Code Change Summary: New requirements pertaining to dwellings and GFCI protection for outdoor outlets.

An “Outlet”, according to the NEC^® Article 100 definition, is a point on the wiring system at which current is taken to supply utilization equipment.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that only receptacles are “outlets”. A receptacle is one kind of outlet, but so is a hard-wired connection such as a smoke detector, or a surface mounted luminaire, or even the point on an outdoor air conditioner system where the circuit connects to the disconnecting means that supplies the AC unit.

The 2020 NEC^® brought a requirement that all outdoor “outlets” for dwellings, other than lighting, electric snow-melting, deicing, or pipeline heating, that were supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts to ground or less, 50 amperes or less, must have GFCI protection for personnel. This was a big change.

Example: A 240V, single phase, outdoor, dwelling unit air conditioner with two ungrounded conductors (each 120V to ground and measuring 240V phase to phase). If this air conditioner was rated 50 amps or less, then GFCI protection was required for the “outlet”.

In 2020, Section 210.8(F) came as a result of a child’s death. On August 3, 2007, a 12-year-old child jumped over a chain link fence and landed on the adjacent AC condenser unit. The condenser had an electrical ground fault which caused the unit's metal housing to become electrified. The child was fatally electrocuted when he made contact simultaneously with both the condenser and the metal fence.

Ever since this section first appeared in 2020, there have been many reports of issues with outdoor air conditioners, employing power conversion equipment, not working properly when supplied from the load side of a GFCI device. Many states and jurisdictions have amended the code section and deleted the language.

On August 12, 2022, Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) 1653 was issued for the 2020 NEC^® which provided the language in new Exception 2.

Exception 2 allows listed HVAC equipment to go without GFCI protection until September 1, 2026, which should give the HVAC industry time to ensure that listed HVAC systems can function properly when supplied by outlets equipped with GFCI protection.

In the 2023 NEC^®, Section 210.8(F) was expanded to include garages with floors located at or below grade level, accessory buildings, and boathouses.

In addition, Section 210.8(F) has been formatted into a list and new language was added requiring GFCI protection to be installed if equipment supplied by an outlet covered under this section is replaced.

Below is a preview of the NEC^®. See the actual NEC^® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2023 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.