Code Change Summary: Part XI of Article 410, covering construction requirements for flush and recessed luminaires, was deleted.

SME commentary: In the 2026 NEC^®, previous Part XI of Article 410 titled Construction of Flush and Recessed Luminaires was deleted in its entirety. The deleted text had historically contained prescriptive construction details for luminaires such as temperature limitations, lamp wattage marking, solder restrictions, and lampholder material requirements. These provisions originated in much earlier editions of the Code, long before the widespread adoption of product safety standards and third-party certification programs. Their deletion reflects the NEC’s evolution toward performance-based requirements that rely on independent product listing standards rather than construction mandates written directly into the Code.

The NEC^® first began addressing luminaire construction as early as the 1897 edition, when light fixtures were considered emerging technology and the Code served as both an installation and product guideline. At that time, there were no comprehensive national safety standards or recognized testing laboratories. Over the decades, however, the responsibility for establishing and maintaining detailed construction criteria shifted from the NEC^® to the product safety standards developed and maintained by organizations such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Today, UL 1598, Luminaires provides the full scope of testing, performance, and construction requirements for luminaires, including flush and recessed types.

Since 2008, NEC^® Section 410.6 has required all luminaires and lampholders to be listed. Because listing is dependent on compliance with the applicable product standard, there is no longer a need for the NEC^® to retain overlapping construction language that merely duplicates UL requirements. For example, UL 1598 already ensures that adjacent combustible materials will not exceed safe temperature limits during operation, that lamp wattage ratings are permanently marked, and that lampholders and internal connections meet required insulation and material performance criteria.

The deletion of Part XI simplifies Article 410 without reducing safety. Field personnel no longer need to verify construction details on listed luminaires, since each listed product already carries the certification mark of a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). This allows electrical inspectors to focus on installation compliance rather than internal construction characteristics that are already verified during product certification.

For installers, this change has no practical impact on how luminaires are selected or installed. All listed products remain acceptable under the NEC^® as long as they are installed in accordance with manufacturer instructions and Code requirements. The revision aligns Article 410 with modern product evaluation practices and removes redundant text that had persisted since an era when luminaires were not required to be listed. By eliminating outdated construction language, the NEC^® continues its long-term movement toward clearer, installation-focused rules that rely on contemporary product standards to ensure luminaire safety.

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 410 Part XI. Construction of Flush and Recessed Luminaires

410.120 Temperature. Luminaires shall be constructed such that adjacent combustible material is not subject to temperatures in excess of 90°C (194°F).

410.122 Lamp Wattage Marking. Incandescent lamp luminaires shall be marked to indicate the maximum allowable wattage of lamps. The markings shall be permanently installed, in letters at least 6 mm (1⁄4 in.) high, and shall be located where visible during relamping.

410.124 Solder Prohibited. No solder shall be used in the construction of a luminaire recessed housing.

410.126 Lampholders. Lampholders of the screw shell type shall be of porcelain or other suitable insulating materials.

2026 Code Language:

Article 410 Part XI. Construction of Flush and Recessed Luminaires (DELETED)