ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Proposed 2029 NEC changes

All the proposals for the 2029 NEC are in and ready to be debated, they can be viewed with a free NFPA online account. One of them is to make a change in article 210 to allow a loads under 1440VA to be served by a 240V L-L receptacle in a residence (dwelling).
It was allowed long ago, and its probably often overlooked and violated with small window AC units and heat pumps. I think all the GFCI/AFCI tamper proof rules have gotten so strict there there may not be any danger from allowing a 15A 240V outlet or receptacle or 240V lighting outlet perhaps in multifamily buildings, dorms / hotels?
I recalled a post on here about a 230V British tea kettle and thought I would see what you all think?
Is 240V unsafe in a dwelling?
Or is that a outdated fossil of a by-gone era and the US should be modernized to allow 240V tea kettles, and small appliances?

6-15 and 6-20 receptacles have always been common to serve window shakers. I never heard they were illegal but the TR and AFCI rules may have made them so if it expanded to 240v circuits.
Originally most of the GFCI and AFCI rules only affected 15 & 20a 120v circuits.
What are they changing?
To be honest, since I have been retired about 25 years, I have lost track of a couple cycles. I was staying current with my code change CEUs up until around 2014.

Its a basic rule I traced back to at least the 1937 NEC (section 2105) branch circuits in dwellings that supply lamp holders and small appliances were not permitted to be over 150V to ground, and had to use one grounded conductor, the wording changes over the years to 150V between conductors, but the general idea since Pre WW2 in the US is branch circuits for lighting and small appliances are 120V to ground. It pre dates GFCI and AFCI rules, this is the way its worded in the 2017, I dont think it changed in the 2020, 2023 or now 2026:
"210.6 Branch-Circuit Voltage Limitations. The nominal voltage
of branch circuits shall not exceed the values permitted by
210.6(A) through (E).
(A) Occupancy Limitation. In dwelling units and guest rooms
or guest suites of hotels, motels, and similar occupancies, the
voltage shall not exceed 120 volts, nominal, between conductors
that supply the terminals of the following:
(1)(2)Luminaires
Cord-and-plug-connected loads 1440 volt-amperes, nominal,
or less or less than 1⁄4 hp"

AC units that are small ones were under 1440 watts would be technically a violation, but now with advances in inverter driven heat pumps and AC its common to get a 240V window unit that is under the limit, then technically its not allowed. Also manufacturers of portable space heaters have cited the NEC as a reason for not making 240V portable heaters, which would be safer than overloading 120V 15A circuits.

The proposed 2029 wording is:
"210.6 Branch-Circuit Voltage Limitations. The nominal volt-
age of branch circuits shall not exceed the values permitted by
210.6(A) through (E).
(A) Occupancy Limitation. In dwelling units and guest rooms
or guest suites of hotels, motels, and similar occupancies, the
voltage shall not exceed 150 volts to ground
that supply the terminals of the following:
(1)(2)Luminaires
Cord-and-plug-connected loads 1440 volt-amperes, nominal,
or less or less than 1⁄4 hp"

That opens it up so you could have 240V outlets if you wanted, as long as its Line - Line 240 with each line being 120V to ground. Most people will stick to 120 but it wont be a hard and fast code blocker.
Since WW2 most of the world has converted to a 240V system, this would be the first nudge in that direction.

I still see nothing there that prevents 240v receptacles in a dwelling.

(2017)

I assume the listing might prevent a piece of equipment less than 1440w or 1/4HP with a 6 xx plug but that happens after we leave.
Just looking at inverter window shakers they all seem to be 120v, even the ones that are over a ton. I remember a lot of old Fedders 1 ton+ units were 240 tho. They were power hogs with 2 compressors. The street lights dimmed when they came on