Code Change Summary: New requirements for surge protection including a clarification on the location of the surge protective device (SPD).

SME commentary: In the 2026 NEC^®, several important changes were made to clarify the purpose of the language in 230.67. First, the word “occupancies” was deleted from the charging text in 230.67(A) because several of the identified locations are not technically “occupancies”.

Next, “dormitory units” was shortened to “dormitories” in alignment with similar global efforts to improve accuracy with the term.

A third change expanded the list of required locations in 230.67(A) that require surge protection for the service. Previously a SPD was required for the service supplying dwelling units, dormitory units, guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels, and areas of nursing homes and limited-care facilities used exclusively as patient sleeping rooms. In the 2026 NEC^®, areas designed for use exclusively as sleeping quarters in fire stations, police stations, ambulance stations, rescue stations, ranger stations, and similar locations were added to the list. This new addition to 230.67(A) aligns with similar changes in 215.18.

Lastly, revisions to the exception in 230.67(B) help bring clarity for service configurations where the service ONLY supplies feeders. For these installations, the SPD is not required at the service and is permitted to be placed downstream at the load end of the feeder. The previous language left a gray area for installations such as an outdoor service with limited branch circuit breaker spaces. These typically include feed-through lugs to supply a downstream subpanel. Some felt that an SPD could be omitted from the outdoor service in this configuration as long as an SPD was installed at the next level subpanel where the majority of the branch circuit breakers resided. Based on the 2026 NEC^® revisions to 230.67, for this example, surge protection is required at the service by 230.67(B) and an additional SPD is required by 215.18 in or adjacent to the subpanel connected to the load side of the feeder if the distribution equipment contains OCPDs that supply the areas specified in 230.67(A).

SPD’s are most effective when they are closest to the branch circuits being protected. Simply having surge protection at the electrical service will not afford the same protection as having a SPD at the dwelling unit panelboard supplied by the load end of a long run of feeder conductors. This underscores the NEC’s intent that surge protection be installed as near as possible to the point of use, rather than only at the service.

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:

230.67(A) Surge-Protective Device. All services supplying the following occupancies shall be provided with a surge-protective device (SPD):

(1) Dwelling units

(2) Dormitory units

(3) Guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels

(4) Areas of nursing homes and limited-care facilities used exclusively as patient sleeping rooms

230.67(B) Location. The SPD shall be an integral part of the service equipment or shall be located immediately adjacent thereto.

Exception: The SPD shall not be required to be located at the service equipment as required in 230.67(B) if located at each next level distribution equipment downstream toward the load.

2026 Code Language:

230.67(A) Surge-Protective Device. All services supplying the following shall be provided with a surge-protective device (SPD):

(1) Dwelling units

(2) Dormitories

(3) Guest rooms and guest suites of hotels, motels, and dormitories

(4) Areas of nursing homes and limited-care facilities used exclusively as patient sleeping rooms

(5) Areas designed for use exclusively as sleeping quarters in fire stations, police stations, ambulance stations, rescue stations, ranger stations, and similar locations

230.67(B) Location. The SPD shall be an integral part of the service equipment or shall be located immediately adjacent thereto.

Exception: If the service supplies only feeders, the SPD shall not be required to be located at the service if an SPD is located at the load side of each feeder.