Code Change Summary: In the 2026 NEC^®, listing requirements were relocated to 240.2 and reconditioning requirements were relocated to 240.3 in alignment with the NEC^® Style Manual.

SME commentary: The 2026 NEC^® reorganizes and clarifies requirements for both listing and reconditioning of overcurrent protective devices (OCPDs) and related equipment. This is primarily a structural change intended to improve usability and compliance with the NEC^® Style Manual, rather than a new technical requirement.

In the 2023 NEC^®, the requirement for branch-circuit overcurrent devices to be listed was first introduced in 240.7. That section specified that branch-circuit OCPDs, relays and circuit breakers providing GFPE, and ground-fault circuit interrupters must be listed. However, the reference to “branch-circuit” OCPDs created ambiguity since the Article 100 definition of a “branch-circuit overcurrent protective device” included devices capable of protecting service, feeder, and branch circuits. By using the term “branch-circuit,” 240.7 could be read to exclude feeder and service OCPDs from the listing requirement, which was never the intent.

To resolve this, and to comply with the NEC^® Style Manual, the 2026 NEC^® moved the listing rules into new Section 240.2 and shortened the terminology in 240.2(1) to require listing for all “overcurrent protective devices.” This makes it clear that the listing requirement applies to all OCPDs, not only those protecting branch circuits. The clarified structure in 240.2 eliminates any doubt and ensures that all levels of overcurrent protection; service, feeder, and branch circuit OCPDs are covered by the listing requirement.

The 2026 NEC^® also relocated the rules on reconditioned equipment into Section 240.3. The previous 2023 arrangement had those rules in 240.2, which is more appropriate for listing provisions since the Style Manual calls for listing requirements to appear in the .2 subdivision of each article and for reconditioning rules to be in the .3 subdivision.

Substantively, the reconditioning rules themselves remain unchanged. Certain types of equipment, such as molded-case circuit breakers, low-voltage nonrenewable fuses, ground-fault circuit interrupters, and GFPE devices, are still prohibited from being reconditioned. Low-voltage power circuit breakers and electromechanical protective relays remain permitted to be reconditioned. These provisions are now simply renumbered as 240.3(A) for permitted equipment and 240.3(B) for prohibited equipment.

These revisions do not introduce new technical obligations but instead bring structural clarity, consistency, and alignment with NEC^® conventions. By relocating and renumbering the listing and reconditioning requirements, the 2026 NEC^® improves readability and ensures that installers, inspectors, and engineers can more easily locate and apply these rules. The end result is a Code that is more user-friendly and less prone to misinterpretation, without altering the underlying safety principles that were already in place in the 2023 NEC^®.

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:

240.2 Reconditioned Equipment.

(A) Reconditioning Not Permitted. The following equipment shall not be reconditioned:

(1) Equipment providing ground-fault protection of equipment

(2) Ground-fault circuit interrupters

(3) Low-voltage fuseholders and low-voltage nonrenewable fuses

(4) Molded-case circuit breakers

(5) Low-voltage power circuit breaker electronic trip units.

(B) Reconditioning Permitted. The following equipment shall be permitted to be reconditioned:

(1) Low-voltage power circuit breakers

(2) Electromechanical protective relays and current transformers

240.7 Listing Requirements. The following shall be listed:

(1) Branch-circuit overcurrent protective devices

(2) Relays and circuit breakers providing ground-fault protection of equipment

(3) Ground-fault circuit interrupter devices

2026 Code Language:

240.2 Listing Requirements. The following shall be listed:

(1) Overcurrent protective devices (OCPDs)

(2) Relays and circuit breakers providing ground-fault protection of equipment

(3) Ground-fault circuit interrupter devices

(4) Fuse reducers

240.3 Reconditioned Equipment.

(A) Permitted. The following reconditioned equipment shall be permitted:

(1) Low-voltage power circuit breakers

(2) Electromechanical protective relays and current transformers

(B) Not Permitted. The following reconditioned equipment shall not be permitted:

(1) Equipment providing ground-fault protection of equipment

(2) Ground-fault circuit interrupters

(3) Low-voltage fuseholders and low-voltage nonrenewable fuses

(4) Molded-case circuit breakers

(5) Low-voltage power circuit breaker electronic trip units