Outdoor HVAC GFCI Requirements & State Guidance | ACCA

 

Outdoor HVAC GFCI Requirements

Tools, Training, and State-by-State Guidance

On September 1, outdoor HVAC equipment lost its exemption from GFCI protection. Roughly 22 states have delayed or deleted the requirement, but not all jurisdictions have. This means that many HVAC contractors may now be required to have GFCI protection on outdoor listed HVAC equipment.

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⚠ GFCI Exemption Expired on September 1 ⚠
 

The National Electrical Code (NEC) has required GFCIs on outdoor outlets since 2020, but listed HVAC equipment has been exempted while the industry worked toward a fix. That exemption now expired, and it covers hardwired units, not just receptacles...depending on the jurisdiction.

Some single-speed and variable-speed or inverter-driven equipment still trips standard GFCIs when there's nothing wrong with the installation. High-frequency GFCIs are reaching the market, but they haven't been proven reliable in field trials or through a full cooling season across the various equipment types you install.

ACCA and other industry groups have asked the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which writes the code, for more time. About 22 states have already delayed or deleted the requirement on their own, so what applies to your jobs depends on where you work.

Whether you're an ACCA member or visiting for the first time, use the resources below to understand the change, check what applies in your state, and prepare your team.

Advocacy

ACCA'S ACTIONS ON THE GFCI ISSUE

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QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

The National Electrical Code® (NEC®) requirements for ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection of outdoor HVAC equipment continue to evolve. ACCA is working with industry partners to address equipment compatibility, unwanted GFCI tripping, product availability, enforcement, and the potential life-safety consequences associated with loss of heating or cooling.

This FAQ is intended to help contractors, code officials, and other HVAC industry stakeholders understand NEC Section 210.8(F), determine whether it applies in their jurisdiction, understand high-frequency (HF) GFCI technology, and follow ongoing industry efforts.

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SHARE YOUR GFCI FIELD EXPERIENCE

Tell us what you're seeing in the field — including the installs running without trouble. What you report informs what ACCA takes to NFPA and to state code officials.

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QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

The National Electrical Code® (NEC®) requirements for ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection of outdoor HVAC equipment continue to evolve. ACCA is working with industry partners to address equipment compatibility, unwanted GFCI tripping, product availability, enforcement, and the potential life-safety consequences associated with loss of heating or cooling.

This FAQ is intended to help contractors, code officials, and other HVAC industry stakeholders understand NEC Section 210.8(F), determine whether it applies in their jurisdiction, understand high-frequency (HF) GFCI technology, and follow ongoing industry efforts.

State-by-State

CHECK GFCI REQUIREMENTS IN YOUR STATE

NEC adoption and enforcement happen at the state and local level. HARDI tracks which states have adopted, amended, or deleted the outdoor HVAC GFCI requirement — check yours before you quote the next job.

View the HARDI State Tracker
HVAC technician checking electrical equipment
The Full Story

BACKGROUND: HOW THE HVAC GFCI REQUIREMENT GOT HERE