630.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.
Code Change Summary: New code section requires GFCI protection for specific receptacles in work areas where welders are used.
In the 2023 NEC®, a public input (PI) was accepted to require GFCI protection for all 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles for electrical hand tools or portable lighting equipment, supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground, and installed in work areas where welders are operated.
This new code section aligns with requirements in Section 210.8(B)(10) which requires GFCI protection for receptacles installed in garages, accessory buildings, service bays, and similar areas.
Work areas where welders are typically operated are outside under open canopies, in open garages, or other similar areas and portable electric hand tools usually accompany the welding process.
Additionally, it is not uncommon in an area where welding is taking place to see electrical cords of portable tools laying on the ground and being stepped on or being damaged from hot slag falling from a fresh weld and burning a hole into a nearby electrical cord.
Requiring GFCI protection for receptacles in a welding work area will provide an extra measure of safety for the worker.
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.
2020 Code Language:
This code section did not exist.
2023 Code Language:
N 630.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel. All 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles for electrical hand tools or portable lighting equipment, supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to ground, installed in work areas where welders are operated shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.