Code Change Summary: A clarification was made about the use of other publications referenced in the NEC^®.

SME commentary: The NEC^® makes references to hundreds of other standards and publications throughout the code in the Informational Notes as well as in Annex A. Informational notes are not enforceable as requirements of the code, but they often refer to the other publications used as the basis of the enforceable code language located above them.

Every code cycle, an effort is made to update these references to ensure the latest edition of the publication is mentioned. In very few cases, an informational note intentionally refers to an older publication, but this is not the norm.

Product safety standards are constantly updated as industry changes and new technologies emerge. With each revision to a publication or safety standard, additional safety requirements are added or changed to include things that may not have been addressed in the previous edition of the publication.

One such publication, UL 1598 for example, is the Standard for Luminaires. The current version of UL 1598 dated March 6^th, 2021 (5^th edition) is very different than the original version (1^st edition) that first appeared January 31^st, 2000.

If a luminaire supplier has new old stock luminaires remaining on the shelves from the year 2000 that have never been sold, and sells them to an electrician today, the electrician might be preparing to install the luminaires on a new construction project adhering to the latest edition of the NEC^®.

Section 410.6 of the NEC^® requires luminaires to be listed (certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory such as UL). There are no informational notes under Section 410.6 referring to UL 1598. There is however a reference to UL 1598 (without a specified date or edition number) in Annex A. If the new old stock luminaires mentioned above were originally listed (certified) to UL 1598 based on the 1^st edition back in the year 2000, it’s possible that this same luminaire might not be able to pass all required tests if subjected to the newer testing requirements in the latest edition of the same standard. This could create a conflict during the electrical inspection.

A change to 90.5(C) in the 2023 NEC^® stated, “unless the standard reference includes a date, the reference is to be considered as the latest edition of the standard”.

In the 2026 NEC^®, 90.5(C) has been changed once again. Now, “unless the standard reference includes a date or edition, the reference is to be considered the date or edition contained in Informative Annex A”.

2026 Changes to informative Annex A include adding publication dates to the NFPA standards and publications mentioned in Table A.1(1) and adding edition numbers to the product safety standards mentioned in Table A.1(2).

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 2026 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.

2023 Code Language:

90.5(C) Explanatory Material. Explanatory material, including references to other standards, references to related sections of this Code, or information related to a Code rule, is included in this Code in the form of informational notes or informative annexes. Unless the standard reference includes a date, the reference is to be considered the latest edition of the standard. Informational notes are not enforceable as requirements of this Code.

2026 Code Language:

90.5(C) Explanatory Material.

Explanatory material, such as references to other publications, references to related sections of this code, or information related to a code rule, is included in this code in the form of informational notes or informative annexes. Unless a reference to a publication includes a date or edition, the reference is to be considered the date or edition contained in Informative Annex A. Informational notes are not enforceable as requirements of this Code.