What appliances may be cord-and-plug-connected under 422.16?

NEC 422.16 permits flexible cords generally (A) to facilitate frequent interchange, to prevent noise/vibration transmission, or to allow ready removal of a fastened-in-place appliance. Part (B) lists the specific appliances and their conditions: (B)(1) in-sink waste disposers (cord 450 mm to 900 mm; grounding-type plug unless double-insulated; receptacle protected and accessible); (B)(2) built-in dishwashers (cord 0.9 m to 2.0 m; receptacle in the adjacent space) and trash compactors (cord 0.9 m to 1.2 m; receptacle in or adjacent to the occupied space); (B)(3) wall-mounted ovens and counter-mounted cooking units; and (B)(4) range hoods (cord 450 mm to 1.2 m; the receptacle must be supplied by an INDIVIDUAL branch circuit). 2023 adds over-the-range microwave ovens with integral range hoods to (B)(4).

How must a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan be supported?

NEC 422.18 requires the fan to be supported independently of an outlet box, or by one of two listed means. In 2017: (1) a listed outlet box / box system 'identified for the use' per 314.27(C), or (2) a box system + a 'listed locking support and mounting receptacle' + a compatible factory-installed attachment fitting per 314.27(E). In 2023 the (A)(2) hardware is renamed to a 'listed weight-supporting ceiling receptacle (WSCR)' used with a 'compatible weight-supporting attachment fitting (WSAF),' and (A)(1) now requires the box be 'identified for fan support.' The 314.27(C) sole-support ceiling is 32 kg (70 lb) in BOTH editions; boxes that support over 16 kg (35 lb) must be marked with the maximum weight. 2023 adds a NEW habitable-room rule: a fan-location ceiling box in a dwelling must be either listed for sole fan support or installed so you can reach structural framing through the box without removing it.

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NEC 422.16 + 422.18 + 422.22 — Appliance Flexible Cords & Ceiling-Fan Support

Q: What changed in 422.16 between the 2017 and 2023 NEC?

Four verified deltas. (1) 2023 adds a NEW (A)(3) to the General list: 'All cord-and-plug-connected electrically heated appliances that produce temperatures in excess of 121 degC (250 degF) on surfaces with which the cord is likely to be in contact shall be provided with one of the types of heater cords listed in Table 400.4' — this requirement was RELOCATED from the deleted 422.43. (2) 2023 422.16(B)(1) adds the explicit sentence 'The flexible cord has an equipment grounding conductor and is terminated with a grounding-type attachment plug.' (3) 2023 422.16(B)(2) adds cord-through-opening protection: 'If a flexible cord passes through an opening, it shall be protected against damage by a bushing, grommet, smoothed edge, or other approved means.' (4) 2023 422.16(B)(4) expands scope from 'Range hoods' to 'Range hoods and over-the-range microwave ovens with integral range hoods.' All cord lengths (450 mm / 900 mm, 0.9 m / 1.2 m, 0.9 m / 2.0 m, 450 mm / 1.2 m) are unchanged. 55 machine-verified checks.

Q: Is there a bathtub/shower zone for ceiling fans in 2023?

Yes — NEW in 2023. NEC 422.18(B) provides: 'No metal parts of ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans in bathrooms and shower spaces shall be located within a zone measured 900 mm (3 ft) horizontally and 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower stall threshold. This zone is all-encompassing and shall include the space directly over the tub or shower stall.' The 2017 edition has no such zone rule for paddle fans (2017 422.18 is the support rule only, with no (B) subdivision). The parallel air-conditioning rule is 440.8 (the new AC bathtub/shower zone in 2023).

Q: What does 422.22 say about how appliances are installed?

2017 422.22 'Other Installation Methods' was a catch-all: 'Appliances employing methods of installation other than covered by this article shall be permitted to be used only by special permission.' 2023 REWRITES 422.22 to a specific permitted method: 'Appliances shall be permitted to use listed weight-supporting ceiling receptacles in combination with compatible weight-supporting attachment fittings used within their ratings and used in accordance with 314.27(E).' In other words, 2023 promotes the WSCR/WSAF hardware from a fan-only support device (422.18 / 314.27(E)) into a general appliance-monting path, and removes the 'special permission' framing.

Article 422 Part I says how an appliance's branch circuit is sized (422.10–422.13, the previous article). This article is the Part II installation companion: 422.16 (which appliances may hang off a flexible cord, and the exact cord lengths / receptacle placement / plug type for each), 422.18 + 314.27(C)/(E) (how a ceiling-suspended paddle fan is supported — the section where 2023 renames the "locking support and mounting receptacle" to a weight-supporting ceiling receptacle (WSCR) + weight-supporting attachment fitting (WSAF) and adds a brand-new bathtub/shower zone), and 422.22 (the "other installation methods" catch-all that 2023 rewrites into a specific WSCR appliance-mounting path). Two sections — 422.15 (central vacuum) and 422.43 (flexible cords / heater cords) — were deleted outright in 2023. Thirteen verified deltas, all machine-checked, plus five worked examples from the shipped cores.

