Code Change Summary: Splices are now permitted in the length of free conductor required at boxes.

Having enough wire to work with at a box is important for the electrician who troubleshoots, tests circuitry, or changes a device. For years NEC^® Section 300.14 has existed to ensure exactly that. This section has two basic rules that apply to outlets, junctions, and switch points and an exception:

Rule 1. There must be at least 6 inches of free conductor at each outlet, junction, and switch point, measured from the point in the box where it emerges from its raceway or cable sheath. This is for splices or the connection of luminaires or devices.

Rule 2. For enclosures where the opening is less than 8 inches in any dimension, each conductor must be long enough to extend at least 3 inches outside the enclosure opening.

Exception. Conductors that are not spliced or terminated at the enclosure are not required to comply with 300.14.

In the 2023 NEC^®, Item 1 above has been modified to make it clear that the 6-inch free conductor required at each outlet, junction, and switch point is permitted to be spliced.

The purpose of Section 300.14 is to permit access to the end of the conductor. Whether the conductors are spliced or un-spliced does not affect the length of the free end of the conductor.

This is an important change and will provide relief for situations where a thick backsplash is added at a kitchen or bathroom which can result in the length of free conductors at the outlets being too short to comply with Section 300.14. This will also help for installations where an extension ring is added to provide additional room to an existing enclosure.

Before this change, some electrical inspectors would require the wiring to be replaced with a longer run of wiring instead of allowing a splice in the conductors.

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.