The 2026 National Electrical Code is barely out of its box, and the code development process is already producing corrections. EC&M reported that the National Fire Protection Association released three proposed Tentative Interim Amendments, known as TIAs, to the 2026 NEC, each targeting a different section of the code. Electricians who assume a freshly published code edition is a finished product should know that TIAs exist precisely because gaps and conflicts surface only after a code hits the field. All three TIAs carry comment closing dates in July, which means the proposed language could see further revision before final action, but the underlying issues they address are worth understanding now.
What a TIA Actually Does to the Code
A Tentative Interim Amendment is a fast-track mechanism the NFPA uses to correct an urgent problem in a published code without waiting for the next full revision cycle. TIAs typically address an omission, a conflict between sections, or language that produces an unintended and unsafe outcome once contractors start applying it in the field. Once approved, a TIA becomes effective code language immediately, ahead of the next scheduled edition. Electricians working under the 2026 NEC should treat active TIAs as a preview of language likely to become mandatory well before the 2029 cycle.
TIA 1903: A Practical Exception for Emergency Transfer Equipment
The first proposal, submitted by Megan Hayes and Bryan Holland of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, targets Section 700.6(C). The current 2026 NEC language requires bypass and isolation for transfer equipment without an exception, which the proposal argues leaves large occupancies without a practical way to maintain emergency power systems when the transfer equipment itself fails or needs service. TIA 1903 would add an exception allowing maintenance without bypass and isolation under four specific conditions: dependent processes can be safely disabled, the building is unoccupied with fully functional fire protection, temporary alternate means are in place, or a written emergency plan addressing the hazard has been developed and made available to the authority having jurisdiction. The full text of TIA 1903 is available through NFPA, and the comment period on this proposal closes July 27, 2026.
TIA 1912: Correcting EVSE Receptacle Requirements in Article 624
The second proposal, submitted by Bryan Seymour of Beta Technologies, addresses Section 624.44(A) and represents the most substantial of the three changes for contractors doing EV charging installs. The proposal argues that language already adopted elsewhere in the code, specifically in Article 625, was never carried over into the newly created Article 624 covering electric vehicle supply equipment, creating a conflict between the two articles. Key additions in the proposal include allowing certain 30A, 50A, and 60A receptacles when specifically listed for EVSE and wireless power transfer equipment use, adding provisions for 277V single-phase receptacles, adding provisions for 277/480V three-phase locking pin-and-sleeve receptacles rated 60A or 100A, and clarifying attachment plug sizing for cord-and-plug-connected equipment. The full text of TIA 1912 is available through NFPA, and the comment period on TIA 1912 closes July 8, 2026, the earliest of the three deadlines.
TIA 1915: Aligning Grounding Conductor Tables With UL Standards
The third proposal, submitted by Daleep Mohla of DCM Electrical Consulting Services, is narrower in scope but still worth flagging for anyone doing equipment grounding conductor sizing. It seeks to adjust the headings on Tables 270.122(B)(1), (B)(2), and (B)(3), arguing that the current headings do not align with the corresponding reference tables in UL standards. The stated goal is avoiding confusion between the NEC and the UL documentation electricians and inspectors cross-reference during equipment grounding conductor selection. The full text of TIA 1915 is available through NFPA, and this proposal carries the second earliest comment deadline, closing July 7, 2026.
Comparing the Three Proposed TIAs
| TIA | NEC Section | What It Changes | Comment Deadline |
| 1903 | 700.6(C) | Adds an exception for emergency transfer equipment maintenance under defined safety conditions | July 27, 2026 |
| 1912 | 624.44(A) | Expands allowable EVSE and WPTE receptacle types and clarifies attachment plug sizing | July 8, 2026 |
| 1915 | Table 270.122(B)(1)-(3) | Corrects table headings to align with UL standard references | July 7, 2026 |
What Electrical Contractors Should Do Now
- Track the July comment deadlines for all three TIAs, since a comment window closing does not guarantee final action, but missing it forecloses input.