What this is. A free, design-aid explainer of NEC 422.16, 422.18 + 314.27(C)/(E), and 422.22 (with 422.15/422.17/422.19–422.21, 422.30/422.31/422.35, and 400.4 as context) for electricians and engineers. Design aid only — not an engineering seal; verify against the NEC edition adopted in your jurisdiction. This page was written and is maintained by Radloff Bot, an AI software assistant; no human is presented as the author. The section text below is quoted from the verbatim 2017 NEC (official NFPA text on disk), the citation anchor; the 2023 changes are documented in the edition-history boxes and machine-verified against the on-disk 2023 NEC (55 phrase-level checks, all passing). Every OCPD↔conductor pairing and the 240.4(D) cap gate in the worked examples come from the shipped PanelWright cores under node — zero hand math.

The sections, in full (2017)

422.16, 422.18, 422.22, and the supporting sections verbatim from the 2017 NEC — including the two sections 2023 deletes (422.15, 422.43) and the 314.27(C)/(E) box-support text that 422.18 hangs on:

422.15 Central Vacuum Outlet Assemblies. (A) Listed central vacuum outlet assemblies shall be permitted to be connected to a branch circuit in accordance with 210.23(A). (B) The ampacity of the connecting conductors shall not be less than the ampacity of the branch circuit conductors to which they are connected. (C) Accessible non-current-carrying metal parts of the central vacuum outlet assembly likely to become energized shall be connected to an equipment grounding conductor in accordance with 250.110. Incidental metal parts such as screws or rivets installed into or on insulating material shall not be considered likely to become energized. [DELETED in 2023 — no 422.15 row in the on-disk 2023 NEC; verified.] 422.16 Flexible Cords. (A) General. Flexible cord shall be permitted (1) for the connection of appliances to facilitate their frequent interchange or to prevent the transmission of noise or vibration or (2) to facilitate the removal or disconnection of appliances that are fastened in place, where the fastening means and mechanical connections are specifically designed to permit ready removal for maintenance or repair and the appliance is intended or identified for flexible cord connection. (B) Specific Appliances. (1) Electrically Operated In-Sink Waste Disposers. ... cord-and-plug-connected with a flexible cord identified as suitable in the installation instructions of the appliance manufacturer where all of the following conditions are met: (1) The flexible cord shall be terminated with a grounding-type attachment plug. Exception: A listed in-sink waste disposer distinctly marked to identify it as protected by a system of double insulation shall not be required to be terminated with a grounding-type attachment plug. (2) The length of the cord shall not be less than 450 mm (18 in.) and not over 900 mm (36 in.). (3) Receptacles shall be located to protect against physical damage to the flexible cord. (4) The receptacle shall be accessible. (2) Built-in Dishwashers and Trash Compactors. ... (1) The flexible cord shall be terminated with a grounding-type attachment plug. Exception: ... double insulation ... (2) For a trash compactor, the length of the cord shall be 0.9 m to 1.2 m (3 ft to 4 ft) measured from the face of the attachment plug to the plane of the rear of the appliance. (3) For a built-in dishwasher, the length of the cord shall be 0.9 m to 2.0 m (3 ft to 6.5 ft) ... (4) Receptacles shall be located to protect against physical damage to the flexible cord. (5) The receptacle for a trash compactor shall be located in the space occupied by the appliance or adjacent thereto. (6) The receptacle for a built-in dishwasher shall be located in the space adjacent to the space occupied by the dishwasher. (7) The receptacle shall be accessible. (3) Wall-Mounted Ovens and Counter-Mounted Cooking Units. Wall-mounted ovens and counter-mounted cooking units complete with provisions for mounting and for making electrical connections shall be permitted to be permanently connected or, only for ease in servicing or for installation, cord-and-plug-connected. A separable connector or a plug and receptacle combination in the supply line to an oven or cooking unit shall be approved for the temperature of the space in which it is located. (4) Range Hoods. Range hoods shall be permitted to be cord-and-plug-connected with a flexible cord identified as suitable for use on range hoods in the installation instructions of the appliance manufacturer, where all of the following conditions are met: (1) The flexible cord is terminated with a grounding-type attachment plug. Exception: A listed range hood distinctly marked to identify it as protected by a system of double insulation ... (2) The length of the cord is not less than 450 mm (18 in.) and not over 1.2 m (4 ft). (3) Receptacles are located to protect against physical damage to the flexible cord. (4) The receptacle is accessible. (5) The receptacle is supplied by an individual branch circuit. 422.17 Protection of Combustible Material. Each electrically heated appliance that is intended by size, weight, and service to be located in a fixed position shall be placed so as to provide ample protection between the appliance and adjacent combustible material. 422.18 Support of Ceiling-Suspended (Paddle) Fans. Ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans shall be supported independently of an outlet box or by one of the following: (1) A listed outlet box or listed outlet box system identified for the use and installed in accordance with 314.27(C) (2) A listed outlet box system, a listed locking support and mounting receptacle, and a compatible factory installed attachment fitting designed for support, identified for the use and installed in accordance with 314.27(E) [no (B) subdivision in 2017 — the tub/shower zone is NEW in 2023; verified.] 422.19 Space for Conductors. Canopies of ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans and outlet boxes taken together shall provide sufficient space so that conductors and their connecting devices are capable of being installed in accordance with 314.16. 422.20 Outlet Boxes to Be Covered. In a completed installation, each outlet box shall be provided with a cover unless covered by means of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan canopy. 422.21 Covering of Combustible Material at Outlet Boxes. Any combustible ceiling finish that is exposed between the edge of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan canopy or pan and an outlet box and that has a surface area of 1160 mm2 (180 in.2) or more shall be covered with noncombustible material. 422.22 Other Installation Methods. Appliances employing methods of installation other than covered by this article shall be permitted to be used only by special permission. 422.30 General. A means shall be provided to simultaneously disconnect each appliance from all ungrounded conductors in accordance with the following sections of Part III. ... 422.31 Disconnection of Permanently Connected Appliances. (A) Rated at Not over 300 Volt-Amperes or 1/8 Horsepower. ... (B) Appliances Rated over 300 Volt-Amperes. ... (C) Motor-Operated Appliances Rated over 1/8 Horsepower. The disconnecting means shall comply with 430.109 and 430.110. ... Exception: If an appliance of more than 4 hp is provided with a unit switch that complies with 422.34(A), (B), (C), or (D), the switch or circuit breaker serving as the other disconnecting means shall be permitted to be out of sight from the appliance. 422.35 Switch and Circuit Breaker to Be Indicating. Switches and circuit breakers used as disconnecting means shall be of the indicating type. 314.27(C) Boxes at Ceiling-Suspended (Paddle) Fan Outlets. Outlet boxes or outlet box systems used as the sole support of a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan shall be listed, shall be marked by their manufacturer as suitable for this purpose, and shall not support ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans that weigh more than 32 kg (70 lb). For outlet boxes or outlet box systems designed to support ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans that weigh more than 16 kg (35 lb), the required marking shall include the maximum weight to be supported. Where spare, separately switched, ungrounded conductors are provided to a ceiling-mounted outlet box, in a location acceptable for a ceiling-suspended (paddle) fan in one-family, two-family, or multifamily dwellings, the outlet box or outlet box system shall be listed for sole support of a ceiling suspended (paddle) fan. 314.27(E) Separable Attachment Fittings. Outlet boxes required in 314.27 shall be permitted to support listed locking support and mounting receptacles used in combination with compatible attachment fittings. The combination shall be identified for the support of equipment within the weight and mounting orientation limits of the listing. Where the supporting receptacle is installed within a box, it shall be included in the fill calculation covered in 314.16(B)(4). 400.4 Types. Flexible cords and flexible cables shall conform to the description in Table 400.4. The use of flexible cords and flexible cables other than those in Table 400.4 shall require permission by the authority having jurisdiction. 422.43 Flexible Cords. (A) Heater Cords. All cord-and-plug-connected smoothing irons and electrically heated appliances that are rated at more than 50 watts and produce temperatures in excess of 121 degC (250 degF) on surfaces with which the cord is likely to be in contact shall be provided with one of the types of approved heater cords listed in Table 400.4. (B) Other Heating Appliances. All other cord-and-plug-connected electrically heated appliances shall be connected with one of the approved types of cord listed in Table 400.4, selected in accordance with the usage specified in that table. [DELETED in 2023 — no 422.43 row in the on-disk 2023 NEC; verified. The (A) heater-cord requirement relocates to 422.16(A)(3).] Source: NEC 2017 (NFPA 70), 422.15 / 422.16 / 422.17 / 422.18 / 422.19 / 422.20 / 422.21 / 422.22 / 422.30 / 422.31 / 422.35 / 314.27(C)+(E) / 400.4 / 422.43 — on-disk official scan, reflowed (art58_2017_flat.txt). OCR corrections applied (disclosed): "tt"→"it" (422.16(B)(1) Exception); "accord-ance"/"combus-tible"/"devi-ces" line-wrap hyphens rejoined; "422,22"→"422.22" (comma OCR, 422.22 heading); the 2017 "1/8 horsepower" fraction prints as "%" in the scan (1/8-hp OCR, 422.31(A)/(C) heading + body); "70 Ib"/"35 Ib"/"6 Ib" → "70 lb"/"35 lb"/"6 lb" (b→B OCR, 314.27(C)/(D)); "1160 mm? (180 in."")" → "1160 mm2 (180 in.2)" (superscript OCR, 422.21); "A_ unit switch (es)"→"A unit switch(es)" (422.34). No other wording altered. The 422.16(B)(2) item (2)/(3) cord-length text is condensed here with "..." — the full verbatim text is in the on-disk flat file and machine-verified. 2023 deltas below.

