NEC 2026 Article Number Changes: Complete Old-to-New Reference Guide
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NEC 2026 reorganizes Chapters 7 and 8 significantly. This reference guide maps old article numbers to new ones for contractors navigating the transition.
NEC 2026 Article Number Changes: Complete Old-to-New Reference Guide
NEC 2026 reorganizes Chapters 7 and 8 significantly, moving content between articles and creating new articles. This reference guide helps contractors, inspectors, and specifiers translate old code references to new ones.
Quick Answer
The biggest changes: Article 725 split into Articles 721-723. Article 800 interior wiring moved to Article 742. New Article 720 provides general requirements for all limited-energy systems. New Article 750 consolidates grounding. Chapter 8 is no longer independent. Bookmark this page for quick reference during the transition.
New Articles in NEC 2026
NEC 2026 introduces several new articles within Chapter 7:
| New Article | Title | Content Source |
|---|---|---|
| 720 | General Requirements for Limited-Energy Systems | NEW - Consolidates scattered requirements |
| 721 | Class 2 and Class 3 Power Sources | From Article 725 |
| 722 | Limited-Energy Cables | From Articles 725, 800, others |
| 723 | Raceways, Cable Routing, Cable Trays | From Articles 725, 800 |
| 742 | Overvoltage Protection / Communications | From Chapter 8 interior wiring |
| 750 | Grounding and Bonding of Limited-Energy Systems | Consolidated from 725, 800, 760, others |
Article 725 → Articles 721, 722, 723
The former Article 725 (Class 2 and Class 3 Circuits) has been reorganized into three separate articles:
| Old (NEC 2023) | New (NEC 2026) | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 725.41 | 721.x | Power source requirements for Class 2/3 |
| 725.121 | 721.x | Power source marking requirements |
| 725.154 | 722.x | Cable applications and uses |
| 725.179 | 722.x | Cable listing requirements |
| 725.130 | 723.x | Wiring methods within buildings |
| 725.133 | 723.x | Raceway and cable tray installation |
| 725.136 | 723.x | Separation from other conductors |
Article 725 Still Exists: Article 725 remains but is reorganized to focus on circuit classification and general Class 2/3 requirements, with detailed provisions moved to 721, 722, and 723.
Chapter 8 → Chapter 7 Migration
Interior communications wiring moved from Chapter 8 to Chapter 7:
| Old (NEC 2023) | New (NEC 2026) | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 800 (interior) | 742 | Communications general requirements (inside buildings) |
| 800.100 | 750.x | Grounding of communications circuits |
| 800.110 | 750.x | Bonding and grounding methods |
| 800.133 | 720.x / 723.x | Installation in buildings |
| 800.154 | 722.x | Cable types and applications |
| 805 (entire article) | Deleted / merged into 720, 742 | Communications circuits |
| 840 (entire article) | Deleted / merged | Premises-powered broadband |
What Remains in Chapter 8
Chapter 8 now only covers "Communications Systems Outside and Entering Buildings":
- Article 800: Exterior and entrance wiring only
- Article 810: Radio and television equipment
- Article 820: CATV (exterior/entrance)
- Article 830: Network-powered broadband (exterior/entrance)
Deleted Articles: Articles 805 and 840 are removed from NEC 2026—their content merged elsewhere.
Grounding Consolidation → Article 750
Grounding requirements previously scattered across multiple articles are now unified:
| Old (NEC 2023) | New (NEC 2026) | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 725.121 (grounding) | 750.x | Class 2/3 grounding |
| 760.121 (grounding) | 750.x | Fire alarm grounding |
| 770.100 | 750.x | Optical fiber grounding |
| 800.100 | 750.x | Communications grounding |
| 820.100 | 750.x | CATV grounding |
Benefit: One article for all limited-energy grounding instead of looking in five different places.
