Several counties have distributed emails stating that the State of Florida will adopt the 9th Edition of the Florida Building Code on December 31, 2026. It is important to note that this adoption will incorporate the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), not the 2026 NEC.
As a follow-up to the AC GFCI protection discussion, when the Florida Building Code (FBC) adopts the 9th Edition, the requirement for GFCI protection on AC compressors will be eliminated. See the excerpt below from the 2026 FBC.
2026 Florida Building Code 2026 Ed. SECTION E3408— GFCI PROTECTION
E3408.1
NFPA 70-23: National Electrical Code, Article 210 (Branch Circuits), Section 210.8, Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel, is amended to read as follows:
210.8(F) Outdoor Outlets. For dwellings, all outdoor outlets, other than those covered in 210.8(A), Exception No. 1, including outlets installed in the following locations, and supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground, 50 amperes or less, shall be provided with GFCI protection:
(1) Garages that have floors located at or below grade level
(2) Accessory buildings
(3) Boathouses
If equipment supplied by an outlet covered under the requirements of this section is replaced, the outlet shall be supplied with GFCI protection.
Exception No. 1: GFCI protection shall not be required on lighting outlets other than those covered in 210.8(C).
Exception No. 2: GFCI protection shall not be required for listed HVAC equipment.
Till next time be safe work safe
Jake