NEC 2026: What Happened to Chapter 8 Communications?

For 87 years, Chapter 8 of the National Electrical Code operated independently from the rest of the code. NEC 2026 ends that era. Here's what changed, why it matters, and what it means for communications and data cabling contractors.

The End of an 87-Year Era

Since 1937—four decades before Ethernet was invented—Chapter 8 of the NEC has operated under a unique provision: it was "not subject to the requirements of Chapters 1-7 except where the requirements are specifically referenced."

This independence made sense in 1937 when:

• Communications meant telephone systems owned by Bell
• Communications wiring was installed by telephone company workers, not electricians
• Power and communications systems were completely separate technologies
• There was no data cabling, no Ethernet, no Power over Ethernet

But technology evolved. Power and data merged. PoE put power on the same cables as communications. Yet the NEC's structure remained frozen in 1937.

With NEC 2026, that finally changes.

What Section 90.3 Said Before

The key provision was in Section 90.3, which defines how NEC chapters apply:

Before NEC 2026: "Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 apply generally; Chapters 5, 6, and 7 apply to special occupancies, equipment, or conditions. Chapters 1-7 apply except as modified by Chapter 8. Chapter 8 covers communications systems and is not subject to the requirements of Chapters 1-7 except where the requirements are specifically referenced in Chapter 8."

This created what many called a "parallel universe" for communications work. If you were installing Article 800 communications circuits, you only followed Chapters 1-7 when Chapter 8 explicitly pointed you there.

What Section 90.3 Says Now

NEC 2026 rewrites Section 90.3:

NEC 2026: "Chapters 5-8 may supplement or modify the requirements in Chapters 1-7."

That single sentence eliminates 87 years of Chapter 8 independence. Communications systems now follow the same hierarchical structure as everything else in the NEC.

Why the Change?

Code Making Panel 1 (CMP-1) voted to eliminate Chapter 8 independence for several reasons:

1. Technology Convergence

Modern installations often combine power and communications in the same cable:

• Power over Ethernet delivers both data and power on Cat6
• Hybrid cables carry Class 4 power alongside fiber or copper communications
• The distinction between "data" and "communications" is meaningless on modern networks

2. Inspector Confusion

For decades, the parallel requirements caused confusion:

• Inspectors uncertain which rules applied to structured cabling
• Similar work following different code articles
• Overlap between Article 725 (Class 2/3) and Article 800 (Communications)

3. Enforcement Gaps

In many jurisdictions, Chapter 8 work received minimal inspection because it was "independent" and perceived as outside normal electrical inspection scope.

4. Unified Safety Standards

There was no technical reason for communications circuits to follow different fire protection, grounding, or installation standards than other limited-energy systems.

Chapter 8 Before and After

Aspect	Before NEC 2026	After NEC 2026
Chapter 8 Title	Communications Systems	Communications Systems Outside and Entering Buildings
Number of Articles	6 articles (800, 805, 810, 820, 830, 840)	4 articles (800, 810, 820, 830)
Independence	Not subject to Chapters 1-7	Supplements/modifies Chapters 1-7
Interior Wiring	Covered in Chapter 8	Moved to Chapter 7
General Requirements	In Article 800	In Article 720 (general) + 742 (communications)

What Was Deleted from Chapter 8

Two articles were removed entirely:

Article 805 - Communications Circuits (Deleted)

Requirements for communications circuits moved to the new Chapter 7 limited-energy framework. Interior communications wiring is now covered by:

• Article 720: General Requirements for Limited-Energy Systems
• Article 722: Limited-Energy Cables
• Article 723: Raceways and Cable Routing
• Article 742: Communications and Overvoltage Protection
• Article 750: Grounding and Bonding

Article 840 - Premises-Powered Broadband (Deleted)

Network-powered broadband content was consolidated into the limited-energy framework. The distinction between "premises-powered" and "network-powered" becomes less relevant when all limited-energy systems follow the same general requirements.

What Remains in Chapter 8

Chapter 8 now focuses on a specific scope: communications infrastructure outside buildings and at building entry points.

Article 800 - Communications Systems Outside and Entering Buildings

Covers:

• Aerial cables from the utility
• Underground entrance conduits
• Bonding at building entrance
• Protection devices at the point of entrance
• Grounding of cable shields at building entry

Article 810 - Radio and Television Equipment

Covers:

• Antenna installations
• Satellite dish mounting
• Lead-in cables from antennas
• Grounding of antenna systems

Article 820 - Community Antenna Television (CATV)

Covers:

• Coaxial cable entry into buildings
• CATV grounding requirements
• Protection at building entrance

Article 830 - Network-Powered Broadband

Covers:

• Fiber and copper entering from service provider
• ONT/NIU installation at building entrance
• Grounding at building entry point

