312.8 Enclosures with switches and OCPDs
What changed in 312.8
Switch and breaker enclosures can now hold energy management equipment, not just power monitoring equipment, and new rules cover the small control wiring that comes with it.
Point by point
- 312.8(B) now allows energy management equipment, not just power monitoring equipment, in switch and overcurrent device enclosures.
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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
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This section across NEC® editions
2020 NEC®RevisedYou're here
Switch and breaker enclosures can now hold energy management equipment, not just power monitoring equipment, and new rules cover the small control wiring that comes with it.
2023 NEC®Revised
Switch and OCPD enclosures holding conductors that feed through, splice or tap now need proper bending room for 4 AWG and larger conductors.
Open the 2023 page →2026 NEC®Revised
Found at 312.11 in the 2026 NEC®.
Renumbered from 312.8. Service conductors can no longer pass through switch or breaker enclosures that aren't the service equipment.
Open the 2026 page →More 2020 changes in Article 312
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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