Chapter 120 - ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION STANDARDSSUMMARY: Pursuant to authority in 32 M.R.S. §§1153 and 1153-A, this chapter adopts the current edition of the National Electrical Code to which all installations must conform.
SECTION 1. All installations of electrical equipment commencing on or after July 1, 2024 must comply with the 2023 National Electrical Code as adopted by the Board in this Chapter, as well as with all applicable statutes or rules of the State and this Board and all applicable ordinances, orders, rules and regulations of local municipalities.SECTION 2. The Board hereby adopts and incorporates into this chapter by reference the NFPA standard 70, National Electrical Code (2023 edition), Copyright © 2022 National Fire Protection Association, subject to the following amendments and exclusions:1. The Board adopts Article 90.4(D) as amended below:(D)New Products, Constructions or Materials. This Code may require new products, constructions, or materials that may not yet be available at the time the Code is adopted. In such event, the authority having jurisdiction may permit the use of the products, constructions, or materials that comply with the previous two (2) editions of this Code adopted by the jurisdiction.2. The Board adopts Article 100, excepting the definition of Dormitory Unit, which the Board adopts as amended below: ARTICLE 100
Definitions . . .
Dormitory Unit. A building or a space in a building in which group sleeping accommodations are provided for any number of persons who are not members of the same family in one room, or a series of closely associated rooms, under joint occupancy and single management, with or without meals, but without individual cooking facilities. (CMP-2)
3. The Board adopts Article 210.8(A)(6) as amended below: (A)Dwelling Units. All 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles installed in the following locations and supplied by single-phase branch circuits raised 150 volts or less to ground shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel: (6) Kitchens, except for those specific appliances listed in 210.8(D)(8), (9) and (10).4. The Board adopts Article 210.8 (B)(2) as amended below: (B)Other than Dwelling Units. All 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground, 50 amperes or less, and all receptacles supplied by three-phrase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground, 50 amperes or less, installed in the following locations shall be provided with GFCI protection: (2) Kitchens, except for those specific appliances listed in 210.8(D)(8), (9) and (10). 5. The Board adopts Article 210.8(F) as amended below:210.8Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel . . .(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(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. This exception shall expire September 1, 2026.
Exception No. 3: GFCI protection shall not be required for sewer pumps.
Exception No. 4: GFCI protection shall not be required for water pumps.
6. The Board adopts Article 230.2(E) as amended below:230.2Number of Services . . .(E)Identification. Where a building or structure is supplied by more than one service, or any combination of branch circuits, feeders, and services, a permanent plaque or directory shall be installed at each service disconnect location and at each outside electrical meter location denoting all other services, feeders, and branch circuits supplying that building or structure and the area served by each. See 225.37.7. The Board adopts Article 230.85(B) as amended below:(B)Disconnects. Each disconnect shall be a service disconnect.8. The Board adopts Article 334.10(3) as amended below:334.10Uses Permitted. . .(3) Other structures permitted to be of Types III, IV, and V construction. In buildings or structures with interior finished walls and/or ceilings, cables shall be concealed within walls, floors, or ceilings that provide a thermal barrier of material that has at least a 15-minute finish rating as identified in listings of fire rated assemblies.9. The Board does not adopt Article 334.12(A)(2).10. The Board adopts Article 338.12(B)(1) and (2) as amended below: 338.12Uses Not Permitted. . .(B)Underground Service-Entrance Cable. Type USE cable shall not be used under the following conditions or in the following locations:(2) For aboveground installations except where USE cable emerges from the ground and is terminated in an enclosure at an outdoor location and the cable is protected in accordance with 300.5(D)(3) As aerial cable unless it is a multiconductor cable identified for use aboveground and installed as messenger-supported wiring in accordance with 225.10 and Part II of Article 396 Exception: This provision does not apply to USE cable that is dual-rated for interior wiring.
11. The Board adopts Article 400.12(4) as amended below:400.12Uses Not Permitted. Unless specifically permitted in 400.10, flexible cords, flexible cables, cord sets, and power supply cords shall not be used for the following:(4) Where attached to building surfaces Exception to (4): Flexible cord and flexible cable shall be permitted to be attached to building surfaces in accordance with 368.56(B) and 590.4. Flexible cord and cable shall also be permitted to have one connection to the building surface for a suitable tension take-up device. Length of the cord or cable from the supply termination to the take-up device shall be limited to 6' (1.83 m). Strain relief cable grips shall be provided for the cord or cable at the equipment terminations.
12. The Board adopts Article 406.9(C) as amended below:406.9Receptacles in Damp or Wet Locations. . .(C)Bathtub and Shower Space. Receptacles shall not be installed within or directly over a bathtub or shower stall.13. The Board adopts Article 702.4(A)(2)(a) as amended below: 702.4Capacity and Rating. . .(A)System Capacity. . .(2)Automatic Load Connection. For other than single-family dwellings, if the connection of load is automatic, an optional standby system shall comply with 702.4(A)(2)(a) or (A)(2)(b) in accordance with Parts I through IV of Article 220 or by another approved method.(a)Full Load. The standby source shall be capable of supplying the full load that is automatically connected.SECTION 3. Copies of the National Electrical Code, National Fire Protection Association, standard #70 (2023 Edition) may be purchased from: National Fire Protection Association
1 Batterymarch Park, P.O. Box 9101
Quincy, MA 02269-9101
Telephone: 1-800-344-3555
www.nfpa.org
EFFECTIVE DATE:
February 16, 1986 - filing 86-45
AMENDED:
January 10, 1988 - filing 88-2
December 27, 1989 - filing 89-576
March 27, 1993 - filing 93-72
June 10, 1996 - filing 96-257
EFFECTIVE DATE (ELECTRONIC CONVERSION):
November 2, 1996
AMENDED:
July 15, 2000 - filing 2000-267
REPEALED AND REPLACED:
August 28, 2002 - filing 2002-329
August 20, 2005 - filing 2005-328
AMENDED:
September 1, 2008 - filing 2008-361
July 19, 2011 - filing 2011-239
August 20, 2014 - filing 2014-193
November 6, 2017 - filing 2017-170
REPEALED AND REPLACED:
July 2, 2021 - filing 2021-136
REPEALED AND REPLACED:
7/1/2024 - filing 2024- 142STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 32 M.R.S. §§1153 and 1153-A