NEC chatbot

The NEC chatbot answers National Electrical Code questions in plain language, so you can look up a requirement or a section number without digging through the codebook. This page covers where to find it and how to get good answers.

Open the chatbot

• In your dashboard: click NEC chatbot in the left menu.
• On the mobile app: go to Tools, then NEC chat.
• Without an account: try it on the free NEC chatbot page. You will be asked for your work email first, and the free version is limited to a small number of uses.

Ask a question

1. In your dashboard or the mobile app, pick your edition in the Code year menu next to the send button (2017, 2020 or 2023). It starts on 2020. The chatbot answers for that edition unless your question names another, and tells you when the answer differs in other years. Until you pick a year yourself, a question about a specific job or address is answered for the edition that site has adopted.
2. Type your question in the message box at the bottom and send it.
3. Read the answer. Each code section it relies on is shown in bold, for example NEC 2023 210.8(A), so you can find it in your codebook. The answer ends with how confident it is and why.
4. Ask a follow-up in the same conversation to narrow it down, for example a different code edition or a specific occupancy.
5. To start over on a new topic, click New chat at the top of the chat, where it is shown.

Some questions to try:

• Which kitchen receptacles need GFCI protection?
• What working clearance does a panel need in front of it?
• Which section covers EV charger branch circuits?
• What changed for AFCI protection between 2020 and 2023?

Get better answers

• Set Code year to the edition your jurisdiction has adopted, or name it in your question.
• Give the details that change the answer: dwelling or commercial, indoor or outdoor, the equipment involved.
• Ask for the section number, then check it in your codebook.
• One topic per question works better than a long list.
• If your question could mean more than one installation, the chatbot asks a quick question or two before it answers.

Calculations

The chatbot does not do load calculations. Ask it about a service or building load and it tells you how to set it up in the load calculator instead. Wire sizes, conduit fill and voltage drop it works out are estimates: check them before you rely on them.

Check it with your AHJ

The chatbot is for information only, as is Kopperfield AI in the rest of the dashboard. You are responsible for checking that your calculations, permits and work are correct and meet local rules. When in doubt, confirm with your local AHJ.

If an answer seems stuck

If the chatbot keeps showing that it is thinking and never answers, refresh the page and ask again. If it still does not respond, email support@kopperfield.com.

Frequently asked questions

Which version of the NEC does the chatbot use?

It answers for the edition set in Code year (2020 unless you change it), or the one your question names, and says when the answer differs in other editions. You can also name the 2026 edition in your question. It's AI, so always double-check responses. Use it to find the right section fast, then read that section before you rely on the answer.

What can I use it for?

Looking up specific codes or sections, checking the rules behind a calculation, and studying for an NEC exam.

Is Kopperfield associated with the NEC or the NFPA?

No. Kopperfield is not associated with the National Electrical Code or the National Fire Protection Association.

Who can I contact about the chatbot?

Email support@kopperfield.com with your question and what the chatbot told you, and we will look into it.