210.70 Lighting Outlets Required.

A required switch or wall-mounted control device in a dwelling must not rely exclusively on battery power unless a means is provided to automatically energize the lighting outlets when the battery dies.
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A required switch or wall-mounted control device in a dwelling must not rely exclusively on battery power unless a means is provided to automatically energize the lighting outlets when the battery dies.

Code Change Summary: New requirements added for wall-mounted control devices.

During the 2020 NEC® development process, a public input was accepted adding language in Section 210.70 to allow “listed wall-mounted control devices” where a wall “switch” was previously required. The previous requirement for a “switch” didn’t technically allow for anything besides a hard-wired application since the Article 100 definition of a General-Use Switch is “a switch intended for use in general distribution and branch circuits” (wired applications).

Modern automated or voice-controlled devices on the wall can communicate wirelessly to a remote lighting contactor which eliminates the need for them to be hard-wired.

In the 2023 NEC®, additional measures were put in place to ensure safety if a battery fails in a listed wall-mounted control device.

Section 210.70 now states that the switch or wall-mounted control device must not rely exclusively on battery power unless a means is provided to automatically energize the lighting outlets when the battery dies.

The failure of a battery in a wall-mounted control device serving required lighting outlets should not result in the inability to safely egress a habitable room, guest room, attic, basement, or similar when necessary. Having utility power present but no way to energize the lights in a room because of a bad battery in a wireless light switch creates a hazard for the occupants.

Keep in mind that Article 404 contains requirements for switches but does not cover wireless control devices that are not connected to circuit conductors. The informational note in Section 404.1 refers the code reader back to Section 210.70 for additional information related to branch circuits that include switches or listed wall-mounted control devices.

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.

2020 Code Language:

210.70 Lighting Outlets Required. Lighting outlets shall be installed where specified in 210.70(A), (B), and (C).

2023 Code Language:

210.70 Lighting Outlets Required. Lighting outlets shall be installed where specified in 210.70(A), (B), and (C). The switch or wall-mounted control device shall not rely exclusively on a battery unless a means is provided for automatically energizing the lighting outlets upon battery failure.

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210.70 Lighting Outlets Required.

Below is a Real Question from our Electrical Continuing Education Courses for Electrical License Renewal:

Based on the 2023 NEC, which of the following is true in Section 210.70?

A: All light switches must be hard-wired.
B: A switch or wall-mounted control device must not rely exclusively on battery power unless a means is provided to automatically energize the lighting outlets when the battery dies.
C: All light switches must be battery powered.
D: All light switches must be solar powered.
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