Code Change Summary: A new code section was added to provide general requirements that apply to all reconditioned equipment.

The 2020 NEC^® saw a new definition in Article 100 for the term “Reconditioned” as well as many new sections throughout various articles with language about what types of equipment can or cannot be reconditioned.

In the 2023 NEC^®, general requirements were added in new Section 110.20 which will apply to all reconditioning of equipment, as well as provide clarity for those NEC^® articles where reconditioning is not specifically mentioned.

The first sentence in new section 110.20 simply states that “reconditioned equipment shall be permitted except where prohibited elsewhere in this Code”. Simply put, if an NEC^® article is silent on the reconditioning of specific equipment, then reconditioning is permitted.

The remaining language in 110.20 includes two separate categories for equipment that will be reconditioned:

(A) Equipment the NEC^® requires to be listed

(B) Equipment NOT required in the NEC^® to be listed

If the equipment requiring reconditioning does not fall into either category above, Section 110.20(C) places the responsibility to approve the reconditioned equipment in the hands of the AHJ. When this occurs, the reconditioner must provide the AHJ with documentation of the changes that occurred during reconditioning of the equipment.

The second sentence in new Section 110.20 requires reconditioned equipment to be reconditioned with identified replacement parts, verified under applicable standards, that are either provided by the original equipment manufacturer or that are designed by an engineer who is experienced in the design of replacement parts for the type of equipment being reconditioned.

Reconditioning of electrical equipment means restoring it to operating conditions. Reconditioning is considered a different process than normal servicing of equipment that remains within a facility.

In the past, the NEC^® has not prohibited installing used, reconditioned electrical equipment, but Section 104.9.1 of the International Building Code has required the following:

104.9.1 Used materials and equipment. Materials that are reused shall comply with the requirements of this code for new materials. Used equipment and devices shall not be reused unless approved by the building official.

When reconditioning is permitted by the NEC^® and performed under the purview of a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) such as UL, using an established reconditioning program, the equipment is required to be rebuilt to the most current product safety standard which would apply to new equipment.

Product safety standards are constantly updated as the industry changes and new technologies emerge. With each revision to a safety standard, additional safety requirements are added or changed to include things that may not have been addressed in the previous edition of the standard.

UL 891 for example is the Standard for Switchboards. The current version of UL 891 dated July of 2019 (12^th edition) is very different than the 1^st edition that appeared in December of 1935.

NEC Section 408.2(B) permits the reconditioning of switchboards. If an old switchboard was originally listed (certified) using the 1^st edition of UL 891, it is unlikely that this same switchboard would be able to pass all required tests if it was reconditioned and subjected to the newer testing requirements in the latest edition of the same standard.

The NEC^® does not specifically require switchboards to be listed unless the switchboard is used as service equipment. The reconditioning of an unlisted switchboard (not used as service equipment) would place the approval for the reconditioning under the purview of NEC^® Section 110.20(B) or (C).

Keep in mind that the NEC^® does not specifically require listing for many products, but the vast majority of electrical equipment is listed whether required by the NEC^® or not. The options given in 110.20(A) and (B) are triggered by the words “required to be listed”.

An example might be an electrical cabinet covered in Article 312. There is no current language in Article 312 that says all cabinets are “required to be listed” by an NRTL but cabinets usually are listed regardless. There is language in Section 312.2 that requires cabinets to be weatherproof if installed in a wet location. If a cabinet has not been through the product certification process in order to obtain a listing mark, there is no way to know if the cabinet has been tested and verified to be weatherproof as required in Section 312.2. Regardless, a listed cabinet being reconditioned would likely fall into the category of “equipment not required to be listed” since Article 312 is silent on requiring cabinets to be listed.

During the 2^nd draft meetings of the 2023 NEC^® development process a public comment was rejected by CMP-1 that would have deleted most of the language in this new section. Upon rejecting the public comment, the committee stated that guidance is needed for what is acceptable to use for reconditioning the equipment since not all equipment parts may be readily available. Not all equipment has a reconditioning program through a NRTL that provides for certification of the reconditioned equipment, therefore, the options in the revised language can guide the AHJ and Code users into what is considered acceptable.

Below is a preview of the NEC^®. See the actual NEC^® text at NFPA.ORG for the complete code section. Once there, click on their link to free access to the 2023 NEC^® edition of NFPA 70.