Sparky's Journal

📅 March 14, 2026

Common Acronyms in the 2026 NEC

 list of the most common acronyms used in the 2026 NEC

This is a study reference—not a substitute for the NEC. Always verify with the current code book.

Most Important

• AFCI — Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (Art. 210)

• GFCI — Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (Art. 210.8)

• OCPD — Overcurrent Protective Device (Art. 100)

• EGC — Equipment Grounding Conductor (Art. 100)

• GEC — Grounding Electrode Conductor (Art. 100)

• SPD — Surge-Protective Device (Art. 242)

• EVSE — Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (Art. 625)

• ESS — Energy Storage System (Art. 100)

General Terms

• AC — Alternating Current

• DC — Direct Current

• AHJ — Authority Having Jurisdiction

• OCPD — Overcurrent Protective Device

Protection & Safety

• AFCI — Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (Art. 210)

• GFCI — Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (Art. 100, 210.8)

• GFPE — Ground-Fault Protection of Equipment (Art. 215, 230, 240, 555)

• GFDI — Ground-Fault Detector-Interrupter, DC (Art. 690)

• SPGFCI — Special Purpose GFCI (Art. 100)

• LCDI — Leakage-Current Detector-Interrupter (Art. 440)

• SPD — Surge-Protective Device (Art. 242)

Emergency & Critical Systems

• EPS — Emergency Power Supply (Art. 100)

• EPSS — Emergency Power Supply System (Art. 100)

• SEPSS — Stored-Energy Power Supply System (Art. 100)

• UPS — Uninterruptible Power Supply (Art. 701, 702)

• COPS — Critical Operations Power Systems (Art. 708)

• BCELTS — Branch-Circuit Emergency Lighting Transfer Switch (Art. 700)

• ELCD — Emergency Lighting Control Device (Art. 100)

• DCEL — Directly Controlled Emergency Luminaire (Art. 700)

Energy, Solar & Storage

• ESS — Energy Storage System (Art. 100)

• FESS — Flywheel Energy Storage System (Art. 706)

• PV — Photovoltaic (Art. 690)

• PCS — Power Control System (Art. 100)

• EMS — Energy Management System (Art. 100)

Electric Vehicles & New Tech

• EV — Electric Vehicle (Art. 625)

• EVSE — Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (Art. 625)

• EVPE — Electric Vehicle Power Export Equipment (Art. 625)

• ESV — Electric Self-Propelled Vehicle (Art. 627)

• ESVSE — ESV Supply Equipment (Art. 627)

• ESVPE — ESV Power Export Equipment (Art. 627)

• WPT — Wireless Power Transfer (Art. 625)

• WPTE — Wireless Power Transfer Equipment (Art. 625)

Wiring Methods & Conduit

• EMT — Electrical Metallic Tubing (Art. 358)

• IMC — Intermediate Metal Conduit (Art. 342)

• RMC — Rigid Metal Conduit (Art. 344)

• FMC — Flexible Metal Conduit (Art. 348)

• LFMC — Liquidtight Flexible Metal Conduit (Art. 350)

• ENT — Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing (Art. 362)

• PVC — Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride Conduit (Art. 352)

• RTRC — Reinforced Thermosetting Resin Conduit (Art. 355)

• HDPE — High-Density Polyethylene Conduit (Art. 353)

Grounding, Conductors & Systems

• EGC — Equipment Grounding Conductor (Art. 100)

• GEC — Grounding Electrode Conductor (Art. 100)

• IBT — Intersystem Bonding Termination (Art. 100)

• CI — Circuit Integrity Cable (Art. 772)

• NPLFA — Non-Power-Limited Fire Alarm Circuit (Art. 760)

• PLFA — Power-Limited Fire Alarm Circuit (Art. 760)

Control, Monitoring & IT

• SCADA — Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

• ITE — Information Technology Equipment

• NIU — Network Interface Unit

• MCS — Microgrid Control System

• MID — Microgrid Interconnect Device

• MDC — Modular Data Center (Art. 646)

Cable Types (Show Up a Lot)

• Type NM / NM-B / NMC — Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable (Art. 334)

• Type MC — Metal-Clad Cable (Art. 330)

• Type AC — Armored Cable (Art. 320)

• Type UF — Underground Feeder Cable (Art. 340)

• Type USE — Underground Service Entrance Cable (Art. 338)

• Type SE — Service Entrance Cable (Art. 338)

• Type MI — Mineral-Insulated Cable (Art. 332)

• Type TC / PLTC — Tray Cable (Art. 336)

• Type ITC — Instrumentation Tray Cable (Art. 335)

• Type MV — Medium Voltage Cable

Devices & Misc.

• TR — Tamper-Resistant (406.12)

• WR — Weather-Resistant

• TRU — Transport Refrigerated Unit (Art. 626)

• VAM — Valve Actuator Motor