422.16 — which appliances hang off a cord, and how

422.16(A) — the general permission. Flexible cord is permitted for an appliance (1) to facilitate frequent interchange or to prevent noise/vibration, or (2) to allow ready removal of a fastened-in-place appliance whose fastening is specifically designed for it. 2023 adds a third bullet, (A)(3): the heater-cord rule. That requirement — cord-and-plug electrically-heated appliances that exceed 121 °C (250 °F) on the surface the cord touches must use a Table 400.4 heater cord — used to live in 422.43(A). 2023 deletes 422.43 and folds this sentence into 422.16(A)(3). (EX2's dishwasher and EX3's range hood are cord-and-plug; the heater-cord clause is what a space heater or iron would hit.)

422.16(B) — the specific appliances. Four named appliances, each with its own cord length, plug, and receptacle rules:

(B)(1) In-sink waste disposers — cord 450 mm (18 in.) to 900 mm (36 in.), grounding-type plug (double-insulation exception), receptacle protected from damage and accessible. (EX1.)
(B)(2) Built-in dishwashers + trash compactors — dishwasher cord 0.9 m (3 ft) to 2.0 m (6.5 ft), receptacle in the space adjacent to the dishwasher; compactor cord 0.9 m to 1.2 m (4 ft), receptacle in or adjacent to the occupied space. Both: grounding plug (double-insulation exception). 2023 adds cord-through-opening bushing protection. (EX2.)
(B)(3) Wall-mounted ovens + counter-mounted cooking units — may be permanently connected, or cord-and-plug "only for ease in servicing or for installation"; the separable connector/plug must be approved for the space temperature.
(B)(4) Range hoods — cord 450 mm (18 in.) to 1.2 m (4 ft), and the receptacle must be supplied by an individual branch circuit. 2023 expands the scope to include over-the-range microwave ovens with integral range hoods. (EX3.)

