701.9 Legally required surge protection
What changed in 701.9
New 701.9 requires a listed SPD for the switchgear, switchboards and panelboards of a legally required standby system.
Point by point
- New section: legally required standby equipment now needs a listed SPD (surge protective device).
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Get the whole breakdown
- One more point on exactly what changed
- The 2023 rule next to the 2026 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®No change
This section did not change from 2017 to 2020.
2023 NEC®No change
This section did not change from 2020 to 2023.
2026 NEC®NewYou're here
New 701.9 requires a listed SPD for the switchgear, switchboards and panelboards of a legally required standby system.
More 2026 changes in Article 701
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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