Is a whole home surge protector required?

Many areas and newer electrical codes do require or strongly encourage a whole‑home surge protective device (SPD) at the service equipment or main breaker panel.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) has added language requiring SPDs in some situations. Whether a whole‑home SPD is legally required for your property depends on which NEC version (or local ordinance) your city has adopted.

- New vs existing work: Requirements are most often triggered during new construction, or major service upgrades.

- Utility policies: Some utilities have separate requirements or recommendations, particularly for locations with high lightning risk or critical infrastructure.

- Benefits: A whole‑home (service‑entrance) SPD protects downstream branch circuits and hardwired equipment (HVAC, water heater, main panels) much better than just using point‑of‑use surge strips. It diverts large transient overvoltages to ground before they can reach sensitive loads such as expensive televisions computers and other electronics.

- Alternatives: You can combine a service‑entrance SPD (Type 1/Type 2 depending on installation) with point‑of‑use SPDs for extra protection. For sensitive electronics, battery backup/UPS units provide both surge protection and ride‑through power.

- Cost and installation: Typical installed cost is moderate (hundreds, not thousands), must be installed by a qualified electrician.

- Selection and maintenance: Choose an SPD rated for your system voltage and location (Type 1 for ahead of service equipment, Type 2 at the load side).