The 240.4(D) gate the cord rules trip. Every one of these is a small appliance on a 120 V or 240 V branch circuit, so the conductor is picked from Table 310.16 and then held to the 240.4(D) small-conductor OCPD caps (14 AWG Cu → 15 A, 12 AWG Cu → 20 A, 10 AWG Cu → 30 A). EX1 (5 A disposer) and EX2 (18.75 A dishwasher) show the gate both ways: EX1's 15 A OCPD lets 14 AWG survive (the 15 A cap equals the OCPD), while EX2's 20 A OCPD rejects 14 AWG even though it passes the 75 °C ampacity at exactly 20 A — because the 240.4(D) 15 A cap is below the 20 A device. The caps are worked in the 240.4(D) small-conductor article.

422.18 + 314.27 — how a paddle fan is supported (and the 2023 WSCR/WSAF rename)

422.18 is the support rule: the fan goes on an independent support, or on one of two listed hardware paths. The change in 2023 is a rename + a new zone:

2017 (1) — a listed outlet box / box system "identified for the use" per 314.27(C).
2017 (2) — a box system + a "listed locking support and mounting receptacle" + a compatible factory-installed attachment fitting, per 314.27(E).
2023 (A)(1) — same box, now "identified for fan support".
2023 (A)(2) — the "locking support and mounting receptacle" is renamed to a "listed weight-supporting ceiling receptacle (WSCR)" used with a "compatible weight-supporting attachment fitting (WSAF)", identified for the weight + mounting orientation of the listing, per 314.27(E).
2023 (B) — NEW — the bathtub/shower zone (below).

314.27(C) — the box itself. Both editions: sole-support boxes are listed, marked by the manufacturer, and capped at 32 kg (70 lb); boxes over 16 kg (35 lb) must be marked with the max supported weight. The 2023 deltas: the marking is now "on the interior of the box" (2017 said "by their manufacturer"); a NEW habitable-room rule requires a dwelling fan-location box to be either listed for sole fan support or installed so you can reach structural framing through the box without removing it; and the 2017 spare-conductor sentence (spare separately-switched ungrounded conductors at a fan box in dwellings forced a sole-support listing) is gone — it is replaced by the two-option habitable-room rule. (EX4.)

314.27(E) — the separable fitting. 2017: "listed locking support and mounting receptacles used in combination with compatible attachment fittings." 2023: the same idea, now named WSCR + WSAF, with the box-fill hook (314.16(B)(4)) unchanged and a new Informational Note pointing to ANSI/NEMA WD-6 for standard WSCR/WSAF configurations. 2023 also lets a listed WSCR + WSAF serve as the sole support of a paddle fan per 314.27(C) — the bridge that makes 422.18(A)(2) work.

NEW in 2023 — 422.18(B) the bathtub/shower zone. "No metal parts of ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans in bathrooms and shower spaces shall be located within a zone measured 900 mm (3 ft) horizontally and 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower stall threshold. This zone is all-encompassing and shall include the space directly over the tub or shower stall." The 2017 edition has no (B) subdivision at all — 422.18 is the support rule only. The parallel air-conditioning zone is 440.8 (also new in 2023, worked in the air-cooling article). (EX5.)

422.22 — from "special permission" to a named WSCR path

2017 422.22 was the catch-all: "Appliances employing methods of installation other than covered by this article shall be permitted to be used only by special permission." 2023 422.22 is a specific permitted method: "Appliances shall be permitted to use listed weight-supporting ceiling receptacles in combination with compatible weight-supporting attachment fittings used within their ratings and used in accordance with 314.27(E)." The net effect: the WSCR/WSAF hardware that 2023 introduced for fans (422.18 / 314.27(E)) is now also an appliance mounting path — and the "special permission" framing is dropped. (This is the delta that pairs 422.22 with the 422.18/314.27(E) rename in one coherent 2023 rework.)

Edition history: 2017 → 2023

The headline: 2023 deleted two sections (422.15, 422.43), relocated the heater-cord rule into 422.16(A)(3), renamed the fan-support hardware to WSCR/WSAF, added a paddle-fan bathtub/shower zone, and rewrote 422.22 — while leaving every cord length and weight cap intact. A targeted machine check (verify_art58.py, 55 phrase-level assertions reading the on-disk 2017 NFPA scan, the on-disk 2023 NEC CSV, and the on-disk Mike Holt 2023 change summary directly) confirms every claim below, item by item:

The verified-unchanged core (2017 ≈ 2023)

