Year of NEC
Publication

New GFCI Locations or Conditions Concerning GFCI Applications
Introduced in NEC Publication

        1971

•      GFCI receptacles required within 15 feet of swimming pool walls
•      All portable swimming pool equipment mus tbe GFCI protected

          1973

•      All outdoor receptacles must be GFCI protected

          1974

•      GFCI protection must be used on construction sites

        1975

•      GFCI protection required for bathrooms,fountain equipment, 120 volt pool lights, and boathouses

         1978

•      Exemption for exterior GFCI outlets located 5′&6″ above the ground
•      GFCI receptacles required for garages and spas (some local jurisdictions also included hydro-spa)

         1981

•      Exemption for garage receptacles for dedicated equipment or not readily accessible (i.e. garage door opener power supply outlet that can not be reached without the ladder)

        1984

•      Replacement of non-grounding receptacles with no grounding conductor
•      Pool cover motors require GFCI
•      GFCI receptacle distance from swimming pool wall extended to 20′

        1987

•      GFCI required or unfinished basements
•      GFCI required for hydro-spa
•      GFCI protection required for kitchen counter top receptacles located within 6′ from the sink

        1990

•      GFCI required in crawlspaces with an exception of sump pumps and any other dedicated equipment

        1993

•      GFCI required for wet bar counter top, within 5′ from the sink
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•      Any receptacle replaced in an area that currently requires GFCI

        1996

•     GFCI protection required for all kitchen counters, not only within 6′ from the sink
•      GFCI required for all exterior outlets except for dedicated deicing tape / cable receptacle
•      Unfinished accessory building at or below grade require GFCI protected receptacles

        1999

•      Exception for dedicated equipment in crawlspace area removed

         2003

•      “Smart Lock”type GFCI receptacles required
•      AFCI-Arc Fault Interrupter breaker must protect bedroom outlets.

        2008

•    Per 2008 NEC(National Electrical Code), ALL of the 110-120 volt, single pole, 15 & 20amp receptacles located in residential garages and accessory buildings are required to be GFI      protected. This means dedicated outlets serving: sump pumps, freezers / other permanently located equipment(which is not easily movable), laundry appliances, garage ceiling   outlets used   for the garage door opener, and anything else previously excluded from this requirement is now included and has to be GFCI protected.