Appliances must be protected against overcurrent in accordance with the rating of the appliance and its listing. This requirement is specified by which NEC clause?

• A. 422.11(A)
• B. 422.31
• C. 408.4(A)
• D. 210.23(B)

Answer: (A)

Protecting appliances against overcurrent is about matching the protection to what the appliance can safely handle. The appliance carries a rating (and a listing) that tells you the maximum current it is designed to draw and the conditions under which it can operate safely. The overcurrent device on the circuit—usually a breaker or fuse—must be sized not to exceed that rating and must be compatible with the listing. If the protection were larger than the appliance rating, the appliance could overheat before the device trips, or the internal components could be damaged; if the protection were misapplied to non-listed conditions, it could trip too often or fail to protect properly. By requiring protection to follow the appliance's rating and listing, the NEC ensures a safe balance between enabling normal operation and interrupting the circuit when current exceeds what the appliance can safely tolerate. This requirement is found in NEC 422.11(A). Other sections address different topics and do not set this specific protection rule for appliances.