Let us continue going over what has been moved, added, removed or changed in Chapter 6.

625.42 Rating. This section was split into two subsections to clearly provide separate requirements for load-management systems and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) with adjustable settings. Energy-management systems are permitted to be integral to one piece of equipment or to a listed system. More complete details can be found in Article 750. If integral load management is provided, the system must be marked to indicate that control is provided. EVSE with adjustable settings is permitted if access to the settings is restricted.

625.43 Disconnecting Means. The disconnecting means requirement applies to equipment rated more than 60A and more than 150V to ground, and it applies to EVSE and wireless power transfer equipment (WPTE), rather than to equipment generally. The disconnecting means is required to be located in a readily accessible location, but it can be remote from the EVSE or WPTE. If it is remote, a plaque must be installed on the equipment that indicates where it is located.

625.49 Island Mode. This new section recognizes that EVs can be used in a power export function; in other words, they can be used as an optional standby system. The interconnecting equipment can charge the vehicle and can also export power from the vehicle to the premises.

625.102 Installation. There are several changes in this section on WPTE. The title of 625.102(A) was changed from “Type” to “General.” The term “charger power converter” has been changed to “control box” throughout the section because the term charger power converter is no longer used.

The title of 625.102(B) is now “Control Box.” The control box enclosure is required to be suitable for the environment in addition to the requirements for the mounting structure for the control box.

The primary pad requirements in 625.102(C) now clarify that the primary pad must be secured to or embedded in the surface of the floor, with its top flush with or below the surface in accordance with the manufacturer’s instruction and the remaining requirements of (C).

The title of 625.102(D) has been changed to “Protection of Cords and Cables to the Primary Pad.” The previous last sentence, which applied to the charger power converter, was deleted. A new last sentence has been added that provides requirements for installations where there is no control box. For those installations, the cord or cable supplying power to the primary must be secured in place to restrict movement and to prevent strain at the connection points. Where subject to vehicular traffic, supplemental protection of the cords and cables must be provided.

630.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection. A new requirement was added for GFCI protection of 15A and 20A receptacles installed in work areas where welders are operated.

645.5 Supply Circuits and Interconnecting Cables. New 645.5(B)(3) was added to ensure that the plugs and receptacles that connect power supply cords are listed and have properly rated components.

670.3(A) Permanent Nameplate. The nameplate requirements in Article 670 have been revised for correlation with NFPA 79. Previously, 670.3 required the nameplate to be “plainly visible,” which was vague and unenforceable language. The revised text requires the nameplate to be attached to the outside of the control equipment enclosure or on the machine immediately adjacent to the main control equipment enclosure so it is visible after installation.

680.5 GFCI and SPGFCI Protection. Class A GFCI protection is used on circuits of 150V or less to ground and 60A or less, single-phase and 3-phase, to protect receptacles and outlets. Class A GFCIs trip at 4–6 milliamperes (mA). They are the class that provides protection for personnel. Class C, D and E GFCIs trip at 15–20 mA. Traditional GFCIs are also known as Class A GFCIs. Special purpose GFCIs are either Class C, D or E.

680.6 and 680.7 Grounding and Bonding. Section 680.6, Bonding and Equipment Grounding was deleted as it was redundant with requirements in Article 250. Section 680.7 was retitled “Grounding and Bonding.” The previously existing text was revised and relocated to 680.7(C). The requirements for cord-and-plug-connected equipment were relocated to 680.7(B) from 680.21(A)(3) and 680.8(B). Requirements for feeders and branch circuits were relocated into 680.7(A) from 680.21(A)(3) and 680.8(B).

680.10 Electric Pool Water Heater Incorporating Resistive Heating Elements and Electrically Powered Swimming Pool Heat Pumps and Chillers. The title of this section was changed to indicate that it applies to heaters incorporating resistive heating elements and electrically powered swimming pool heat pumps and chillers. Section 680.10(A) only applies to heaters incorporating the traditional resistive heating elements. Section 680.10(B) recognizes the newer technology of electric heat pumps and chillers to heat or cool the pool water. They may do both.

680.12 Equipment Rooms, Vaults, and Pits. This section has been expanded to include pool-related equipment in vaults. It was subdivided into two first-level subdivisions: (A) Drainage and (B) Receptacles. The requirements for rooms, vaults or pits were revised to clarify that if equipment is located in rooms, vaults or pits that do not have drainage to prevent water accumulation, the equipment must be identified for submersion. A new 680.12(B) on receptacles requires at least one GFCI-protected, 125V, 15A or 20A receptacle supplied from a general-purpose branch circuit to be located in the equipment room. All other receptacles in the equipment room supplied by branch circuits rated 150V or less to ground in a vault or pit must also be GFCI-protected.

680.14 Corrosive Environments. The title of this section was changed from “Wiring Methods in Corrosive Environments” to “Corrosive Environments,” which expanded the scope of what it covers. It now has two first-level subdivisions: (A) Wiring Methods and (B) Other Equipment. This section clarifies that the wiring methods must be suitable for corrosive environments. It has recognized rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, rigid polyvinyl chloride conduit and reinforced thermosetting resin conduit. It now also recognizes liquid-tight flexible nonmetallic conduit. Aluminum conduit and tubing are not permitted.

A new 680.14(B) establishes requirements for other equipment. Equipment for use in corrosive environments must be installed in corrosion-resistant enclosures. Equipment listed for pool and spa use is recognized as suitable for this application because environmental testing is part of the listing process.

680.21 Motors. The requirements for corrosive environments were removed from this section because they are covered by 680.14. The title of 680.21(C) was changed to “Ground-Fault Protection,” which now refers to 680.5(B) or (C). Section 680.21(D) has been revised to require that pool pump motors that are replaced or repaired be provided with ground-fault protection in accordance with 680.5.

680.41 Location of Other Equipment. The title of this section was changed to “Location of Other Equipment.” The material previously in this section was relocated to 680.41(A), which retains the old title “Emergency Switch for Spas and Hot Tubs.” This section does not apply to one- and two-family dwellings. A new first-level subdivision 680.41(B) was added to address equipment exceeding the low-voltage contact limit. Equipment exceeding this limit must be separated at least 5 feet horizontally from the inside walls of a spa or hot tub, unless separated by a solid fence or other permanent barrier. 

680.43(A) Ground-Fault Protection for Receptacles. Previously, only receptacles rated 125V and 30A or less that were within 10 feet of the inside walls of the spa or hot tub were required to be GFCI-protected. This section now covers receptacles rated 125V through 250V, 60A or less. It applies to single-phase and 3-phase receptacles. The protection requirement is referenced to 680.5(B) or (C), as applicable, which would require either GFCI protection or ground-fault protection of equipment.

Receptacles that provide power for cord-and-plug-connected spas or hot tubs are not permitted to exceed 150V to ground, and they must be GFCI-protected.