2026 NEC Code Changes
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Submitted by Mike Miller, Curriculum & Training Manager
I hope your summer offered a well-earned break from the grind—and a chance to recharge safely. As we gear up for a busy fall season, the pace may pick up, but safety should never take a back seat. Whether you're troubleshooting service calls or navigating tight timelines, remember sharp minds and safe hands make the best electricians.
Carry those summer lessons forward—rest, reflection, and readiness—and keep planning for the kind of downtime that restores your focus and protects your well-being. The work may be demanding, but your safety is non-negotiable.
We at the Electrical Association wish you a rewarding and safe construction season. In addition we welcome all apprentice electricians who will begin classes this week!
2026 NEC Changes
With that said, I thought I would share a few additional code changes we can look forward to in the 2026 NEC. You will see dramatic changes in the code as NFPA is moving toward an ultra-organized standard, which I feel has been a long time coming. Those electrical workers carrying power limited licenses will really see some big changes in Chapter 7. If you recall, the 2023 NEC rewrote much of the way class 1, 2, and 3 signal and low-voltage circuits were presented.
In the 2020 NEC, they were all listed in Article 725 as “Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 Remote-Control, Signaling, and Power-Limited Circuits,” which seemed straight forward. But in the 2023, improvement started happening with Class 1 Circuits being given their own Article 724 named,” Class 1 Power-Limited Circuits and Class 1 Power-Limited Remote-Control and Signaling Circuits.” Class 2 and 3 circuits remained in Article 725.
Class 4 circuits (Fault Managed Power Systems) were introduced in the 2023 NEC and given their own article 726. Here is a power system that may eventually revolutionize energy usage at we know it.
In an effort to effectively organize the conductive media for these various limited energy cables for Class 1,2,3, and 4 power sources, the NEC created Article 722 “Cables for Power-Limited Circuits and Fault-Managed Power Circuits”
Then the 2026 NEC took the concept of limited energy sources and installation practices to a higher plateau and organized the presentation method in Chapter 7 by creating new Articles so they were functionally situated in the code book and removing and combining redundant articles.
To give you a brief (and certainly not all) preview, here’s what you will find in the 2023 NEC when it comes to Limited Energy in Chapter 7.
New Article 720 General Requirements for Limited Energy System Wiring Methods and Materials
A single General Requirements article for all the limited-energy and communications installation because of the Chapter 8 independence
New Article 721 Power Sources for Limited Energy
A new NEC article consolidates all power source requirements for limited-energy systems into a single location, streamlining content that was previously scattered across multiple articles and chapters.
Revised Article 722 Limited Energy Cables for Power Limited Circuits, Fault Managed Power Circuits, Optical Fiber Circuits, and Communication Circuits.
With Chapter 8 no longer standing apart, a unified article now governs all cabling requirements for limited-energy and communications installations.
Revised Article 724 Class 1 Power-Limited Circuits and Class 1 Power-Limited Remote-Control and Signaling Circuits
Removed certain information covered elsewhere. Article 724 does not have similar attributes to those classified as “Limited “energy, it was not moved into the new article.
New Article 742 Overvoltage Protection of Limited Energy Systems
A need is recognized and required for overvoltage protection of Limited Energy System in this new article.
New Article 750 Grounding and Bonding of Limited Energy Systems
This new article covers required grounding and bonding of specific equipment involved in limited energy systems.
By reorganizing content into more focused chapters, I think the NEC makes it easier for electricians, designers, and inspectors to locate relevant requirements that are logically grouped without wading through unrelated material.
