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Industry: Education

Type: Other

Location: Florence

Length of Training Program: 6 hours/ Choose your class dates: January 31 Or May 9 OR October 24

Program Frequency: 3 times per year

Program Contact: Jenni Hammons

Email: jenni.hammons@kctcs.edu

Phone: 859-442-1130

Cost of Program

Tuition: $0.00
Books & Resources: $0.00
Fees: $0.00
Other Costs: $0.00

Description

The 2026 NEC changes greatly influence how professionals design,  install,  and inspect commercial and industrial electrical systems.  Understanding and applying these updates will ensure enhanced safety,  compliance,  and alignment with modern electrification trends.

Significant Updates in the 2026 NEC

  • Structural overhaul and article reorganization:  Medium-voltage systems (over 1,000 VAC/1,500 VDC)  now have dedicated Articles 265–270—consolidating high-voltage content formerly scattered across the NEC—enhancing usability for large-scale projects.
  • Limited-energy and communications systems:  Creating a unified framework for low-voltage,  power-limited,  and communications installations.
  • Global terminology and layout updates:  The code standardizes terms like “OCPD”  for overcurrent protective devices,  clarifies “AC”  usage exclusive to alternating currents,  and prepares the structure for 2029 changes contained in Annex L.
  • Expanded protective requirements:  GFCI protection will be mandatory for outdoor HVAC units,  outdoor receptacles,  and EV equipment;  arc-flash labeling is more comprehensive and specific;  equipment workspace regulations are tightened. 
  • EV infrastructure and renewable integration:  New EV charger shutoff requirements,  listed-for-EV-use receptacles,  and rules for microgrid and DER interconnections are intended to support electrification trends. 

Impact on Commercial Wiring Systems

  • Article renumbering and reference changes:  Items like snap switches and dimmers shift to Article 406,  with Article 404 now reserved for heavy-duty switchgear—requiring contractors and plans reviewers to adjust project specifications.
  • Streamlined high‑voltage installation:  Business facilities with medium-voltage feeders benefit from consolidated Articles 265–270,  which simplify design,  compliance,  and inspections.
  • Efficiency through power control systems:  Introduction of Power Control Systems (PCS)  alongside Energy Management Systems (EMS)  in load calculations allows smarter service sizing—preventing oversizing and reducing costs in EV and general commercial infrastructure.
  • Enhanced safety on job sites:  With strengthened GFCI,  arc‑flash labeling,  and workspace clearance rules,  installation crews must update wiring practices—especially for outdoor and HVAC-connected receptacles. 

Revisions Affecting General Industry and Safety Standards

  • Arc‑flash hazard labeling:  Now applies to all non-residential distribution equipment,  not just over 1,000 A units.  Labels must include voltage,  boundary,  incident energy,  and assessment date.
  • Equipment access and workspace:  Section 110.26 now explicitly includes feeder disconnects (per 225.33(A)),  closes access clearance loopholes,  and mandates enough room to open doors fully in industrial settings. 
  • Servicing scope refined:  The term “Servicing of Equipment”  replaces “Servicing and maintenance”  in Section 110.17,  clarifying the NEC’s focus on installation-related tasks.
  • Surge protection and emergency readiness:  Standby systems in industrial contexts now require surge protection,  and concrete encasement requirements have been tightened for critical-path conductors.
  • Standardized limited-energy wiring:  New definitions for limited-energy cables and related Chapters 720–760 establish consistency in wiring fire alarms,  broadband,  and optical fiber systems.

Additional Information