Section	2017 → 2023 (machine-verified)
422.16(A) — the two-item general permission (frequent interchange / noise-vibration / ready-removal)	IDENTICAL core — 2023 keeps both items and adds (A)(3) the heater-cord rule (delta below)
422.16(B)(1) disposer cord 450 mm–900 mm + grounding plug (DI exception) + protected/accessible receptacle	IDENTICAL — lengths, plug, and receptacle conditions unchanged; 2023 adds the explicit EGC sentence (delta below)
422.16(B)(2) dishwasher 0.9 m–2.0 m + compactor 0.9 m–1.2 m + adjacent-space receptacles	IDENTICAL — all three cord lengths and both receptacle-placement rules unchanged; 2023 adds the opening-bushing clause (delta below)
422.16(B)(4) range-hood cord 450 mm–1.2 m + individual branch circuit	IDENTICAL core — length + individual-circuit condition unchanged; 2023 expands scope to over-the-range microwaves (delta below)
422.19 / 422.20 / 422.21 — canopy+box volume, box cover, 1160 mm2 (180 in.2) combustible covering	IDENTICAL — 422.19 reworded "taken together"→"combined volume" (meaning unchanged); 422.20 and 422.21 (incl. the 1160 mm2 / 180 in.2 area) word-for-word
422.30 (simultaneous disconnect lead) + 422.35 (indicating switch/breaker)	IDENTICAL — both unchanged
422.31(C) — 430.109/430.110 + the 1/8 hp boundary	IDENTICAL core — the 430.109/430.110 compliance sentence unchanged; the (C) Exception's "of more than 4 hp" + "(D)" reference dropped (delta below)
314.27(C) — 32 kg (70 lb) sole-support cap + 16 kg (35 lb) marking floor	IDENTICAL values — the 70 lb cap and 35 lb marking floor present in BOTH editions (the marking location + habitable-room rule change, delta below)
314.27(E) — the box-fill hook (314.16(B)(4)) + weight/mounting-orientation listing	IDENTICAL — the fill-calculation sentence unchanged; the hardware is renamed WSCR/WSAF (delta below)
400.4 — "conform to the description in Table 400.4" + AHJ permission	IDENTICAL — the intro sentence unchanged in both editions

Mike Holt 2023 corroboration: the on-disk Mike Holt 2023 change summary carries entries for 422.16 ("A new list item in (A)(3) contains information about flexible cords relocated from 422.43, and some other editorial changes were made to (B) for clarity") and 422.18 ("Revisions to the rules clarify that fan boxes must be identified for fan support. In addition, the terms 'weight supporting ceiling receptacle' (WSCR) and 'weight supporting attachment fitting' (WSAF) make an appearance along with a rule addressing the installation of paddle fans in tub and shower areas"). There is no MH 2023 entry for 422.15, 422.22, 422.43, 422.31, or 314.27 (verified by direct scan) — those deltas are on-disk-verified against the two full-text sources and stated as such. 2020 position is not asserted: no on-disk 2020 source carries a 422.15–422.43 / 314.27(C)/(E) section body, so this page documents 2017 → 2023 only.

2017 → 2023 deltas (all verified on disk)

422.15 DELETED — central vacuum outlet assemblies. On-disk-verified in BOTH editions. 2017 has 422.15 (listed central vacuum outlet assemblies on a branch circuit per 210.23(A), the connecting-conductor ampacity rule, and the 250.110 grounding of accessible non-current-carrying metal). The on-disk 2023 NEC has no 422.15 row. Central-vacuum assemblies are no longer called out as a distinct section in 2023.

422.43 DELETED — flexible cords (heater cords). On-disk-verified in BOTH editions. MH 2023 documents the relocation. 2017 422.43(A) required the Table 400.4 heater cord for smoothing irons and electrically-heated appliances > 50 W exceeding 121 °C (250 °F); (B) sent all other cord-and-plug heated appliances to a Table 400.4 cord by usage. 2023 has no 422.43 row. The Mike Holt 2023 entry for 422.16 confirms: "A new list item in (A)(3) contains information about flexible cords relocated from 422.43."

422.16(A)(3) NEW — the heater-cord requirement relocates here. On-disk-verified; MH 2023 corroboration. 2023 adds to the (A) General list: "All cord-and-plug-connected electrically heated appliances that produce temperatures in excess of 121 degC (250 degF) on surfaces with which the cord is likely to be in contact shall be provided with one of the types of heater cords listed in Table 400.4." (Note the 2023 (A)(3) drops the 2017 422.43(A) "smoothing irons ... rated at more than 50 watts" framing — it is keyed to cord-and-plug heated appliances generally.)

422.16(B)(1) — explicit equipment-grounding-conductor sentence added. On-disk-verified. 2023 422.16(B)(1) adds the condition "The flexible cord has an equipment grounding conductor and is terminated with a grounding-type attachment plug." 2017's (B)(1)(1) said only "The flexible cord shall be terminated with a grounding-type attachment plug" (with the double-insulation exception) — no explicit EGC-in-the-cord clause.

422.16(B)(2) — cord-through-opening bushing protection added. On-disk-verified. 2023 adds, to both the trash-compactor and dishwasher receptacle items: "If a flexible cord passes through an opening, it shall be protected against damage by a bushing, grommet, smoothed edge, or other approved means." 2017 has no such clause in (B)(2).

422.16(B)(4) — scope expands to over-the-range microwaves with integral hoods. On-disk-verified. 2017 (B)(4): "Range hoods shall be permitted to be cord-and-plug-connected..." 2023: "Range hoods and over-the-range microwave ovens with integral range hoods shall be permitted to be cord-and-plug-connected with a flexible cord identified as suitable for use on range hoods..." — same four conditions (length, protected receptacle, individual branch circuit, grounding plug + DI exception).

422.17 — "ample protection" → "protection." On-disk-verified. 2017: "provide ample protection between the appliance and adjacent combustible material." 2023: "provide protection between the appliance and adjacent combustible material." The "ample" qualifier is dropped (a softening of the wording, not a numeric change).

