Code Change Summary: Section 680.5(B) was revised to expand Class A GFCI protection to include branch circuits rated 100 amperes or less, 3-phase.

SME commentary: The 2026 revision to Section 680.5(B) reflects a technical shift that has taken place in the marketplace and aligns the NEC^® with the capabilities of modern GFCI technology. In the 2023 NEC^®, GFCI protection for receptacles and outlets on branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground was tied to a 60-ampere limitation. At that time, the availability of Class A GFCI protective devices above 60 amperes was limited, particularly for three-phase applications. Listed three-phase Class A GFCI devices with ratings up to 100 amperes have become increasingly available, which exposed a gap between the protective intent of Article 680 and the practical application of GFCI technology in higher-ampacity installations.

In response, Section 680.5(B) was revised in the 2026 NEC^® by restructuring the requirement into two list items:

• The first maintains the previous Class A GFCI protection requirements for single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground, 60 amperes or less, which continues the established expectation for pool, spa, and hydromassage equipment served by single-phase circuits.
• The second item adds a new requirement for Class A GFCI protection for three-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground, 100 amperes or less. This expansion captures a range of installations such as pumps, controllers, and other associated equipment that may operate on three-phase power in commercial aquatic environments.

The technical justification behind the new code language is tied directly to the life-safety intent of Article 680. Class A GFCI devices trip when sensing ground-fault current leakage of 6 mA or higher, and the availability of higher-ampere and three-phase Class A GFCIs means that the same level of personal protection can now be applied to circuits previously outside the practical scope of Class A GFCI protection. Incorporating these products into the code brings consistency with other NEC^® provisions that specify Class A GFCI protection in higher-ampere applications, including Section 210.8(B) for certain non-dwelling installations.

Separating the rule into list items also improves usability. Installers can now clearly distinguish between the requirements for single-phase and three-phase branch circuits rather than interpret a single paragraph that blended amperage, phase configuration, and voltage conditions.

Additional modifications were made in other areas of Article 680 to simply direct the code reader to 680.5 when GFCI or SPGFCI protection is required rather than repeat the code language in every section where GFCI protection is specified.

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:

680.5(B) 150 Volts or Less to Ground. Where required in this article, ground-fault protection of receptacles and outlets on branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground and 60 amperes or less, single- or 3-phase, shall be provided with a Class A GFCI.

2026 Code Language:

680.5(B) 150 Volts or Less to Ground. Where required in this article, ground-fault protection of receptacles and outlets on branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground shall be provided with a Class A GFCI under the following conditions:

(1) Branch circuits rated 60 amperes or less, single-phase

(2) Branch circuits rated 100 amperes or less, 3-phase