NEC® Changes · 2020 NEC®

250.121 Restricted use of EGCs

MovedChanged in the 2020 NEC® (from the 2017 NEC®)· Updated October 24, 2026

What changed in 250.121

The rule that a building's steel frame can't serve as an EGC moved here from 250.136, joining the rule on EGCs doubling as electrode conductors.

Point by point

  • 250.121 now has two parts: (A) covers EGCs used as grounding electrode conductors, and (B) covers building steel.

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Get the whole breakdown

  • 3 more points on exactly what changed
  • The 2017 rule next to the 2020 rule, side by side
  • Why it changed
  • What to do and check on the job

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This section across NEC® editions

2020 NEC®MovedYou're here

The rule that a building's steel frame can't serve as an EGC moved here from 250.136, joining the rule on EGCs doubling as electrode conductors.

2023 NEC®No change

This section did not change from 2020 to 2023.

2026 NEC®No change

This section did not change from 2023 to 2026.

More 2020 changes in Article 250

This is a plain-English summary, not the NEC®'s exact wording. Always check the full section in the NEC® edition your area has adopted, plus any local amendments.

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