The Code Making Panels for the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code meet for
the last couple of weeks (Jan 15-26, 2024).
One proposed change for 2026 is "Keeping the NEC Relevant - Is Now the
Time to Modernize?"
https://peg.atis.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/NEC-Correlating-Committee-White-Paper-4-6-2023.pdf
It mostly just renumbers/reorganizes the NEC. Old time electricians will
grumble because almost every code number changes.
However,the proposed change also takes data systems out of Chapter 7 -
Special Conditions and seperate Chapter 8 - Communication Systems.
Chapter 8 is currently a stand-alone section traditionally maintained by
communication utilities.
In the U.S., for the last 40 years code enforcement officials mostly
ignored Chapter 8 and communication wiring installation practices. POE is
changing that. Power of Ethernet has morphed data networks into integrated
power, lighting, emergency, life-safety and communication systems.
It will be interesting to see how code enforcement officials reacts to
moving the stand-alone communication wiring installation practices into
the general enforcement part of the NEC.