The New Chapter 7 Structure

Interior communications wiring now follows Chapter 7's unified limited-energy framework:

Article	Title	Communications Relevance
720	General Requirements for Limited-Energy Systems	Foundation for all communications wiring inside buildings
722	Limited-Energy Cables	Cable specifications including communications cables
723	Raceways and Cable Routing	Pathway requirements for communications cables
725	Class 2 and Class 3 Circuits	Many communications circuits are Class 2
742	Overvoltage Protection	Surge protection for communications circuits
750	Grounding and Bonding	Unified grounding for all limited-energy including communications

What This Means for Contractors

For Structured Cabling Contractors

The work you do doesn't fundamentally change. Cat6 cable is still Cat6 cable. But:

• Reference New Articles: Your code references shift from Chapter 8 to Chapter 7
• Follow Article 720: General requirements now apply consistently
• Unified Inspections: Inspectors will use the same framework for all limited-energy work
• Training Updates: Certifications will reference new article numbers

For Fire Alarm Contractors

Fire alarm (Article 760) was already in Chapter 7. The change means:

• Communications and fire alarm now share general requirements (Article 720)
• Grounding requirements are unified (Article 750)
• Cable specifications are coordinated (Article 722)

For Security/CCTV Contractors

IP camera systems span both power (PoE) and communications. NEC 2026 eliminates the awkward straddling between Chapter 7 and Chapter 8:

• Follow Chapter 7 for all interior wiring
• Chapter 8 only applies if you're bringing service into the building from outside

For Electrical Contractors

If you occasionally do low voltage work, the new structure is actually simpler:

• One set of general requirements (Article 720)
• No need to remember "Chapter 8 is independent"
• Consistent approach across all limited-energy systems

Inspection Implications

More Consistent Enforcement

With Chapter 8 independence removed:

• Inspectors can apply the same standards to all limited-energy work
• No ambiguity about whether communications work falls under general requirements
• Grounding, fire stopping, and cable selection follow unified rules

Transition Period Confusion

Expect some confusion during the transition:

• Inspectors may still reference old article numbers initially
• Training materials will take time to update
• Some jurisdictions will be on older NEC versions while others adopt 2026

Keep both old and new article reference sheets handy during the transition.

Practical Example: Cat6 Installation

Here's how a typical structured cabling installation changes under NEC 2026:

Before NEC 2026

1. Check Article 800 for communications circuit requirements
2. Chapter 8 is independent, so Chapters 1-7 only apply if Article 800 references them
3. Grounding per 800.100
4. Cable selection per 800.179
5. Separation rules per 800.133

After NEC 2026

1. Check Article 720 for general limited-energy requirements
2. Chapters 1-7 apply as modified by Chapter 7
3. Grounding per Article 750
4. Cable selection per Article 722
5. Separation rules per Article 720

The physical work is the same—but the code navigation is different.

The 2029 NEC Preview

NEC 2026 is described as a transitional code. The 2029 edition will complete the restructuring:

• Further cleanup of duplicated content
• Final placement of provisions that are currently in transition
• Complete integration of the limited-energy framework

Expect 2029 to be more polished and easier to navigate as the dust settles from 2026's major reorganization.

Key Takeaways

Question	Answer
Is Chapter 8 still independent?	No. 87 years of independence ended with NEC 2026.
Does Chapter 8 still exist?	Yes, but retitled "Outside and Entering Buildings" with 4 articles instead of 6.
Where did interior comms wiring go?	To Chapter 7, primarily Articles 720, 722, 723, 742, and 750.
Do Chapters 1-7 now apply to comms?	Yes. Communications supplements/modifies Chapters 1-7 like other special articles.
Is this the biggest NEC change ever?	It's the most significant structural change in over 50 years.
When will this affect my work?	When your state adopts NEC 2026 (varies by jurisdiction).

Timeline Perspective

• 1937: Chapter 8 independence established for telephone systems
• 1973: Ethernet invented (36 years after Chapter 8 independence)
• 1983: Ethernet standardized as IEEE 802.3
• 1999: Power over Ethernet introduced
• 2003: PoE standardized as IEEE 802.3af
• 2023: NEC 2023 with Class 4 FMPS added
• 2025: NEC 2026 published, ending Chapter 8 independence

It took 88 years to align communications with the rest of the NEC. The technology world moved much faster than the code.

Stay Ahead of Code Changes

NEC 2026 represents a major shift in how communications systems are governed. State adoption is rolling out over the coming years.

LVN Signal monitors construction permit activity in your area, alerting you to projects as they're filed—so you can stay ahead regardless of which code version is in effect.

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Last updated: February 2026. This article provides general guidance on NEC 2026 structural changes. Always verify current requirements with the official NEC publication and your local AHJ for specific project compliance.