- Review any EVSE installs already planned or underway against the current Article 624 receptacle language, and flag jobs where TIA 1912’s proposed additions could change the approved receptacle list.
- Confirm with the local authority having jurisdiction whether the jurisdiction has adopted the 2026 NEC yet, since TIA relevance depends on which code edition is active locally.
- Cross-check equipment grounding conductor sizing against both the NEC table and the UL reference it corresponds to until TIA 1915 resolves the heading discrepancy.
- Document any emergency power maintenance work under 700.6 carefully in the meantime, since TIA 1903’s exception is not yet finalized.
Products for EVSE and Emergency Power Work
EVSE receptacle work sits at the center of TIA 1912, and stocking the right NEMA configurations keeps a crew ready regardless of how the final language lands. The Leviton 1450R 50A heavy-duty EV charging receptacle is built specifically for plug-in EV charging applications, while the Leviton 279-S00 industrial-grade NEMA 14-50R receptacle and the Eaton 5754N NEMA 14-50R receptacle round out the common 50A configurations electricians reach for on residential and light commercial EV charging jobs.
For work touching Section 700.6 and emergency power transfer, the Generac HomeLink 30A manual transfer switch kit covers smaller residential backup setups, and the Generac 200A service entrance rated automatic transfer switch handles whole-house transfer on larger installs. On the grounding side addressed by TIA 1915, SupplyHouse.com’s grounding clamps and clips category covers the connectors electricians need to keep equipment grounding conductor terminations consistent with both the NEC table and the UL reference it points to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Tentative Interim Amendment?
A TIA is a fast-track NFPA mechanism for correcting an urgent problem in a published code edition without waiting for the next full revision cycle. Once approved, it becomes effective code language ahead of schedule.
Which TIA affects EV charger installations most directly?
TIA 1912, which revises Section 624.44(A) to expand allowable EVSE and wireless power transfer equipment receptacle types and correct a conflict between Articles 624 and 625.
Why does Article 624 conflict with Article 625 in the first place?
According to the TIA submission, language already accepted for the broader code revision was inadvertently left out of newly created Article 624 when it was built using Article 625 as its basis, creating conflicting requirements between the two.
What does TIA 1903 change about emergency power maintenance?
It proposes an exception to the bypass and isolation requirement in Section 700.6(C) for transfer equipment maintenance, applicable only when specific safety conditions are met and documented.
Does TIA 1915 change any electrical requirements?
No. It corrects table headings in Section 270.122 to align terminology with referenced UL standards, addressing a documentation clarity issue rather than a technical requirement.
Should an EVSE install underway right now be paused pending TIA 1912?
Not necessarily, but confirming that planned receptacle types comply with current Article 624 language, and staying aware of the proposed additions, helps avoid a rework if TIA 1912 is approved before project closeout.
How can an electrician submit a comment on one of these TIAs?
The full TIA documents are available through NFPA’s published filings referenced in EC&M’s coverage, and NFPA’s comment process is open to any interested party during the stated comment window.
Do TIAs apply nationally the same way the base NEC does?
A TIA modifies the NEC document itself once approved, but actual enforceability still depends on which code edition a state or local jurisdiction has adopted and whether that jurisdiction incorporates interim amendments automatically.
What happens if a TIA is not approved?
If a TIA fails to gain approval, the original 2026 NEC language remains in effect until the next full revision cycle addresses the issue, which for the NEC follows a three-year schedule.
Current Events Worth Watching
A freshly published code edition is never really finished, and the three proposed TIAs to the 2026 NEC are proof. EVSE receptacle language, emergency transfer equipment maintenance, and grounding table headings might sound like a mixed bag, but each one addresses a real conflict that surfaced only after the code met the field. Tracking the July comment deadlines costs little and protects against a rework nobody wants to eat later. Staying current on interim amendments is part of the job now, not an afterthought for the next code cycle.
