Code Change Summary: Revised code language finally requires switches to be listed.

Switches have been listed for a great many years, but the NEC^® has never specifically required them to be until now. There are many code sections requiring product certification (listing) and many that do not.

There are no requirements in Article 312 requiring a cabinet enclosing a panelboard to be listed. There are no requirements in Article 408 requiring panelboards to be listed. There are no general requirements in Article 240 to require all circuit breakers to be listed.

Article 100 defines “Listed” as equipment, materials, or services included in a list published by an organization that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and concerned with evaluation of products or services, that maintains periodic inspection of production of listed equipment or materials or periodic evaluation of services, and whose listing states that either the equipment, material, or service meets appropriate designated standards or has been tested and found suitable for a specified purpose.

When a product is certified or listed, it is subjected to the testing requirements in the applicable product standard by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) such as UL. Once the product has been determined to be compliant with the standard, the manufacturer is given approval by the NRTL to apply their listing mark to the product.

In the 2020 NEC^®, switches are required to be listed and also used within their rating.

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 2020 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.