Overview

The determination of what locations are and are not considered dwelling occupancies is based on whether or not the spaces have permanent provisions for cooking. The reaso n it matters whether or not an occupancy is considered a dwelling unit or not is that dwelling occupancies require a certain set of required branch circuits, such as the small appliance branch circuits and the required laundry circuit(s). Section 210.17 requires any guest rooms and guest suites with permanent provisions for cooking to meet the code requirements for dwelling units. What was unclear was whether or not assisted living facilities were included in the requirements of Section 210.17. The 2023 NEC clarifies this by specifying in list-format that, in addition to hotels and motels, assisted living facilities are in-fact included.

Applying the 2023 Code

To clarify which guest rooms/guest suits fall under the requirements of Section 210.17, the 2023 Code has revised Section 210.17 to include a list of occupancies where said guest rooms/suits with permanent provisions for cooking are required to meet the branch circuit requirements for dwelling units. In addition to the previously required hotels and motels, assisted living facilities have been added. This means that any assisted living facility with permanent provisions for cooking are considered a dwelling occupancy, and therefore must have all the branch circuits required for dwelling units. Two informational notes have also been added, the first giving an NEC code reference for laundry branch circuits, and the second to the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code to clarify the definition of assisted living.

What’s New for the 2023 NEC?

2020 NEC

In the 2020 NEC Section 210.17, it was only specified that “guest rooms and guest suits” with permanent provisions for cooking are to follow the branch circuit requirements for dwelling units. There was no clarification as to what occupancies this applied to.

2023 NEC

In the 2023 NEC Section 210.17 now reads as follows:

210.17 Guest Rooms and Guest Suites.

Guest rooms and guest suites in the following occupancies that are provided with permanent provisions for cooking shall have branch circuits installed to meet the rules for dwelling units:

1. Hotels
2. Motels
3. Assisted living facilities

Informational Note No. 1: See 210.11(C)(2) and 210.52(F), Exception No. 2, for information on laundry branch circuits and receptacle outlets.

Informational Note No. 2: See NFPA 101-2021, Life Safety Code, 3.3.198.12 and A.‍3.3.198.12(5), for the definition of assisted living facilities.