The 2020 and 2023 editions of the National Electric Code (NEC) have expanded the GFCI regulations to include additional locations and appliances that require GFCI protection in commercial settings.
Section 210.8(B) expanded GFCI regulations to include areas with sinks and permanent provisions for food preparation and cooking, significantly impacting commercial kitchens.
Section 210.8(D) expanded the list of appliances that require protection, including electric ranges, wall-mounted ovens, and counter-mounted cooking units.
These updates extend GFCI protection requirements to personnel in non-residential settings and apply to kitchen appliances operating on 3-phase power (e.g., line-to-line connections under 250V AC, typically 208V AC).
With each update, the NEC has continued to increase GFCI requirements in more locations. As a result, architects, designers, electricians, general contractors, and program managers face a growing year over year demand for GFCI protection.
Summary of 2023 Code Changes
2023 Edition NEC article 210.8 (B) related to spaces “other than dwellings” has been rewritten to clarify and expand GFCI requirements.
A Class A (5 mA) Ground Fault Protection System
Many GFCI solutions are available for low-amperage (15/20A) single-phase branch circuits, often as an “all-in-one” GFCI Circuit Breaker. However, for three-phase power, GFCI protection often requires a shunt trip circuit breaker combined with a ground fault relay, especially for amperage of 60A or higher.
A Class A (5 mA) ground fault protection system includes a breaker with a shunt trip option and an AC ground fault sensor. NK Technologies offers ground fault relays with various options to ensure compatibility with any shunt trip breaker (MCB or MCCB), relay, or contactor. Our ground fault sensors are compact and easily installed within the panelboard. A shunt trip breaker with a ground fault sensor protects 15 A to over 100 A branch circuits from both overload and ground fault currents exceeding 5 mA.
When combined with a shunt trip breaker, the AGU Series provides a cost-effective, compact ground fault protection system that is easy to install and set up and compatible with all OEM panel boards. It meets NEC requirements that state GFCI protection must be provided for up to 50 A single-phase (120 VAC to 240 VAC) or up to 100 A three-phase (208 VAC or 240 VAC) branch circuits.
For wire bundles larger than 0.75” diameter, use the AGL-005 Series instead.
For more information on how to calculate the correct wire bundle size, see our “Calculating A Wire Bundle Size” Application Note.
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“Changes to NEC 210.8 B-F have challenged all of us in the industry to find new GFCI solutions. When NK Technologies reached out to us recently, we decided to invest a few hours into meeting with their application experts. Five of our electrical engineering designers attended the session and considered it time well spent. NK Technologies has an in-depth understanding of the new NEC requirements and ground fault products designed to meet them. We are thankful for their time.”
PK Electrical
One of the top electrical and low voltage/communications design firms,
in both the private and public sectors, based in Reno, NV and Denver, CO.