Trade Groups Ask NEC to Delay HVAC GFCI Requirement
Regulation
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America asked the National Electrical Code technical committee in September to push back the September 1, 2026 GFCI deadline. AHRI told the committee that the current timeline doesn't give the industry enough time to fix ongoing compatibility problems between GFCI devices and HVAC equipment.
Survey data from the Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Association shows contractors are already seeing widespread nuisance tripping issues. Both single-stage and variable-speed equipment are affected. These aren't isolated problems. If the deadline stays put, you'll be stuck installing equipment that trips GFCIs without warning. This leads to customer callbacks and lost time on jobs you thought were finished.
Check with your local building department to see if they're enforcing the NEC GFCI requirement for outdoor HVAC equipment installations. Document any nuisance tripping issues you encounter. Report them to your state contractor association.
Key Takeaways:
- AHRI and ACCA requested delay of September 1, 2026 GFCI deadline
- Texas contractors report nuisance trips on single-stage and variable-speed equipment
- Current deadline may force installations with unresolved compatibility issues
