be permitted to be in the closed (on) position with the handle in either the up or down position.
Exception No. 2: On busway installations, tap switches employing a center-pivoting handle shall be permitted to be open or closed with either end of the handle in the up or down position. The switch position shall be clearly indicating and shall be visible from the floor or from the usual point of operation.

404.9 – General-Use Snap Switches, Dimmers, and Control Switches

Change at a Glance:

Revisions were made to include other switches with comparable control functions (not just snap switches) in requirements for faceplates, grounding, and construction.

404.9 Provisions for General-Use Snap Switches, Dimmers, and Control Switches.

(A) Faceplates. Faceplates provided for snap switches, dimmers, and control switches mounted in boxes and other enclosures shall be installed so as to completely cover the opening and, where the switch is flush mounted, seat against the finished surface.

(B) Grounding. Snap switches, including dimmer dimmers and similar control switches, shall be connected to an equipment grounding conductor and shall provide a means to connect metal faceplates to the equipment grounding conductor, whether or not a metal faceplate is installed. Metal faceplates shall be grounded bonded to the equipment grounding conductor. Snap switches, dimmers, control switches, and metal faceplates shall be considered connected to be part of an effective ground-fault current path if an equipment grounding conductor using either of the following conditions is met methods:
(1) The switch is mounted with metal screws to a metal box or metal cover that is connected to an equipment grounding conductor or to a nonmetallic box with integral means for connecting to an equipment grounding conductor.
(2) An equipment grounding conductor or equipment bonding jumper is connected to an equipment grounding termination of the snap switch.
Exception No. 1 to (B): Where no means exists within the snap-switch enclosure for connecting bonding to the equipment grounding conductor, or where the wiring method does not include or provide an equipment grounding conductor, a snap switch without a connection to an equipment grounding conductor shall be permitted for replacement purposes only. A snap switch wired under the provisions of this exception and located within 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically, or 1.5 m (5 ft) horizontally, of ground or exposed grounded metal objects shall be provided with a faceplate of nonconducting noncombustible material with nonmetallic attachment screws, unless the switch mounting strap or yoke is nonmetallic or the circuit is protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter.
Exception No. 2 to (B): Listed kits or listed assemblies shall not be required to be connected bonded to an equipment grounding conductor if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The device is provided with a nonmetallic faceplate, that cannot be installed on any other type of device, and the device is designed such that no metallic faceplate replaces the one provided.
(2) The device does not have mounting means to accept other configurations of faceplates,
(3) The device is equipped with a nonmetallic yoke, and
(4) All parts of the device that are accessible after installation of the faceplate are manufactured of nonmetallic materials.
Exception No. 3 to (B): A snap switch with integral nonmetallic enclosure complying with 300.15(E) shall be permitted without a bonding connection to an equipment grounding conductor.

(C) Construction. Metal faceplates shall be of ferrous metal not less than 0.76 mm (0.030 in.) in thickness or of nonferrous metal not less than 1.02 mm (0.040 in.) in thickness. Faceplates of insulating material shall be noncombustible and not less than 2.54 mm (0.100 in.) in thickness, but they shall be permitted to be less than 2.54 mm (0.100 in.) in thickness if formed or reinforced to provide adequate mechanical strength.

404.14 – Rating and Use of Switches

Change at a Glance:

Switches will now be required to be listed and used within their ratings.

404.14 Rating and Use of Switches.

Switches shall be listed and used within their ratings and as indicated in. Switches of the types covered in 404.14(A) through (F) (E) shall be limited to the control of loads as specified accordingly. Switches used to control cord-and-plug-connected loads shall be limited as covered in 404.14(F).
Informational Note No. 1: For switches on signs and outline lighting, see 600.6.
Informational Note No. 2: For switches controlling motors, see 430.83, 430.109, and 430.110.

404.22 – Electronic Control Switches

Change at a Glance:

Revision removes the word “lighting” from the phrase “electronic lighting control switches” as these switches may supply non-lighting loads.

Electronic lighting control switches shall be listed. Electronic lighting control switches shall not introduce current on the equipment grounding conductor during normal operation. The requirement to not introduce current on the equipment grounding conductor shall take effect on January 1, 2020.
Exception: Electronic lighting control switches that introduce current on the equipment grounding conductor shall be permitted for applications covered by 404.2(C), Exception. Electronic lighting control switches that introduce current on the equipment grounding conductor shall be listed and marked for use in replacement or retrofit applications only.