When a new edition of the National Electrical Code is issued, extensive evaluations and interpretations must be done to identify the major and minor changes that will affect the use of new and existing requirements. There are always a certain number of hidden “gotchas.” Often these hidden issues cannot be located until the text is actually used on a specific project or when questions occur during discussions at technical meetings. 

For the past 10 years or so, many municipalities, counties or states have skipped an NEC cycle, which means the electrical inspectors, engineers, contractors and electricians are not as familiar with the “skipped” version. They also may not be familiar with the “gotchas” without the in-depth use and knowledge of the skipped version. 

I have spent the past year or more heavily involved with the rewrite and updates to the 2026 NEC of two electrical books, one dealing with grounding and bonding and the other with commercial wiring. Since I just finished the final technical review of these books, I am now concentrating on my in-depth study of all of the changes in the 2026 edition. I have noticed a number of issues that may need to be addressed by formal interpretations from NFPA or tentative interim amendments (TIAs). However, I will never criticize the NEC panels, since we all recognize the members’ significant effort and expertise.

Table 220.42(A)

An example of an issue I believe must be addressed is the note located at the bottom of Table 220.42(A) in the 2023 NEC, which covered calculations for branch circuits, feeders and services. This is what it said: “The 125% multiplier for a continuous load as specified in 210.20(A) is included, therefore no additional multiplier shall be required when using the unit loads in this table for calculating the minimum lighting load for a specified occupancy.” 

The new location for Article 220 is Article 120 in the 2026 NEC. The note at the bottom of Table 220.42(A) was deleted in the 2026 edition without making any reference that Table 120.42(A) already has the 125% value figured into the table. Anyone new to the NEC or not familiar with the note in the 2023 version and previous codes would be calculating the lighting load at 125% of the table value, as in the following equation: 125% x 125% (the value shown in the table) = 156.25% and would obviously be way oversized. An easy fix for the problem would be the addition of a note at the bottom of the table or additional text in 120.42(A), Informational Note reading as follows: “The unit values of Table 120.42(A) are based on minimum load conditions, 80% power factor, are already calculated at 125%, and might not provide sufficient capacity for the installation contemplated.” 

Entrance and egress requirements

In my November 2025 ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR article, “Entrance and Egress on the Mind,” I mentioned that there was an issue with the requirements in 110.26(C)(2) in the 2023 NEC where large equipment rated at 1,200A or more and over 6 feet wide must have two means of egress. That also applies to disconnecting means installed in accordance with 230.71(B) where the combined ampere rating is 1,200A or more and where the combined width is more than 6 feet. 

This section has a bigger problem in the 2026 NEC, since this applies to service disconnects and feeder disconnects. The text now reads as follows: “For disconnecting means installed in accordance with 225.33(A) or 230.71(B) where the combined ampere rating is 1,200 amperes or more and where the combined width is over six feet.” 

Now six or more service or feeder panelboards, rated at 200A or any combination of ampere ratings that total 1,200A or more must have two means of egress. This must be addressed with a TIA that will only apply to large equipment and not panelboards.

Dwelling unit branch circuit loads

Another issue that was just brought to my attention was 120.13, covering dwelling unit branch circuit loads, where “the minimum unit load shall be not less than 3 volt-­amperes per square foot for calculating minimum branch circuits required.” In addition, 120.41 provides the following calculation for feeder and service loads: “In one-family, two-family, and multifamily dwellings, the minimum unit load shall be not less than 2 volt-amperes per square foot.” 

One of the difficulties may be in determining the number of 10A branch circuits for lighting only plus all 15A and 20A branch circuits for the remainder of receptacles and lighting. Remember that 10A circuits cannot be used for receptacles, only lighting, and there aren’t any 10A AFCI circuit breakers.