NYC's Monumental Leap Towards Electrical Safety

New York City has taken a major step forward in modernizing the safety of its electrical infrastructure – one that will safeguard the city and its residence for years to come.

As enacted by Local Law 128 late last year, NYC has decided to update from the 2008 National Electrical Code (NEC) to the 2020 National Electrical Code – a 12 year progression to one of the city’s most critical construction standards. This code will be adopted with some NYC amendments at the end of 2025.

This update introduces a wide range of modifications to both residential and commercial spaces. Among the most notable are more stringent design requirements for life safety and emergency systems, wider application of surge suppression and ground fault protection devices, and more in depth requirements for arc flash labeling mitigation.

One of the most impactful changes, however, centers around filing requirements for electrical systems. Under the 2008 NEC, the only projects requiring electrical filing with the Department of Buildings were those involving high voltage systems (5kV and above), and high amperage systems (generally 3000A equipment and higher at 120/208V).

Under the NYC amendments to the 2020 NEC, most electrical work must be filed with the DOB, bringing the trade into alignment with how Mechanical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection design reviews are regulated.

Additionally, NYC has committed to a regular 3-year code update cycle, ensuring future code revisions will keep pace with advances in technology and best practices.

This code update is sure to bring about numerous changes to the way spaces are designed, built, and utilized. For an in-depth analysis on any particular topics, we encourage you to reach out to TLE!