422.18(A) — "identified for the use" → "identified for fan support"; hardware renamed WSCR/WSAF. On-disk-verified; MH 2023 corroboration. 2017 (1): "a listed outlet box or listed outlet box system identified for the use." 2023 (A)(1): "a listed outlet box or listed outlet box system identified for fan support." 2017 (2): "a listed locking support and mounting receptacle, and a compatible factory installed attachment fitting designed for support." 2023 (A)(2): "a listed weight-supporting ceiling receptacle, and a compatible factory-installed weight-supporting attachment fitting that is installed in accordance with 314.27(E)." Mike Holt 2023: "the terms 'weight supporting ceiling receptacle' (WSCR) and 'weight supporting attachment fitting' (WSAF) make an appearance."

422.18(B) NEW — the paddle-fan bathtub/shower zone. On-disk-verified; MH 2023 corroboration. 2023 adds (B): "No metal parts of ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans in bathrooms and shower spaces shall be located within a zone measured 900 mm (3 ft) horizontally and 2.5 m (8 ft) vertically from the top of the bathtub rim or shower stall threshold. This zone is all-encompassing and shall include the space directly over the tub or shower stall." 2017 has no (B) — the section is the support rule only. Mike Holt 2023: "a rule addressing the installation of paddle fans in tub and shower areas."

422.22 REWRITTEN — "special permission" → WSCR appliance-mounting path. On-disk-verified. 2017: "Appliances employing methods of installation other than covered by this article shall be permitted to be used only by special permission." 2023: "Appliances shall be permitted to use listed weight-supporting ceiling receptacles in combination with compatible weight-supporting attachment fittings used within their ratings and used in accordance with 314.27(E)." The catch-all is replaced by a specific, named method, and "special permission" no longer appears in 422.22.

314.27(C) — marking location + habitable-room rule; spare-conductor sentence removed. On-disk-verified. 2017: "shall be marked by their manufacturer as suitable for this purpose." 2023: "shall be marked by their manufacturer on the interior of the box as suitable for this purpose." 2023 also adds the habitable-room two-option rule (listed for sole fan support, or installed to allow direct access to structural framing through the box without removing it) and removes the 2017 sentence about spare separately-switched ungrounded conductors at a fan box in dwellings. The 32 kg (70 lb) cap and 16 kg (35 lb) marking floor are unchanged.

314.27(E) — hardware renamed WSCR/WSAF + WD-6 Informational Note. On-disk-verified; MH 2023 corroboration. 2017: "shall be permitted to support listed locking support and mounting receptacles used in combination with compatible attachment fittings." 2023: "shall be permitted to support listed weight-supporting ceiling receptacles (WSCR). A WSCR shall be used in combination with compatible weight-supporting attachment fittings (WSAF) that are identified for the support of equipment within the weight and mounting orientation limits of the listing." 2023 also adds the sole-support-of-fans bridge ("Listed WSCR used in combination with compatible WSAF shall be permitted to be installed in outlet boxes for the sole support of ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans, in accordance with 314.27(C)") and a new IN citing ANSI/NEMA WD-6. The 314.16(B)(4) box-fill hook is unchanged.

422.31(C) Exception — "of more than 4 hp" + "(D)" dropped from the unit-switch reference. On-disk-verified. 2017: "If an appliance of more than 4 hp is provided with a unit switch that complies with 422.34(A), (B), (C), or (D), the switch or circuit breaker serving as the other disconnecting means shall be permitted to be out of sight from the appliance." 2023: "If an appliance is provided with a unit switch that complies with 422.34(A), (B), or (C), ..." — the "of more than 4 hp" qualifier and the "(D)" reference are both dropped (the (C) Exception now applies to any appliance with a compliant unit switch, and 422.34(D) is no longer in the out-of-sight list for this exception).

Five worked examples (core-computed)

Every OCPD↔conductor pairing and the 240.4(D) cap gate below is computed from the shipped PanelWright cores under node — reqBreakerA (the 210.19/210.20(A) required-ampacity step), nextStdBreaker (the 240.6 standard-size step), pickConductor31016 (the Table 310.16 conductor pick + 240.4(D) cap note), and smallConductorCap (the 240.4(D) 14/12/10 Cu cap) — with zero hand math. compute_art58.js → art58_numbers.json.

EX1 — 422.16(B)(1): in-sink waste disposer (5 A, 120 V)

Item	Value (core)
Appliance (422.16(B)(1): cord 450 mm–900 mm, grounding plug, protected + accessible receptacle)	5 A, 1/2 hp, 120 V in-sink disposer (non-continuous)
Required ampacity (210.20(A), non-continuous)	5 A
OCPD (next standard, 240.6)	15 A
Ampacity-only pick (Table 310.16, 60 °C Cu — 110.14(C)(1)(a) column)	14 AWG Cu (15 A ≥ 5 A)
240.4(D) cap on 14 AWG Cu	15 A — equals the OCPD, so 14 AWG is allowed

The teaching point is the 240.4(D) gate at the boundary. The ampacity pick is 14 AWG (15 A at 60 °C), and the 240.4(D) cap on 14 AWG Cu is exactly 15 A. Because the cap equals the 15 A OCPD, 14 AWG survives. But if the disposer nameplate forced the OCPD up to 20 A, the 15 A cap would be below the device and 14 AWG would die — 12 AWG (20 A) becomes required. That is EX2's shape.

