NEC Code Book Now Thicker Than Local Phone Directory, Used as Actual Doorstop

The National Electrical Code's 2026 edition has officially surpassed the combined metropolitan phone directories of Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York in both page count and weight, prompting electricians nationwide to repurpose the volume as structural support. At 1,847 pages and 6.4 pounds, the new NEC is 22 percent heavier than the 2023 edition, which was itself 18 percent heavier than the 2020 edition, establishing what industry analysts call 'an unsustainable trajectory toward furniture.' 'I use mine to prop open the shop door,' admitted master electrician Gloria Fuse. 'It's the perfect height. And honestly, that's the most use any code book has gotten in this building since we started just Googling the articles.' The NFPA, which publishes the NEC, defended the expansion. 'Electrical systems are growing more complex,' said spokesperson Alan Conduit. 'The new sections on EV charger installation alone add 84 pages. The updated grounding requirements add another 60. The index of the index is 12 pages.' Critics note that the code book now includes subsection numbering that extends to five decimal places, with Article 210.8(A)(1)(a)(iii)(b) becoming the subject of a viral meme captioned 'where joy goes to die.' An informal survey of 500 licensed electricians found that 73 percent own the current edition, 12 percent have read more than ten pages of it, and 41 percent are currently using it to level a table or stabilize a ladder. The NFPA has announced the 2029 edition will ship with a luggage handle.