NEC® Changes · 2020 NEC®

300.25 Stair towers

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

What changed in 300.25

New section: where an exit stair enclosure needs a fire-rated separation from the rest of the building, only wiring for equipment the AHJ allows in that enclosure can go inside.

Point by point

  • New section covering wiring inside exit enclosures, such as stair towers.

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  • 4 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®NewYou're here

New section: where an exit stair enclosure needs a fire-rated separation from the rest of the building, only wiring for equipment the AHJ allows in that enclosure can go inside.

2023 NEC®Revised

Exit stair rules now key on a fire-resistance rating, and a new exception lets egress lights at the stair's outside exterior door be fed from the stair's wiring.

Open the 2023 page →
2026 NEC®No change

This section did not change from 2023 to 2026.

More 2020 changes in Article 300

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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