1. Increased shock protection. The 2017 NEC expands requirements for protection from shock hazards through application of panelboard barriers, tamper-resistant receptacles, and ground-fault circuit-interrupters (GFCIs).
  • 210.8(B) – GFCI protection of single-phase receptacles rated 150 volts (V) to ground or less expanded to include all 50 amperes (A) or less, instead of 20 A or less. Also, 3-phase receptacles 150 V to ground or less and 100 A or less.210.8(B)(9) & (10) – GFCI protection of receptacles expanded from dwelling unit crawl spaces and unfinished basements to now include those same locations in non-dwelling units.
  • 210.8(E) – GFCI is now required for lighting outlets in crawl spaces.
  • 406.12 – Tamper-resistant receptacles have been expanded to 250 V non-locking-type receptacles to a list of new areas that include mobile homes, preschools and elementary education facilities, and other areas where children are likely to be present.
  • 408.3(A)(2) – Barrier requirements are expanded to all service panelboards. No uninsulated, ungrounded service busbars or service terminals can be exposed to inadvertent contact by persons or maintenance equipment.
  • 422.5 – The five appliances that are/have been required to have GFCI protection are now all grouped in this section with a total of five methods permitted to achieve this requirement.
  • 555.3 – Overcurrent protective devices that supply marinas, boatyards, and commercial and non-commercial docking facilities that have ground fault protection not exceeding 30 mA.
  • 682.15 – All outdoor receptacles, in or on floating buildings or structures within the electrical datum plane area, must now have GFCI protection.
  • 690.12 – This section was modified to emphasize rapid shutdown requirements for reducing the shock hazard to emergency responders. Clarity was added to this section by dividing it into four separate subsections as well as other functionality details.