Code Change Summary: The rules pertaining to ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection for appliances have been reorganized.

In the 2014 NEC^®, GFCI protection requirements for specific appliances were strewn all through Article 422. Section 422.5 had only one purpose which was to state that any device providing GFCI protection required in Article 422 must be readily accessible.

In the 2017 NEC^®, all of the GFCI protection requirements for appliances were consolidated from different places in the article and placed in 422.5 for simplicity.

Another change to the GFCI protection requirements is for vending machines. Previously, the method of providing GFCI protection for a vending machine was dependent on whether the vending machine was manufactured or rebuilt on or after January 1^st, 2005. Not only does the electrician and electrical inspector need to be worried about the electrical trade, but they would have also had to figure out the specific dates that vending machines were manufactured in order to verify that the appropriate GFCI device was used. As well, just figuring out if something is considered a vending machine at all is an entire different issue which is why the definition of a vending machine was deleted from Article 422 altogether.

GFCI protection can be accomplished in many ways so that the appliance has the appropriate protected and the device providing the GFCI protection is readily accessible. Section 422.5(B) is new and provides five different methods permitted to accomplish the required GFCI protection. At least one of which should provide an acceptable way to ensure protection for personnel while leaving the GFCI device readily accessible so that it can be tested as required by the manufacturers installation instructions.

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 2017 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.