Code Change Summary: The 2026 NEC^® introduces new Article 270 to cover grounding and bonding of systems over 1000 volts ac and 1500 volts dc, nominal.

SME commentary: In the 2026 NEC^®, a major structural change occurred with the creation of new Article 270, titled Grounding and Bonding of Systems Over 1000 Volts ac, 1500 Volts dc, Nominal. This article consolidates requirements that were previously located in Part 10 of Article 250 in the 2023 NEC^®. This part of Article 250, as it appeared in the last code cycle, included the rules for grounding of systems and circuits of over 1000 volts. The 2026 restructuring effort extracted these grounding and bonding provisions from Article 250 and placed them into a new standalone article.

This change is part of a larger reorganization effort designed to create a clearer separation between lower voltage and medium or higher voltage electrical installations. By isolating the requirements for grounding and bonding into new Article 270, the NEC^® now provides a more streamlined and user-friendly layout. Electricians and engineers working on higher-voltage systems can now find the grounding and bonding requirements for systems over 1000 volts ac and 1500 volts dc in one dedicated location instead of navigating through a broader article that also covered grounding and bonding requirements for installations not exceeding 1000 volts in Article 250.

The shift mirrors other structural revisions made in Chapter 2 for the 2026 code cycle, including the introduction of Article 265 for branch circuits, Article 266 for feeders, Article 267 for outside branch circuits and feeders, and Article 268 for services, each applying only to installations over 1000 volts ac or 1500 volts dc, nominal.

For installers, this means the grounding and bonding rules for higher-voltage installations are no longer buried in a shared article. For inspectors, it makes plan review and field inspections easier because the provisions are concentrated in one article.

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:

Article 270 did not exist. These requirements were found in Part 10 of Article 250.

2026 Code Language:

N Article 270 Grounding and Bonding of Systems Over 1000 Volts ac, 1500 Volts dc, Nominal.