Fire Alarm Updates (Article 760)
Article 760 remains for fire alarm systems but with updated references:
| Topic | Old Reference | New Reference |
|---|---|---|
| General installation | 760.xxx | 720 (general) + 760 (specific) |
| Cable selection | 760.154, 760.179 | 722 + 760 |
| Grounding | 760.121 | 750 |
| Separation | 760.136 | 720.x / 760 |
Class 4 / FMPS (Article 726)
Article 726 was introduced in NEC 2023 and is retained in NEC 2026 with integration into the new framework:
| Topic | NEC 2026 Location |
|---|---|
| Class 4 system requirements | 726 |
| Class 4 power sources | 721.50 |
| Class 4 cable requirements | 722.150 |
| Class 4 grounding | 750 |
Quick Reference by Trade
Fire Alarm Contractors
| Need | Primary Article | Supporting Articles |
|---|---|---|
| General requirements | 720 | — |
| PLFA/NPLFA circuits | 760 | — |
| Cable selection | 722 | 760 |
| Grounding | 750 | — |
| Separation | 720 | 760 |
Security/CCTV Contractors
| Need | Primary Article | Supporting Articles |
|---|---|---|
| General requirements | 720 | — |
| Class 2/3 circuits | 725 | 721, 722, 723 |
| IP video/communications | 742 | 722 |
| PoE power | 726 | — |
| Grounding | 750 | — |
Access Control Contractors
| Need | Primary Article | Supporting Articles |
|---|---|---|
| General requirements | 720 | — |
| Reader/controller circuits | 725 | 721, 722, 723 |
| Fire alarm interface | 760 | — |
| PoE door hardware | 726 | — |
| Grounding | 750 | — |
Structured Cabling / Data Contractors
| Need | Primary Article | Supporting Articles |
|---|---|---|
| General requirements | 720 | — |
| Communications (interior) | 742 | — |
| Communications (entrance) | 800 | — |
| Cable selection | 722 | — |
| Raceways/pathways | 723 | — |
| Grounding | 750 | — |
| PoE infrastructure | 726 | — |
AV Integrators
| Need | Primary Article | Supporting Articles |
|---|---|---|
| General requirements | 720 | — |
| Audio (Class 2/3) | 725 | 721, 722, 723 |
| Video/CATV | 742 | 820 |
| Cable selection | 722 | — |
| PoE displays | 726 | — |
| Grounding | 750 | — |
New Definitions in Article 100
NEC 2026 adds key definitions to Article 100:
Limited-Energy Cable
"Any factory assembly of conductors, copper conductors, or optical fiber strands for Class 2, Class 3, and Class 4 circuits, including cable TV and power-limited fire alarm applications."
This unified term replaces exhaustive lists throughout the code.
Class 4 Circuit
"A circuit that is part of a fault-managed power system (FMPS) that limits the energy available into a fault condition."
Limited-Energy System
The umbrella term for systems covered by Chapter 7, replacing the "low voltage" terminology in many contexts.
The Flow: How to Navigate NEC 2026
When you have an installation question under NEC 2026:
- Start with Article 720: General requirements apply to all limited-energy systems
- Go to Specific System Article: 725, 726, 760, etc. for system-specific rules
- Check Article 721: For power source requirements
- Check Article 722: For cable selection and listing
- Check Article 723: For raceways, cable trays, pathways
- Check Article 742: For communications-specific requirements
- Check Article 750: For grounding and bonding
This logical flow replaces the previous system where you might check Article 725, then Article 800, then 760, each with their own grounding, cable, and installation sections.
Printable Quick Reference
Most Common Translations
| Old Reference | New Reference | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 725.41 | 721 | Class 2/3 power sources |
| 725.154 | 722 | Class 2/3 cable applications |
| 725.130 | 723 | Class 2/3 wiring methods |
| 725.121 | 750 | Class 2/3 grounding |
| 760.121 | 750 | Fire alarm grounding |
| 800 (interior) | 742 + 720 | Communications inside building |
| 800.100 | 750 | Communications grounding |
| 800.154 | 722 | Communications cables |
| N/A | 720 | NEW: General limited-energy requirements |
Transition Tips
- Bookmark Both Codes: During transition, keep NEC 2023 and NEC 2026 references handy
- Update Templates: Revise proposal and inspection templates when your jurisdiction adopts
- Train Your Team: Technicians need to know where requirements moved
- Expect Inspector Questions: Some inspectors may still reference old articles initially
- Check Local Adoption: Your jurisdiction may not adopt NEC 2026 immediately
Stay Current on Code Changes
NEC 2026 adoption is rolling out state by state. Knowing the new article structure helps you navigate inspections and specifications as jurisdictions transition.
LVN Signal monitors permit activity in your area, alerting you to projects regardless of which code version is in effect.
Last updated: February 2026. This reference guide provides general mapping for NEC 2026 structural changes. Always verify specific code citations with the official NEC publication. Article and section numbers are for reference—consult the actual code for binding requirements.
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