Code Change Summary: A new exception in 240.24(E) permits OCPDs to remain in existing panelboards located in bathrooms if they were installed under previous editions of the NEC^® that allowed such installations.

SME commentary: The addition of an exception to 240.24(E) in the 2026 NEC^® resolves a gray area in the code that arose after the 2023 NEC^® expanded the prohibition on overcurrent protective devices (OCPDs) in bathrooms. Prior to 2023, OCPDs were prohibited only in bathrooms of dwelling units, dormitory units, and guest rooms or guest suites. This earlier restriction did not apply to other occupancies, provided the OCPD was not a service disconnect as addressed in 230.70(A)(2).

With the 2023 revision to 240.24(E), the prohibition became broader. The specific occupancy references were deleted and the section was reworded to ban OCPDs in any bathroom, showering facility, or locker room with showering facilities. This broader language created a significant complication for code users because it retroactively called into question the compliance status of existing panelboards that had been lawfully installed in bathrooms under previous editions of the Code. For example, many commercial and industrial facilities had installed panelboards in restrooms or locker rooms prior to 2023 in full compliance with the NEC^® requirements in effect at that time. Once the prohibition was broadened in 2023, questions arose when adding a branch circuit or replacing panelboard guts about whether those existing panelboards and OCPDs needed to be relocated to remain code compliant.

Recognizing the impact, the 2026 NEC^® now introduces an important exception to 240.24(E). The exception permits OCPDs “to be installed in existing panelboards that were installed in compliance with previous editions of this code that permitted OCPDs to be installed in bathrooms”. This means that if a panelboard with OCPDs was legally placed in a bathroom under a previous edition of the Code that allowed the practice, it can continue to be used and even have new OCPDs added or replaced, without creating a violation of the current Code. The only condition is that the installation must have been compliant at the time it was made.

This change is significant for inspectors, contractors, and facility managers alike. Inspectors now have clear Code language to support leaving existing panelboards in place where they were legally installed, avoiding disputes over retroactivity. Contractors and facility managers gain assurance that ongoing maintenance or upgrades in those panelboards do not require costly and disruptive panel relocations.

The exception strikes an important balance. It upholds the 2023 NEC’s intent to prohibit new installations of OCPDs in bathrooms and showering facilities to reduce shock hazards while also providing a practical pathway for the continued use of older, code-compliant installations. This reduces unnecessary burdens on building owners and contractors while maintaining safety for future installations.

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:

240.24(E) Not Located in Bathrooms. Overcurrent protective devices, other than supplementary overcurrent protection, shall not be located in bathrooms, showering facilities, or locker rooms with showering facilities.

2026 Code Language:

240.24(E) Not Located in Bathrooms. OCPDs, other than supplementary overcurrent protection, shall not be located in bathrooms, showering facilities, or locker rooms with showering facilities.

Exception: OCPDs shall be permitted to be installed in existing panelboards that were installed in compliance with previous editions of this code that permitted OCPDs to be installed in bathrooms.