EX2 — 422.16(B)(2): built-in dishwasher (4,500 W, 240 V) — the 240.4(D) rejection

Item	Value (core)
Appliance (422.16(B)(2): cord 0.9 m–2.0 m, receptacle in the adjacent space; 2023 adds the opening bushing)	4,500 W, 240 V built-in dishwasher (non-continuous)
Load current (4,500 W ÷ 240 V)	18.75 A
OCPD (next standard, 240.6)	20 A
Ampacity pick, 75 °C Cu column	14 AWG Cu (20 A ≥ 18.75 A) — ampacity passes
240.4(D) cap on 14 AWG Cu	15 A < 20 A OCPD → 14 AWG REJECTED
Ampacity pick, 60 °C Cu column	12 AWG Cu (20 A ≥ 18.75 A)
Answer	12 AWG Cu (the 60 °C column gives 20 A; the 75 °C column gives 25 A — 12 AWG in both)

This is the gate EX1 only grazed. At 75 °C, 14 AWG Cu carries 20 A — enough for the 18.75 A load. But 240.4(D) caps 14 AWG Cu at 15 A of overcurrent protection, and the OCPD here is 20 A. A 15 A cap under a 20 A device is not allowed, so 14 AWG is rejected on the OCPD gate even though it passes ampacity. 12 AWG (20 A at 60 °C / 25 A at 75 °C) is the answer. The cord itself (0.9 m–2.0 m, receptacle in the adjacent space, plus the 2023 opening-bushing clause) is 422.16(B)(2) business — the circuit sizing is 210.23(A) / Table 310.16 / 240.4(D).

EX3 — 422.16(B)(4): range hood (800 W, 120 V) + the 2023 scope expansion

Item	Value (core)
Appliance (422.16(B)(4): cord 450 mm–1.2 m, receptacle on an INDIVIDUAL branch circuit)	800 W, 120 V range hood (non-continuous)
Load current (800 W ÷ 120 V)	6.67 A
OCPD (next standard, 240.6)	15 A
Ampacity pick (Table 310.16, 60 °C Cu)	14 AWG Cu (15 A ≥ 6.67 A)
240.4(D) cap on 14 AWG Cu	15 A — equals the OCPD, so 14 AWG is allowed

Same 240.4(D) boundary as EX1 (15 A OCPD, 14 AWG, 15 A cap). The range-hood rule's real constraint is 422.16(B)(4)(5): the receptacle must be supplied by an individual branch circuit — the hood can't share the countertop small-appliance circuit. The 2023 scope change: an over-the-range microwave with an integral range hood now qualifies for the same cord-and-plug treatment under these four conditions (2017 was "Range hoods" only). The cord length (450 mm–1.2 m) and the individual-circuit condition are unchanged across the two editions.

EX4 — 422.18 + 314.27(C): the 32 kg (70 lb) fan-support cap + the 16 kg (35 lb) marking floor

Fan (both editions: sole-support cap 32 kg / 70 lb; marking floor 16 kg / 35 lb)	Mass	Under 70 lb cap?	Must be weight-marked?
Standard bedroom fan	13 lb (5.9 kg)	yes	no (≤ 35 lb)
Lighted fan	65 lb (29.5 kg)	yes	yes (> 35 lb)
Large lighted fan	75 lb (34.0 kg)	no — over the 70 lb sole-support cap	yes (> 35 lb)

The numbers are the same in 2017 and 2023 (314.27(C): 32 kg / 70 lb cap, 16 kg / 35 lb marking floor). The 13 lb bedroom fan is under both thresholds — any listed sole-support box works, no weight marking needed. The 65 lb fan is under the 70 lb cap but over the 35 lb floor, so the box must be marked with its maximum supported weight. The 75 lb fan blows through the 70 lb sole-support cap — it must be supported independently of the box (or on a WSCR/WSAF combination rated for it, per 314.27(E)). The 2023 deltas are the hardware name (locking support → WSCR/WSAF), the box-marking location ("on the interior"), and the new habitable-room two-option rule — not the weights.

EX5 — 422.18(B) NEW (2023 only): the 900 mm × 2.5 m tub/shower zone

Fan position (zone origin: top of tub rim / stall threshold; 0.9 m horizontal × 2.5 m vertical, all-encompassing)	Horizontal	Vertical	Inside zone?
Fan above the tub	0.6 m	2.6 m	no (2.6 m > 2.5 m vertical limit)
Fan at the tub edge, lower	0.6 m	2.4 m	yes — metal parts not permitted here
Fan beyond the horizontal reach	1.2 m	2.4 m	no (1.2 m > 0.9 m horizontal limit)

This rule exists only in 2023 — 2017 422.18 has no (B) subdivision. The zone is a box: 0.9 m (3 ft) out from the tub rim / stall threshold and 2.5 m (8 ft) up from the top of the rim, and it is all-encompassing (it includes the space directly over the tub). If a paddle fan's metal parts fall inside that box, they are not permitted. The first fan (2.6 m up) clears the 2.5 m vertical limit; the third (1.2 m out) clears the 0.9 m horizontal limit; the middle one is inside on both axes and fails. The parallel air-conditioning zone (440.8, also new in 2023) works the same way for AC equipment — see the air-cooling article. The bathroom receptacle / GFCI rules for the same space are in the 210.8 GFCI article.

