Quick Hits

🎬 NEC 2026 ARTICLE 120 SERIES
PART 3 OF 30 — NEC 120.6 | NONCOINCIDENT LOADS

NEC 120.6 EXPLAINED ⚡
WHAT ARE NONCOINCIDENT LOADS?
joshthesparky4 · Josh The Sparky

⚡ OPENING HOOK

Not every load runs at the same time...

And the NEC accounts for that. ⚠️

🧠 CORE IDEA

⚡ A noncoincident load is a condition where two or more electrical loads are not expected—or not allowed—to operate at the same time.

Instead of adding both loads together, the NEC may allow using only the largest load in the calculation.

This prevents overestimating demand while still maintaining safety.

⚡ CODE CONNECTION

NEC 120.6 allows you to use only the largest load when:

✅ Two or more loads are unlikely to operate simultaneously
OR
✅ Listed equipment is designed to prevent simultaneous operation

The key requirement is verification:

You must confirm that the loads cannot run together.

📌 REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE

⚡ Electric heat vs air conditioning

If the system is designed so that heating and cooling cannot operate at the same time:

You do NOT add both loads.

Instead:

⚡ Use the larger of the two loads in the calculation

But only if the control system or design actually prevents simultaneous operation.

📌 CORE TAKEAWAY

⚡ Noncoincident loads are not assumed—they must be justified.

⚡ Only one load is counted when simultaneous operation is not possible or not likely.

⚡ Proper verification is required before applying this rule.

⚡ FINAL LINE

Just because two loads exist...

Doesn’t mean they both count. ⚡

#NEC120 #Article120 #LoadCalculations #Electrician #ElectricalCode #CodeStudy #ElectricianLife #NEC2026