2023 Code Year: NEC 590.6

NEC Article 590 stipulates the electrical safety measures for temporary power. Learn more about the ground fault protection required at your construction site.

What is NEC 590?

NEC Article 590 and all of its subsets relate to temporary installations. This includes the electrical protection provisions for all temporary electrical power and lighting installations. Subset 590.6 (and more specifically 590.6(A)) dives into the mandated GFCI requirements for temporary powered products. This subset, and all of its extensions, include:

NEC Article 590.6

This section outlines ground-fault protection requirements for personnel working with temporary wiring installations in various environments such as demolition, construction, remodeling, repair, and maintenance. The Article also states that installations must comply with requirements set in 590.6(A) and (B).

NEC Article 590.6(A)

This section specifies that receptacle outlets used for temporary power must comply with the requirements of 590.6(A)(1) through 590.6(A)(3). These sections state:

This part applies to receptacle outlets not part of permanent wiring. It includes 125VAC, single-phase, up to 30-Amp receptacles used by personnel, which must include GFCI protection. Portable listed cord sets/devices with GFCI protection must be used.
This section applies to existing receptacles that are part of permanent infrastructure. These must also provide GFCI protection for personnel for 125VAC, single-phase, up to 30-Amp receptacle outlets using portable listed cord sets/devices.
This part applies to receptacles integral to a 15kW or smaller portable generator. These receptacles must provide listed GFCI protection. If used in wet or damp locations, they must follow Article 406(A) and (B) requirements for weather resistance and protection.

NEC Article 590.6(B)

This section provides similar rules and regulations as 590.6(A), but applies to other receptacle outlets not specifically covered in subsection (A).

What does this Code mean?

All and all, NEC 590 dictates the standards for electrical protection of temporary power supply operations, which also tie in similarly with OSHA standards in this instance. The section also makes sure to list when and where you need ground fault protection on a job site, which in most cases is everything under 125VAC and 30 Amps needs to have Class A (6mA) GFCI protection.