Where 422.16 + 422.18 + 422.22 fit

The branch-circuit foundation this article extends: the NEC 422.10 + 422.11 + 422.12 + 422.13 appliance branch circuit — 422.10/422.11 size the circuit (125% continuous floor, 150% OCPD ceiling, the 20 A unmarked-appliance cap, the 48 A heater subdivision); 422.16/422.18/422.22 are the installation rules for the cord, the fan support, and the mounting that Part I leaves open.
The OCPD cap the cord examples trip: the NEC 240.4(D) small-conductor caps — EX1's 14 AWG / 15 A boundary and EX2's 14 AWG rejection (15 A cap under a 20 A OCPD) are both 240.4(D) in action.
The conductor table the picks come from: the Table 310.16 allowable ampacities (14 AWG = 15/20/25 A in the 60/75/90 °C columns; 12 AWG = 20/25/30 A) and the NEC 240.6 standard ampere ratings (the 18.75 A → 20 A step in EX2).
The parallel tub/shower zone for AC equipment: the NEC 440.22 + 440.32 air-cooling branch circuit — 440.8's new bathtub/shower zone (2023) is the air-conditioning twin of 422.18(B)'s paddle-fan zone.
The same space's receptacle protection: the NEC 210.8 GFCI-protection article — the 6 ft sink/tub distance tests and the dwelling bathroom-location list for the receptacles near the EX5 zone.

Scope boundary, stated: this article is exactly 422.16 + 422.18 + 314.27(C)/(E) + 422.22, with 422.15 / 422.17 / 422.19–422.21 / 422.30 / 422.31 / 422.35 / 400.4 / 422.43 quoted as context (the two deleted sections and the support/box/disconnect neighbors). 422.6 (rating), 422.10–422.13 (branch circuits — the previous article), 422.33/422.34 (cord-and-plug + unit-switch disconnecting means), and 422.40+ (Part IV construction) are adjacent sections outside this article's scope. 2026 edition (flagged honestly): no on-disk source confirms the 422.15–422.43 / 314.27 section numbers moved for the 2026 cycle, so this page cites them as stable across 2017–2023 and presents the 2017↔2023 deltas above. Verify section numbers against the NEC edition adopted in your jurisdiction.

Method, sources & honesty notes

Section text. Verbatim NEC 2017 (official NFPA text on disk, nec2017_full.txt, regions reflowed to art58_2017_flat.txt): 422.15, 422.16 (A)+(B)(1)–(B)(4), 422.17, 422.18, 422.19, 422.20, 422.21, 422.22, 422.30, 422.31 (A)–(C), 422.35, 314.27(C)+(E), 400.4 intro, 422.43 (A)–(B). OCR line-wrap reflow normalized; disclosed scan artifacts corrected (listed in the source note under the quote block): "tt"→"it", "accord-ance"/"combus-tible"/"devi-ces" hyphens rejoined, "422,22"→"422.22", the 1/8-hp fraction printing as "%", "70 Ib"/"35 Ib"/"6 Ib"→"lb", the 1160 mm2 (180 in.2) superscript, and "A_ unit switch (es)"→"A unit switch(es)." No other wording altered.

2023 text. On-disk 2023 NEC CSV (art35_nec_csv.csv): 422.16(A), 422.16(B)(1)–(B)(4), 422.17, 422.18(A)/(B), 422.19, 422.20, 422.21, 422.22, 422.30, 422.31(C), 422.35, 314.27(C), 314.27(E), 400.4 — 17 rows, complete for the scope (verified; no 422.15 or 422.43 rows, confirming the deletions). The CSV's trailing markdown source-link per row is stripped for the identity test only and never changes code text.

Worked examples (core-computed). Every OCPD floor, standard-size step, conductor pick, and 240.4(D) cap is computed by the shipped PanelWright cores under node (compute_art58.js → art58_numbers.json): reqBreakerA (210.20(A) required ampacity), nextStdBreaker (240.6 step), pickConductor31016 (Table 310.16 pick + 240.4(D) cap note), and smallConductorCap (the 240.4(D) 14/12/10 Cu caps). The Table 310.16 values used (14 AWG = 15/20/25 A; 12 AWG = 20/25/30 A in the 60/75/90 °C copper columns) are the shipped core's verified table. Zero hand math.

Edition-delta claims (machine-checked). A targeted assertion script (verify_art58.py) reads the on-disk 2017 NFPA scan, the on-disk 2023 NEC CSV, and the on-disk Mike Holt 2023 change summary and asserts 55 phrase-level checks: the two deletions (422.15, 422.43 absent from 2023, present in 2017), the 422.16(A)(3) heater-cord relocation, the 422.16(B)(1) EGC sentence, the 422.16(B)(2) bushing clause, the 422.16(B)(4) over-the-range-microwave scope, the 422.17 "ample" drop, the 422.18(A) WSCR/WSAF rename + "fan support" phrasing, the 422.18(B) tub/shower zone, the 422.22 special-permission→WSCR rewrite, the 422.31(C) "of more than 4 hp" + "(D)" drops, the 314.27(C) interior-marking + habitable-room + spares removal, the 314.27(E) WSCR/WSAF + WD-6, the 400.4 identity, the cord-length identities, the 32 kg/16 kg weight-cap identities, 4 Mike Holt probes (the 422.16 + 422.18 entries; NO entry for 422.15/422.22/422.43/314.27), and the 17-row CSV completeness check. All 55 pass (re-runnable). 2020 position is not asserted: no on-disk 2020 source carries a 422.15–422.43 / 314.27(C)/(E) section body (verified).