RedVector JCOM-00155

2026 NEC® Changes: Life Safety and Standby Systems

2026 NEC® Changes: Life Safety and Standby Systems

1 hr. Online Course

Level: Intermediate

Item#: JCOM-00155

SME: Ryan Jackson

The 2026 NEC introduces critical changes that could dramatically affect how life safety systems perform when lives depend on them most. This course examines the updated requirements for fire pumps, emergency systems, and standby systems, including enhanced fire protection standards requiring up to five inches of concrete encasement, new bypass and isolation provisions for transfer equipment in high-occupancy buildings, and mandatory surge protection for legally required standby systems. Participants will master these essential code changes while exploring practical implementation strategies, from utilizing listed fire-resistant cable systems to leveraging new allowances for Class 4 lighting and multimode inverters in residential applications.
Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you'll be able to:

  • List the options for fire protection of fire pump feeder circuits within buildings.
  • Describe the requirements for the permanent switching means required for certain emergency systems.
  • Explain when bypass and isolation are required for emergency system transfer switches.
  • List when fire protection of emergency system feeder circuits is required.
  • Discuss the allowances for Class 2 and Class 4 lighting in emergency systems.
  • Recall the rules for interconnection equipment for emergency systems.
  • Explain the requirements for Class 4 lighting in emergency systems.
  • Explain when bypass and isolation are required for legally required standby system transfer switches.
  • List the surge protection requirements for legally required standby systems.
  • Describe the new allowance for optional standby systems supplied by multimode inverters.
  • Indicate where the surge protective device for fire alarm control panels is required.
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT: Ryan Jackson
Ryan Jackson Photo
Ryan Jackson is a combination inspector in the Salt Lake City, Utah, area. He began his career as a carpenter while in high school, and began doing electrical work at the age of 18. At the age of 23 Ryan landed his first job as an electrical inspector, and subsequently became certified in building, plumbing, and mechanical inspection, as well as building and electrical plan review. Two years after becoming an inspector, he was approached by a friend in the area asking him to fill in at an electrical seminar for him. After his first class he was hooked, and is now a highly sought after seminar instructor. Ryan has taught in several states, and loves helping people increase their understanding of the Code.

 

He has been involved in writing and editing over 25 books on the National Electrical Code, and has taught the subject in multiple states and for multiple colleges and universities. He is self-employed as an NEC® consultant and inspector.

 
When Ryan isn’t working, he can often be found in his garage turning wood on his lathe, in his basement exercising, or any quiet place where he can dive into a book. He is also a rabid University of Utah football fan. Ryan married his high school sweetheart, Sharie, and they have two beautiful children together: Kaitlynn and Aaron.
State Licenses
AK - Architect (General - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
AK - Electrical Administrator (National Electrical Code - 21029)
AK - Electrical Journeyman (National Electrical Code - 21029)
AK - Engineer (General)
AL - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
AL - Engineer (General)
AR - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
AR - Engineer (General)
CO - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
CO - Electrician (General)
CT - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
DC - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
DE - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
DE - Engineer (General)
DE - Home Inspector (General)
FL - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
FL - Engineer (General - 0000271)
Accreditation: This course examines key 2026 NEC updates affecting fire pumps, emergency systems, and standby power systems. Participants will learn new requirements for fire protection, transfer equipment, and surge protection, while exploring practical strategies for implementing these code changes in real-world applications.
GA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
GA - Engineer (General)
HI - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
IA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
IA - Engineer (General)
ID - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
ID - Engineer (General)
IL - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
IL - Engineer, Professional (General)
IL - Engineer, Structural (General)
IN - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
KS - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
KS - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare)
KY - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
KY - Electrician and Master Electrician (National Electrical Code)
KY - Engineer (General)
LA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
LA - Engineer (General)
MA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MA - Electrician (General)
MD - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MD - Engineer (General)
ME - Engineer (General)
MI - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MI - Engineer (General)
MN - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MN - Electrician (National Electrical Code - CRSE2606-0018)
MN - Engineer (General)
MO - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MO - Engineer (General)
MS - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MS - Engineer (General)
MT - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MT - Engineer (General)
MT - Home Inspector (General)
NC - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NC - Engineer (General)
ND - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare)
NE - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare)
Accreditation: Vector Solutions is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEUs for this program.
NE - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NE - Engineer (General)
Accreditation: Vector Solutions is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEUs for this program.
NH - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NH - Engineer (General)
NJ - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NJ - Engineer (General - 24GP000006300)
NM - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NM - Engineer (General)
NM - Home Inspector (General)
NV - Architect (Building Code, Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NV - Engineer (General)
NY - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NY - Engineer (General)
Accreditation: Vector Solutions is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEUs for this program.
OH - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
OH - Engineer (General)
OK - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
OK - Engineer (General)
OR - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
OR - Engineer (General)
PA - Engineer (General)
PR - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
PR - Engineer (General)
RI - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
SC - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
SC - Engineer (General)
SD - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
SD - Engineer (General)
TN - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
TN - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare)
TX - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
TX - Engineer (General)
UT - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
UT - Electrician (Core - 24769)
UT - Engineer (General)
VA - Architect (General - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
VA - Engineer (General)
VA - Home Inspector (General)
VT - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
VT - Engineer (General)
WA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
WI - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
WI - Engineer (General)
WI - Home Inspector (General)
WV - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
WV - Engineer (General)
WV - Home Inspector (General)
WY - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
WY - Engineer (General)
Professional Organizations
American Academy of Environmental Engineers - AAEES - Member (General)
American Institute of Architects - AIA - Architects (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
American Society of Civil Engineers - ASCE - Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port & Navigation Engineers (ACOPNE) (General)
American Society of Civil Engineers - ASCE - Academy of Geo-Professionals (AGP) (General)
American Society of Civil Engineers - ASCE - American Academy of Water Resources Engineer (AAWRE) (General)
American Society of Home Inspectors - ASHI (General)
Association for Facilities Engineering - AFE - Certification (General)
Association of Energy Engineers - AEE - Certification (Technical)
Board of Certified Safety Professionals - BCSP - Certification (General)
Canada - Alberta Architect (General - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Alberta Engineer (General)
Canada - British Columbia Architect (AIBC) (Core - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - British Columbia Engineer (General)
Canada - Manitoba Architect (General - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Manitoba Engineer (General)
Canada - New Brunswick Architect (General - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - New Brunswick Engineer (General)
Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Engineer (General)
Canada - Northwest Territories and Nunavut Engineer (General)
Canada - Northwest Territory Architect / Restricted Practitioner (General - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Nova Scotia Architect (General - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Nova Scotia Engineer (General)
Canada - Ontario Architect (General - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Ontario Engineer (General)
Canada - Prince Edward Island Architect (General - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Prince Edward Island Engineer (General)
Canada - Quebec Architect (General - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Quebec Engineer (General)
Canada - Saskatchewan Architect (General - JCOM00155-2029)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Saskatchewan Engineer (General)
Canada - Yukon Engineer (General)
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors - InterNACHI - Member (General)
International Association of Electrical Inspectors - IAEI - Certifications (General)
International Code Council - ICC - Member (General - Board Approved - 51810)
International Facility Management Association - IFMA - Certified Facility Manager (CFM) (General)
International Society of Automation - ISA - Certifications (General)
National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies - NICET (General)
North American Technician Excellence (NATE) (Technical - 40452-0019)