The 2026 National Electrical Code installment has some new updates for Ground Fault Protection requirements. Read this article to learn what they are.

National Electrical Code (NEC) Article 210 covers the electrical safety requirements for all branch circuits. It covers disconnecting means, overcurrent & undercurrent protection means, receptacle guidelines, and more. The most encompassing Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) guidelines in the entire Code book are detailed in one of its subsections, NEC 210.8.

National Electrical Code (NEC) subsection 210.8 outlines the required GFCI protection (which are Class A, and have a 5mA +/-1 trip level) separated by locations; such as in homes , workplaces, crawl spaces, and outdoors, as well as specific appliances & equipment that requires maintenance. Below is an overview of its 6 parts (A through F) and prevalent informational notes. One of the newest, and most impactful, notes is where we will start, which introduces HF Ratings.

As the NEC now requires Ground Fault protection for a larger scope of applications & higher rated circuits in the recent Code cycles, high frequency during start up & cool down phases of equipment involving power inverters & variable frequency drives (VFDs) has created issues with inadvertent fault conditions. This is because the High Frequency “chatter” in the circuit is seen as electrical leakage by the GFCI. High Frequency (HF) rated Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters have been created to address this issue, following an inverse time curve (depicted in the chart above) that de-rates the value of leakage current corresponding to the frequency within in the circuit, which will allow safe operation while avoiding nuisance tripping. This HF measure was codified to Underwriters Laboratory (UL) 943 (the UL standard for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) in August of 2025, in preparation for the 2026 NEC Code cycle. Also note, HF-rated GFCIs are meant to work in conjunction with equipment that is Listed to UL 101 standards (the UL standard for appliances) to ensure optimal operating conditions.

Subsection A of NEC Article 210.8 outlines the GFCI requirements for homes (or as referred to in the Code as “dwelling spaces”). It mandates Class A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter protection for all 125V to 250V receptacles supplied from branch circuits under 150V to ground per hot leg in 14 specified locations, which are:

1.) Bathrooms

2.) Garages

3.) Non-livable accessory buildings (x. Storage rooms & workshops)

4.) Outdoors

5.) Crawl Spaces

6.) Basements

7.) Kitchens

8.) Areas with sinks intended for food, beverage, or cooking preparation

9.) Sinks (with outlets within 6ft)

10.) Boathouses

11.) Bathtubs & Shower Stalls (with outlets within 6ft)

12.) Laundry Areas

13.) Indoor Damp Locations

14.) Indoor Wet Locations

Subsection B of NEC Article 210.8 lists the GFCI requirements for workplaces (or as it is written in the Code as “other than dwelling units”). It mandates Class A protection for all 125V to 250V receptacles supplied from single phase circuits rated up to 50 amps, and three phase circuits rated up to 100 amps (and note these circuits are at or under 150V to ground per hot leg) in 16 separate locations, which are:

1.) Bathrooms

2.)Kitchens

3.) Areas with sinks intended for food, beverage, or cooking preparation

4.) Buffet areas with permanent installations intended for serving food & beverages, or cooking

5.) Rooftops

6.) Outdoors

7.) Sinks (with outlets within 6ft)

8.) Indoor damp locations

9.) Indoor wet locations

10.) Locker rooms that include showers

11.) Garages, accessory buildings, service bays, or similar structures (excluding exhibition halls and showrooms, which are covered in their own section of the Code)

12.)Crawl spaces (both above and below grade level)

13.) Unfinished basements

14.) Open aquatic containers such as aquariums or baitwells (with outlets within 6ft)

15.) Laundry areas

16.) Bathtubs & shower stalls (with outlets within 6ft)

Subsection C of NEC Article 210.8 states the GFCI requirements for crawl spaces, and more specifically the lighting outlets. It states that Class A GFCI protection is needed for all 120V outlets installed in crawl spaces for these applications.

Subsection D of NEC Article 210.8 lays out the GFCI requirements for a specific set of appliances, and is very similar to NEC 422.5(A), the standard for GFCI integration on equipment. The difference between NEC 422.5(A) & NEC 210.8(D) is that subsection 210.8(D) lists the Ground Fault protection requirements for receptacles supplying the named (in the list below) appliances. It states that Class A GFCI protection is needed for circuits up to 60 Amp (single or 3-phase), under 150V to ground per hot leg for 12 named appliances, which are:

1.) Automotive vacuum machines

2.) Water coolers/bottle fill stations

3.) Pressure washing machines

4.) Tire inflation machines

5.) Vending machines

6.) Sump pumps

7.) Dishwashers

8.) Electric ranges

9.) Wall mounted ovens

10.) Counter mounted cooking appliances

11.) Clothes dryers

12.) Microwave ovens

Subsection E states that Class A GFCI protection needs to be integrated into the receptacles for the equipment that “requires service”, and denotes that equipment is specified in NEC 210.63 (which covers HVAC, refrigeration, and other equipment that needs scheduled maintenance).

Subsection F of National Electrical Code 210.8 lists the guidelines for GFCI protection of outdoor outlets. It mandates Class A GFCI protection for all single phase circuits, up to 60 Amps, up to 150V to ground per hot leg for 3 named locations, which are:

1.) Garages with floors at or below grade level

2.) Accessory buildings

3.) Boathouses

There are also 2 important exceptions/notes that involve NEC 210.8(F), especially for the 2026 NEC Code cycle.

The first, listed as “Exception 2”, is that GFCI protection is not required for (Agency) Listed HVAC equipment, but that exception expires on September 1st of 2026.

The second, listed as “Exceptions 3”, states that after September 1st of 2026, (Agency) Listed HVAC equipment can be protected by Class C SPGFCI protection (Class C GFCI equipment has a 18 +/- 2 mA trip level).

The 2026 NEC Code cycle added some key changes to Ground Fault protection standards for a wide scope of applications and appliances. It still requires Class A (5mA +/- 1 trip level) GFCI protection for a majority of its scope, while mentioning that Class C (18mA +/- 2 trip level) SPGFCI protection can be used for HVAC applications, as long as the HVAC unit & the SPGFCI are Agency Listed. It also addressed concern for larger circuits that have encountered nuisance tripping from high frequency introduced from certain equipment, such as Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), now allowing Listed HF-rated GFCIs to accommodate the demands of those applications.