The International Code Council's 2021 building codes cycle is in full swing and receiving a lot of attention in the construction industry. However, changes made to another set of codes may also have a large impact on remodeling contractors, according to NAHB Now. The National Fire Protection Association recently published the 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC), and the ramifications of these code changes could directly impact remodelers.
This particular edition of the code has some significant changes that target residential electrical service, including:
- Under section 230.67 of the code, all electrical service to homes would need to have a surge protect device installed. This applies to new home builds and remodels.
- Section 210.8(A)(5) calls for all basement receptacles to have ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection. This section previously applied only to unfinished areas of basements.
- Section 210.8(A) would require receptacles serving 250-volt appliances – like stoves and dryers – to have GFCI protection when located in certain areas. This section previously applied to outlets up to 125 volts only.
- Under section 230.85, all one- and two-family homes would be required to have a labelled electrical disconnect in a readily accessible outdoor location.
While the current code cycle for the NEC is complete, the code was just recently published, meaning it has yet to be widely adopted. But many state and local jurisdictions will begin their adoption processes soon.
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