Change Summary

• New List Item (D) correlates with the requirements found in 422.5(B) (Type of GFCI protection for appliances) and refers to the list of GFCI requirements for appliances in 422.5(A) for continued consistency 
• GFCI protection is now required for the receptacles required by 210.63 for HVAC equipment, indoor service equipment, and indoor equipment requiring dedicated equipment space.
• GFCI protection is now required on dwelling unit outdoor outlets supplied by single-phase branch circuit rated 150 volts or less to ground, and 50 amperes or less (including 240-volt AC units).

Expert Analysis
 

The new text at new 210.8(D) titled, “Specific Appliances” and the move of the GFCI requirement for dishwashers correlates the requirements found in 422.5(B) and refers to the list of appliances requiring GFCI protection in 422.5(A). This new requirement attempts to build a bridge for GFCI requirements from 210.8 to 422.5. This new provision at 210.8(D) calls for GFCI protection to be provided for an appliance either as an integral part of the attachment plug, located within the supply cord not more than 300 mm (12 in.) from the attachment plug, or factory installed within the appliance. If those three options are not achievable, then the GFCI protection must be provided by the overcurrent device or a GFCI device installed in the supply circuit such as a GFCI receptacle located at the outlet for the appliance.

For the 2020 NEC, a new 210.8(E) titled, “Equipment Requiring Servicing” will require GFCI protection for all the receptacles required by 210.63 (indoors and outdoors). The receptacles required by 210.63 are typically required for the expressed purpose of providing maintenance workers with the necessary access to power for the use of portable tools on the described equipment. Additionally, these receptacles can be located up to 7.5 m (25 ft) away from the equipment, so the use of an extension cord is not uncommon, which can increase the likelihood of a shock or electrocution hazard.

For the 2020 NEC, 210.63 was revised and divided into two list items with the “125-volt, single-phase, 15- or 20-ampere-rated receptacle outlet to be installed at an accessible location within 7.5 m (25 ft)” of list items (A) and (B). List Item (A) is the text from previous 210.63 dealing with HVAC equipment. New 210.63(B) (1) is the previous text from previous 210.64 dealing with indoor service equipment. New 210.63(B)(2) is a new requirement pertaining to indoor equipment requiring dedicated equipment space. If this equipment is located outdoors, the requirements of 210.8(A)(3) and 210.8(B)(4) would drive GFCI protection for this required receptacle. In previous editions of the Code, there was no GFCI requirement for the required receptacle when it was installed indoors.

For the 2020 NEC, all outdoor outlets for dwelling units (with exceptions) that are supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts to ground or less, 50 amperes or less will be required to be GFCI protected. A branch circuit dedicated to deicing and snow-melting equipment is exempt for this GFCI requirement to avoid a conflict with requirements at 426.28 (fixed outdoor electric de-icing and snow-melting equipment.) and 427.22 (electric heat tracing and heating panels).

GFCI protection is also exempted for outdoor lighting outlets other than those covered in 210.8(C) (crawl space lighting outlets).

The most dramatic effect this new requirement will have is requiring GFCI protection for dwelling unit outdoor-installed heat pumps and air-conditioning units. With this requirement applying to “all outdoor outlets,” this would include outdoor hard-wired AC units.

Leviton Solution
For areas where more power is required for appliances and tools, Leviton’s 20-Amp GFCI is a great solution. The device is rated at 20-Amp, 125-Volt with 20-Amp feedthrough. It is Tamper-Resistant and offers back and side wiring with self-grounding clip included. Available in non-TR versions and available in several popular colors.