National Electrical Code Article 422 handles specific appliance’s electrical needs. Learn more about what specific appliances require ground fault protection.

NEC Article 422.5 (the ground fault subsection of NEC 422) goes hand in hand with Article 210.8, as in where NEC 210.8 specifies GFCI protection requirements to the receptacles & outlets applied, NEC 422.5 specifies GFCI protection requirements for specific appliances, both plug-in or hardwired, as well as necessary locations requiring Class A GFCI protection. Updates in the language (that began in NEC 2020) also added that the protection on these appliances must be Class A (5+/- 1 mA trip level) protected. There are two subsections of NEC 422.5, Section A and B, and they include:

Section A states there is 7 appliances that require Class A (between 4mA to 6mA ground fault threshold for electrical appliances rated up to 150 volts to ground & up to 60 Amps, single and/or 3-phase) GFCI protection according to this specific NEC classification. The appliances are as follows:

1.) Automotive vacuum machines

2.) Drinking water coolers & bottle fill stations

3.) Plug-in and hardwired high-pressure spray washing machines

4.) Tire inflation machines

5.) Vending machines

6.) Sump pumps

7.) Dishwashers

While there are more products that are required to have Class A protection (whether it be in terms of location or wiring configuration, always spelled out by the NEC in each specific Code Article) these are the 7 categories of standalone appliances that require Class A GFCI protection, per NEC guidelines.

Section B dictates where and in what situations UL Listed Class A GFCI protection is required. There are 5 such locations according to this NEC classification, which are:

1.) Within a branch-circuit overcurrent device

2.) A device or outlet within the supply circuit

3.) An integral part of an attachment plug

4.) Within a supply cord that is no more than 12in (300mm) from the attachment plug

5.) Factory installed within the appliance.

These locations, again, work in conjunction with numerous other Codes. If your electrical appliance doesn’t meet any of these location requirements, you still need to make sure the appliance in its own right requires or doesn’t require Class A GFCI protection (x. kitchen equipment other than a dishwasher have their ground fault protection needs spelled out in NEC 210.8 (B)).

NEC 422.5 dictates what specific appliances and in what specific locations require UL Listed Class A GFCI protection. If it is outside the “scope” of a specific industry, NEC 422 is a good barometer to find out what named applications actually need GFCI protection and where it should be outfitted to meet NEC guidelines.